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Narrator: in 1692,
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The small puritan village of
Salem, massachusetts,
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Was at the center of one of
History's deadliest witch hunts.
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Picknett: it was just an utterly
Tragic case of mass hysteria.
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Gough: nobody was safe.
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Once you were accused,
It was a domino effect,
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You would accuse someone else,
Try to deflect the attention
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00:00:22,933 --> 00:00:25,833
From you
To some other poor soul.
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It was absolute pandemonium.
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Narrator: as a result
Of the unjust execution
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Of 20 innocent men and women
During the salem witch trials,
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Some people believe
That salem remains cursed today.
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Baltrusis:
Salem, without a doubt,
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Is the most haunted location
In the country.
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The land is stained with blood.
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Narrator: yet despite its past,
Salem now prides itself
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On being the capital
Of modern american witchcraft.
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Masson: I call unto and invite
To this sacred space
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The spirits of those who were
Accused in 1692.
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Felix: I mean, there's no doubt
A terrible wrong
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Was done on all of the accused.
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They were all innocent
Of everything.
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It's haunted america
For the best part of 300 years.
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*
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-- captions by vitac --
Www.Vitac.Com
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Captions paid for by
Discovery communications
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*
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*
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Narrator: during the notorious
Salem witch trials,
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20 men and women accused
Of witchcraft
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Were wrongfully executed.
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Salem historian and paranormal
Author sam baltrusis
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Is heading to the exact spot
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Where the deadly salem witch
Hunt began in february 1692.
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But wherever sam goes in salem,
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He always finds it
A haunting experience.
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Baltrusis: I love the history,
But every time I come to salem,
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I'll have something
Weird happen.
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Soon as I stepped foot in salem,
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Things started happening
That were inexplicable.
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I've had a man with a hat,
Like a shadow figure,
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Stalk me at my job in salem.
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And I really feel like that
Maybe I'm cursed.
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Narrator: sam says he discovered
A possible reason
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A few years ago when he found
Out he's distantly related
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To one of the key figures
In the salem witch trials,
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Ann putnam jr.
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Ann putnam jr. Accused
62 people of of witchcraft,
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And she was responsible
For the deaths of 17 people.
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Those numbers are huge.
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Ann putnam jr.
Was the major player,
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But her father, thomas putnam,
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Was controlling
What was going on.
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He was, in my opinion,
The puppet master.
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Now that I know that I am
Related to the putnam family,
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My goal is to make amends
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For what my family
Did back in 1692.
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I feel like that
Maybe this curse
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That's been kind of with me
Since I've been in salem
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Will somehow somehow be lifted.
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Narrator: today, very few
Original 17th century houses
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Survive in historic
Salem village.
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But the foundations
Of the original parsonage
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Were the salem witch hunt
Began have been preserved.
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This is ground zero
To what happened in 1692.
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And it's -- to me,
It's hallowed grounds.
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Narrator: living here in salem's
Parsonage in 1692
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Were reverend samuel parris
And his wife,
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Their 9-year-old daughter betty,
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And her 11-year-old cousin
Abigail,
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And the family slave tituba.
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All right, in 1681,
The salem village inhabitants
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Built a home for their minister
At this site.
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It was in this house in 1692
That stories of witchcraft
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Nurtured the village
Witchcraft hysteria
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And resulted in the deaths
Of 23 persons.
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Now, it's interesting that
They say 23 persons
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Is the fact that there were
20 people that were executed,
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But there were also three people
That died in prison, as well.
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But the impact of
The witch trials
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Reached hundreds of people.
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Families were destroyed.
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There were people
That were accused of witchcraft,
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Never the same again.
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So 23 is a modest number
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Compared to the hundreds
Of people
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That were affected
By the witch trials.
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Narrator:
The tragic trail of events
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That soon snowballed
Uncontrollably
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Into the deadly salem witch hunt
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Began when the children
Of the reverend's house
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Started to act strangely
One day in february 1692.
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When reverend parris' daughter
Betty and her cousin abigail
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Began to kick off,
Essentially,
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You could say
They were hysterical,
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But it was more than that.
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They were barking.
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They were contorting
Their bodies in ways
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That people
Thought were impossible.
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They were crawling like animals
Under the furniture.
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They were foaming at the mouth.
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You know, obviously,
Something was very, very wrong.
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So they called in the doctor.
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The doctor examines them
Physically
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And comes to the conclusion
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That there is nothing
Obviously physically amiss.
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And so he makes
The dramatic proclamation
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That they are bewitched.
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Narrator: when the girls
Were later questioned,
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They said that the family slave,
Tituba,
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Who is believed to have been an
Indigenous south american woman,
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Had taught them various strange
And superstitious practices.
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*
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Gough: in this puritan world,
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Tituba's indigenous customs
Are viewed as being demonic,
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Obviously of witchcraft
In origin.
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But she was just different.
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So she was targeted first
And accused of practices
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That were obviously witchcraft,
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Which is normal
And indigenous to her culture
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As a highly religious community.
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Narrator: puritans were
Extremely afraid of witchcraft
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And believe that the devil
Was always trying to tempt
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The god-fearing from the path
Of righteousness.
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You cannot underestimate
How conservative
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And how strict the culture
Was in this village
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And all around new england.
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Felix:
Dancing was not allowed.
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Fun was not allowed.
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Not a lot of sex was allowed.
Christmas was banned.
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Gough: if you varied from
The norm one little bit,
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Then people would start
To think that you're different,
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But not a good
Kind of different --
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A bad kind of different,
The work of the devil.
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Why can't you be
Like the rest of them?
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*
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Narrator:
In this kind of community,
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The indigenous slave tituba
Stuck out like a sore thumb,
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And she very soon admitted
That she was indeed in league
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With the devil
To bewitch the girls.
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Bellinger:
Tituba confesses almost
Immediately to witchcraft.
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Why? Was she a witch?
Almost certainly not.
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But she confessed
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And began
To tell a very elaborate story
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About consorting with the devil
In very intimate terms.
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Now, counterintuitively,
That probably saved her life.
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None of the people who confessed
To practicing witchcraft
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In the salem witch trials
Were killed.
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Those accused who claimed
Innocence all hung.
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[ wood creaking ]
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Narrator: as a result
Of the paradoxical incentive
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For the accused to admit guilt,
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Within weeks,
The events unleashed
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By the unusual behavior
Of the two girls
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In the parsonage
Rapidly spiraled
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Into an uncontrollable
And terrifying witch-hunt.
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For us today, one of the most
Shocking things
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About the witch trial at salem
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Was the widespread use
Of untested children's evidence.
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And this happened
Because of two things.
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The first was that in 1597,
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King james I of england
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Had written a book called
"Daemonologie."
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And in it, he tried to convince
The world that witches were real
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And their offenses
Were so diabolical
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That all evidence possible
Should be taken
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And should be used to find them,
Including children's evidence.
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And then not long afterwards,
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In pendle in lancashire
In 1612,
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There was a very famous trial
In which a 9-year-old girl,
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Jennet device, sent her entire
Family to the gallows.
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The court clerk
Wrote that story up,
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And it became
An international bestseller.
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It was even read in america,
In places like salem.
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So by the time
Of the trials in salem,
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The idea of children
Giving evidence in witch trials
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Was completely normalized.
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You had children accusing
Their parents of being witches,
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Husbands accusing their wives,
Wives of their husbands.
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Nobody was safe.
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Once you were accused,
It was a domino effect.
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You would accuse someone else,
Try to deflect the attention
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From you
To some other poor soul.
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It was absolute pandemonium.
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Narrator: the outcome of salem's
Unrestrained legal witch hunt
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Was the judicial execution
Of 20 innocent men and women.
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On the surface,
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The trials were just
About allegations of witchcraft.
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But it seems that many accusers
Used the opportunity
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Of the witch hunt
To eliminate their enemies.
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*
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Narrator: the outcome of salem's
Infamous witch hunt in 1692
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Was the judicial execution
Of 20 innocent men and women.
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Today, each of the victims
Is remembered
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At salem's witch trials
Memorial,
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As salem historian
Sam baltrusis explains.
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Baltrusis:
This was erected in 1992
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To honor the 300-year
Anniversary
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00:10:17,867 --> 00:10:19,200
Of the salem witch trials.
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00:10:19,200 --> 00:10:21,300
These markers are actually
In sequential order
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Based on
When they were executed,
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So it starts with bridget bishop
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00:10:24,733 --> 00:10:27,833
And it ends
With samuel wardwell.
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Narrator: caught up in
A terrifying legal whirlwind,
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The 20 people memorialized here
Were all executed
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Within just over 100 days
During the summer of 1692.
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Given the kind of evidence
That was allowed in court,
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The accused
Didn't stand a chance.
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A lot of the accusations
Were ridiculous.
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Baltrusis: if you read some of
Them, there was a ghost pig.
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00:10:51,500 --> 00:10:54,200
This ghost pig had the face
Of alice parker on it
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And chased this man,
John westgate,
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Down the streets of salem
In 1692,
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And that was used to accuse
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00:10:59,733 --> 00:11:03,733
And execute
An innocent woman of witchcraft.
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Bellinger: the salem witch
Trials were a classic expression
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Of what happens when a group
Succumbs to mass hysteria
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00:11:11,933 --> 00:11:14,600
And things get out
Of their control.
219
00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:17,567
It's important to remember
That colonial salem
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Was essentially
Medieval england.
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These immigrants brought with
Them superstitious folk beliefs
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That would make it very easy
For witches
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To feel really
Genuinely frightening.
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Narrator: the admission of
So-called spectral evidence
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Followed english legal precedent
Set at an earlier witch trial
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00:11:38,767 --> 00:11:43,300
At bury st. Edmonds in england
In the 1660s.
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People could testify
To being attacked
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By a witch in spirit form,
Even though their specter
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Was obviously
Invisible to anyone else.
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Not only that,
These unsupported accusations
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Could be made by children, too.
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00:11:58,900 --> 00:12:00,700
Selwood:
The salem witch trial court
233
00:12:00,700 --> 00:12:03,833
With hysterical people,
The court sitting day after day,
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00:12:03,833 --> 00:12:07,733
New accusations coming out
Regularly against more people.
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00:12:07,733 --> 00:12:10,933
The net widening
And everybody being convicted.
236
00:12:10,933 --> 00:12:13,367
No real ability to present
A defense
237
00:12:13,367 --> 00:12:16,467
And no real sense that anybody
Wanted to listen to your defense
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00:12:16,467 --> 00:12:18,900
Must have been
Utterly terrifying.
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This is the memorial
For bridget bishop,
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00:12:22,733 --> 00:12:25,533
Bridget bishop was
The first woman to be executed.
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She was portrayed
As a loose woman
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Who would wear lacy garb
And red clothing.
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00:12:30,467 --> 00:12:33,400
But the red was a signal --
Or a sign of wealth,
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00:12:33,400 --> 00:12:35,967
And that's why the town
Did not like her.
245
00:12:35,967 --> 00:12:38,333
Bridget would get
These beautiful dresses made
246
00:12:38,333 --> 00:12:39,800
By local townspeople
247
00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:41,567
And kind of mysteriously
Lose her purse
248
00:12:41,567 --> 00:12:43,233
While they're asking
For the money.
249
00:12:43,233 --> 00:12:46,067
So if anything, she was guilty
Of penny-pinching.
250
00:12:46,067 --> 00:12:48,300
But that doesn't
Make you a witch.
251
00:12:49,967 --> 00:12:52,333
*
252
00:12:52,333 --> 00:12:55,433
Narrator: in salem's court,
However, five young girls,
253
00:12:55,433 --> 00:12:58,167
Including sam baltrusis'
Distant relative,
254
00:12:58,167 --> 00:13:01,167
12-year-old ann putnam jr.,
255
00:13:01,167 --> 00:13:04,133
Testified that richard bishop
Had bewitched them.
256
00:13:06,767 --> 00:13:08,067
After various adults
257
00:13:08,067 --> 00:13:11,267
Also said they had been
Tormented by her specter,
258
00:13:11,267 --> 00:13:16,200
Bridget was found guilty
And hanged on june 10, 1692.
259
00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:22,700
*
260
00:13:23,833 --> 00:13:26,333
After bridget bishop's
Execution,
261
00:13:26,333 --> 00:13:30,067
13 other salem women were also
Convicted and hanged,
262
00:13:30,067 --> 00:13:32,100
Including sarah good,
263
00:13:32,100 --> 00:13:35,233
Who insisted until her
Last breath on the gallows
264
00:13:35,233 --> 00:13:37,533
That she was innocent.
265
00:13:37,533 --> 00:13:40,700
According to legend, she cursed
One of the reverends
266
00:13:40,700 --> 00:13:42,767
Who were responsible
For the witch trials.
267
00:13:42,767 --> 00:13:46,667
She said, "If I'm a witch,
Then you're a wizard,
268
00:13:46,667 --> 00:13:48,867
And may god
Give you blood to drink."
269
00:13:48,867 --> 00:13:50,067
Well, guess what --
270
00:13:50,067 --> 00:13:51,500
The guy had a brain aneurysm,
271
00:13:51,500 --> 00:13:53,700
Ended up
Choking on his own blood.
272
00:13:53,700 --> 00:13:57,400
Narrator: as well as
The 14 women hanged in salem
273
00:13:57,400 --> 00:14:01,200
For being witches,
Six men were also put to death.
274
00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:05,500
Remarkably, one was a previous
Reverend of salem village,
275
00:14:05,500 --> 00:14:08,400
George burroughs.
276
00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:09,933
Baltrusis:
Now, at this point,
277
00:14:09,933 --> 00:14:13,233
They were looking for sort of
Like the devil himself,
278
00:14:13,233 --> 00:14:16,633
And according to ann putnam jr.
And multiple people
279
00:14:16,633 --> 00:14:19,167
That testified against
Reverend george burroughs,
280
00:14:19,167 --> 00:14:20,200
He was the devil.
281
00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:21,833
He was sort of the ringleader.
282
00:14:21,833 --> 00:14:23,500
But he was having
A lot of financial issues
283
00:14:23,500 --> 00:14:26,367
And borrowed money
From the putnam family.
284
00:14:26,367 --> 00:14:28,933
Narrator:
On the surface, the salem trials
285
00:14:28,933 --> 00:14:32,067
Were just about
Allegations of witchcraft.
286
00:14:32,067 --> 00:14:35,067
But it seems many accusers used
The opportunity
287
00:14:35,067 --> 00:14:37,500
To eliminate their enemies.
288
00:14:37,500 --> 00:14:39,933
Reverend burroughs had failed
To repay his debts
289
00:14:39,933 --> 00:14:42,933
To ann putnam jr.'s father,
Thomas putnam,
290
00:14:42,933 --> 00:14:44,667
For over 10 years,
291
00:14:44,667 --> 00:14:47,800
And many believe
This was the main reason
292
00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:52,067
Why he became caught up
In the witch hunt.
293
00:14:52,067 --> 00:14:55,600
Hoffman: socially, there was
A lot of bickering over land
294
00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:57,400
And like, who owned what.
295
00:14:57,400 --> 00:15:00,333
So there was a lot of tension
Going on.
296
00:15:00,333 --> 00:15:03,633
And usually when we find
Accusations of heresy
297
00:15:03,633 --> 00:15:06,233
And witchcraft and demons
And whatnot,
298
00:15:06,233 --> 00:15:08,433
There's usually something
Much more common
299
00:15:08,433 --> 00:15:10,967
And banal underpinning it.
300
00:15:10,967 --> 00:15:12,333
If someone wanted your land,
301
00:15:12,333 --> 00:15:13,900
If somebody wanted
Your property,
302
00:15:13,900 --> 00:15:15,733
If they didn't like you,
303
00:15:15,733 --> 00:15:17,833
Then the easiest way of
Getting rid of you
304
00:15:17,833 --> 00:15:21,067
Is to point
The fickle finger of fate.
305
00:15:21,067 --> 00:15:23,400
"I'll call you a witch."
306
00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:25,333
Baltrusis:
Reverend george burroughs,
307
00:15:25,333 --> 00:15:27,367
On all accounts,
Was not a perfect person,
308
00:15:27,367 --> 00:15:28,533
But he was a reverend.
309
00:15:28,533 --> 00:15:30,633
He was definitely
Not the devil himself.
310
00:15:30,633 --> 00:15:33,067
And when the people
Saw him executed,
311
00:15:33,067 --> 00:15:36,067
There was a quietness
That happened with the group
312
00:15:36,067 --> 00:15:39,733
Because they felt like
What they were doing was wrong.
313
00:15:39,733 --> 00:15:41,367
Narrator: the thing that most
Affected people
314
00:15:41,367 --> 00:15:44,167
At reverend burroughs'
Public execution
315
00:15:44,167 --> 00:15:47,067
Was the fact that he loudly
Recited the lord's prayer
316
00:15:47,067 --> 00:15:50,067
Just as he was about
To be hanged.
317
00:15:50,067 --> 00:15:52,900
Surely no devil worshiper
Would do this.
318
00:15:52,900 --> 00:15:56,300
*
319
00:15:56,300 --> 00:16:00,167
Yet despite the growing public
Doubts about the salem trials,
320
00:16:00,167 --> 00:16:02,833
The witch hunts still continued.
321
00:16:02,833 --> 00:16:06,667
Among the last to be executed
Was an elderly landowner,
322
00:16:06,667 --> 00:16:08,567
Giles corey.
323
00:16:08,567 --> 00:16:10,267
However, he wasn't hanged
324
00:16:10,267 --> 00:16:12,500
Like the other victims
Of the witch hunt.
325
00:16:12,500 --> 00:16:16,400
Because he refused to plead
Either guilty or not guilty,
326
00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:20,833
The salem court, uniquely
In american judicial history,
327
00:16:20,833 --> 00:16:23,167
Ordered him to be tortured.
328
00:16:27,733 --> 00:16:34,100
*
329
00:16:34,100 --> 00:16:38,667
Narrator: during the infamous
Salem witch trials in 1692,
330
00:16:38,667 --> 00:16:41,700
20 innocent men
And women were executed
331
00:16:41,700 --> 00:16:44,800
In one of history's
Deadliest witch hunts.
332
00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:48,133
All of them were hanged
Except for one,
333
00:16:48,133 --> 00:16:51,133
An elderly landowner named
Giles corey,
334
00:16:51,133 --> 00:16:53,433
Who was tortured to death,
335
00:16:53,433 --> 00:16:56,733
Uniquely
In american judicial history.
336
00:16:56,733 --> 00:17:00,667
The salem judges ordered him
To be slowly crushed
337
00:17:00,667 --> 00:17:03,767
By heavy stones.
338
00:17:03,767 --> 00:17:06,800
The story of giles corey
Is really interesting
339
00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:08,400
And very tragic.
340
00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:12,067
His wife becomes accused
Of witchcraft,
341
00:17:12,067 --> 00:17:14,667
And he's horrified
Because he believes it.
342
00:17:14,667 --> 00:17:20,400
He believes that she's a witch,
And all this time he never knew.
343
00:17:20,400 --> 00:17:25,300
But quickly the tables turn,
And he's accused of witchcraft.
344
00:17:25,300 --> 00:17:27,667
*
345
00:17:29,067 --> 00:17:32,867
Local historian thomas vallor
Is an expert on the story
346
00:17:32,867 --> 00:17:37,333
Of what happened
To giles corey and why.
347
00:17:37,333 --> 00:17:40,633
In the beginning, giles was
A big fan of the witch trials.
348
00:17:40,633 --> 00:17:43,433
He loved going.
He loved checking them out.
349
00:17:43,433 --> 00:17:45,400
It was fun for people back then.
350
00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,500
But his wife, martha corey,
Could see through the hysteria
351
00:17:48,500 --> 00:17:50,767
A little bit better than him,
And she would try
352
00:17:50,767 --> 00:17:54,533
To discourage him
From going to see the trials.
353
00:17:54,533 --> 00:17:56,667
Narrator:
But giles corey's views
354
00:17:56,667 --> 00:17:59,067
About the witch trials
Quickly changed
355
00:17:59,067 --> 00:18:02,933
Once he and his wife got caught
Up in the witch hunt themselves.
356
00:18:02,933 --> 00:18:06,067
Giles was accused,
Like so many others,
357
00:18:06,067 --> 00:18:11,867
By ann putnam jr., as well
As several other young girls.
358
00:18:11,867 --> 00:18:15,700
And you can see
During his trial, the accusers,
359
00:18:15,700 --> 00:18:17,067
The way that they spoke,
360
00:18:17,067 --> 00:18:19,933
It was a way of like tugging
On people's heartstrings.
361
00:18:19,933 --> 00:18:23,567
It was really dramatic.
362
00:18:23,567 --> 00:18:26,700
"I saw an apparition of giles
Corey come and afflict me.
363
00:18:26,700 --> 00:18:30,733
He did afflict and torture me
Most grievously several times.
364
00:18:30,733 --> 00:18:32,833
And I verily believe in my heart
365
00:18:32,833 --> 00:18:36,333
That giles corey
Is a dreadful wizard."
366
00:18:36,333 --> 00:18:38,700
Narrator: when giles corey was
Questioned in court
367
00:18:38,700 --> 00:18:41,467
About the accusations
Of witchcraft,
368
00:18:41,467 --> 00:18:44,333
He used an unusual legal tactic,
369
00:18:44,333 --> 00:18:48,633
Refusing to plead either guilty
Or not guilty.
370
00:18:48,633 --> 00:18:51,500
Vallor: giles understood
What was going on.
371
00:18:51,500 --> 00:18:53,267
He had been a lawyer
When he was younger,
372
00:18:53,267 --> 00:18:55,933
And he could see that the way
The court proceedings
373
00:18:55,933 --> 00:18:58,067
Were working out,
A lot of the times
374
00:18:58,067 --> 00:19:03,567
They were confiscating the land
And property of the victims.
375
00:19:03,567 --> 00:19:06,167
He knew that they were coming
For him, too,
376
00:19:06,167 --> 00:19:09,133
Because he had a lot of land.
377
00:19:09,133 --> 00:19:10,800
Felix: in those days,
378
00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:14,500
If you remained mute,
Even if you were found guilty,
379
00:19:14,500 --> 00:19:17,100
Your property would not go
To the crown.
380
00:19:17,100 --> 00:19:21,667
So he remained mute so that his
Family could get his property,
381
00:19:21,667 --> 00:19:23,233
His land, his money.
382
00:19:23,233 --> 00:19:28,400
Narrator: but the accused had no
Legal right to silence in 1692,
383
00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:32,533
So the salem court sentenced
Giles corey to be tortured
384
00:19:32,533 --> 00:19:36,067
In order to force him to plead.
385
00:19:36,067 --> 00:19:38,200
Vallor: no one knows exactly
Where giles corey
386
00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:40,100
Was pressed to death,
But generally speaking,
387
00:19:40,100 --> 00:19:41,767
It was outside
Of the witch dungeon,
388
00:19:41,767 --> 00:19:44,133
Which was located
Just a bit over there.
389
00:19:44,133 --> 00:19:47,300
So a lot of the local historians
Like to go on the theory
390
00:19:47,300 --> 00:19:50,600
That it was in this back corner
Here of howard street cemetery.
391
00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:59,067
*
392
00:19:59,067 --> 00:20:02,833
Felix:
So the sentence was that you'd
Be taken from this courtroom
393
00:20:02,833 --> 00:20:06,100
And weights of stone
As heavy as you can bear
394
00:20:06,100 --> 00:20:09,400
And heavier
To be placed upon your body
395
00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:12,800
Until you either plead
Or you die.
396
00:20:12,800 --> 00:20:17,300
*
397
00:20:17,300 --> 00:20:20,733
Gough: while he's being
Tortured, the sheriff asked him,
398
00:20:20,733 --> 00:20:25,367
"Have you changed your mind?
Will you enter a plea?"
399
00:20:25,367 --> 00:20:27,833
To which he replies,
400
00:20:27,833 --> 00:20:32,233
"More weight, more weight."
401
00:20:33,500 --> 00:20:37,800
Complete defiance,
And more weight he got.
402
00:20:37,800 --> 00:20:40,800
*
403
00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:43,033
Vallor: remember, they weren't
Trying to kill him.
404
00:20:43,033 --> 00:20:46,067
They wanted him to give up.
They wanted him to give in.
405
00:20:46,067 --> 00:20:48,133
So they made it slow.
406
00:20:48,133 --> 00:20:52,067
They made it last
As long as they could.
407
00:20:52,067 --> 00:20:55,767
The man who is in charge
Of the pressing of giles corey
408
00:20:55,767 --> 00:20:57,833
Was sheriff george corwin,
409
00:20:57,833 --> 00:21:02,300
Who I like to call the sick,
Sadistic sheriff of salem,
410
00:21:02,300 --> 00:21:05,300
Because it's alliteration,
But also it's true.
411
00:21:05,300 --> 00:21:07,733
It's very clear
That he was a sadistic person,
412
00:21:07,733 --> 00:21:11,200
And he enjoyed torturing people.
413
00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,067
Gough: can you really imagine
How awful it would have been
414
00:21:15,067 --> 00:21:17,300
To have died in this fashion?
415
00:21:17,300 --> 00:21:23,233
Slowly crushed to death,
Slowly suffocating.
416
00:21:23,233 --> 00:21:25,400
Hour after hour.
417
00:21:27,467 --> 00:21:31,300
Vallor: so after two days of
This torture, giles corey dies,
418
00:21:31,300 --> 00:21:37,667
But not before issuing a curse
On the sheriff and the village.
419
00:21:38,733 --> 00:21:43,133
He said, "I curse you all
And salem, too."
420
00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,400
*
421
00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,067
Narrator:
Giles corey's refusal to plead
422
00:21:52,067 --> 00:21:55,300
Before his death
Successfully led to his family
423
00:21:55,300 --> 00:21:57,833
Inheriting his land
And property.
424
00:21:57,833 --> 00:21:59,900
But according to
Local salem legend,
425
00:21:59,900 --> 00:22:03,167
Giles corey's most enduring
Legacy
426
00:22:03,167 --> 00:22:07,267
Was the curse that he uttered
With his last dying breath.
427
00:22:07,267 --> 00:22:11,533
It's said that his curse
And his ghost
428
00:22:11,533 --> 00:22:14,567
Still haunts salem to this day.
429
00:22:14,567 --> 00:22:19,200
*
430
00:22:21,067 --> 00:22:27,300
*
431
00:22:27,300 --> 00:22:31,700
Narrator: during the notorious
Salem witch trials of 1692,
432
00:22:31,700 --> 00:22:35,800
20 innocent people
Were executed.
433
00:22:35,800 --> 00:22:38,100
One of the last victims
Of the witch hunt
434
00:22:38,100 --> 00:22:41,133
Was landowner giles corey.
435
00:22:41,133 --> 00:22:43,733
Uniquely in american
Judicial history,
436
00:22:43,733 --> 00:22:46,467
He was tortured in order to
Force him
437
00:22:46,467 --> 00:22:49,200
To plead either guilty
Or not guilty,
438
00:22:49,200 --> 00:22:52,600
But to ensure his family
Inherited his property,
439
00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:58,933
Giles corey refused to plead up
Until his last gasp.
440
00:22:58,933 --> 00:23:02,067
Gough:
Finally, in his final breath,
441
00:23:02,067 --> 00:23:05,567
He issues a curse
Not only to the sheriff,
442
00:23:05,567 --> 00:23:09,100
But to the entire village.
443
00:23:09,100 --> 00:23:12,633
Ever since then,
Strangely enough,
444
00:23:12,633 --> 00:23:14,367
Starting with sheriff corwin,
445
00:23:14,367 --> 00:23:18,333
Every single high sheriff
Of essex county seated in salem
446
00:23:18,333 --> 00:23:21,433
Died while in office
Or had to retire early
447
00:23:21,433 --> 00:23:25,667
Due to heart disease
Or random blood diseases,
448
00:23:25,667 --> 00:23:30,700
And this lasted all the way up
Until 1991.
449
00:23:30,700 --> 00:23:33,167
Narrator:
Giles corey's deadly curse
450
00:23:33,167 --> 00:23:36,433
Is said to have been broken
Only by essex county
451
00:23:36,433 --> 00:23:41,533
Moving the sheriff's office
Out of salem in 1991.
452
00:23:41,533 --> 00:23:44,633
The other side of the curse
That more locals know about
453
00:23:44,633 --> 00:23:47,933
Is they say that they'll see
Giles' specter,
454
00:23:47,933 --> 00:23:49,767
His ghost,
Kind of wandering around
455
00:23:49,767 --> 00:23:53,933
Before terrible things
Happen to the city.
456
00:23:53,933 --> 00:23:55,467
Gough: decade after decade,
457
00:23:55,467 --> 00:24:00,133
People would see this apparition
On the spot where he died.
458
00:24:00,133 --> 00:24:03,700
But the most famous
Manifestation of this apparition
459
00:24:03,700 --> 00:24:07,233
Of giles corey was in 1914,
460
00:24:07,233 --> 00:24:10,667
Right before the great fire
Of salem.
461
00:24:10,667 --> 00:24:13,767
Some women said that they saw
The old man
462
00:24:13,767 --> 00:24:17,500
Standing kind of around
This general area.
463
00:24:17,500 --> 00:24:20,733
They saw from his,
Like, waist up.
464
00:24:20,733 --> 00:24:23,900
And when they called to him,
He disappeared.
465
00:24:23,900 --> 00:24:28,900
That night, about one-third of
The city of salem began to burn.
466
00:24:28,900 --> 00:24:31,733
*
467
00:24:31,733 --> 00:24:34,967
Narrator: curiously, for those
Who believe in curses,
468
00:24:34,967 --> 00:24:39,133
Salem's great fire in 1914
Began in a building
469
00:24:39,133 --> 00:24:43,267
Very close to the place where
The alleged witches in 1692
470
00:24:43,267 --> 00:24:45,167
Were all hanged.
471
00:24:45,167 --> 00:24:48,167
Giles corey's curse
Remains famous,
472
00:24:48,167 --> 00:24:51,233
But historically,
His most important legacy
473
00:24:51,233 --> 00:24:54,200
Was that his uniquely
Gruesome torture
474
00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:57,633
Became a major turning point
Of the salem witch hunt.
475
00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:02,267
Vallor: public opinion really
Began to change.
476
00:25:02,267 --> 00:25:06,067
Even though giles corey
Wasn't seen as a good person,
477
00:25:06,067 --> 00:25:10,300
What happened to him was just
So unfathomably disgusting
478
00:25:10,300 --> 00:25:13,800
That it changed the way
That people looked at this.
479
00:25:13,800 --> 00:25:15,733
People really started
To understand
480
00:25:15,733 --> 00:25:19,367
That something terrible
Was happening.
481
00:25:19,367 --> 00:25:21,367
Narrator: the last victims of
The witch hunt
482
00:25:21,367 --> 00:25:25,333
Were hanged
On september 22, 1692,
483
00:25:25,333 --> 00:25:29,867
Just three days
After giles corey's death.
484
00:25:29,867 --> 00:25:32,600
Within just a few
Terrifying months,
485
00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:36,367
20 innocent men and women
Had been wrongfully executed
486
00:25:36,367 --> 00:25:40,600
By the colonial
American justice system.
487
00:25:40,600 --> 00:25:42,700
Even though we classify it
As a witch trial,
488
00:25:42,700 --> 00:25:44,533
Actually it's a miscarriage
Of justice.
489
00:25:44,533 --> 00:25:46,133
This is mass hysteria
490
00:25:46,133 --> 00:25:48,667
Resulting in an extraordinary
Number of deaths.
491
00:25:48,667 --> 00:25:51,067
So we have to see it
In that more modern context.
492
00:25:51,067 --> 00:25:53,133
Immediately, there was
An incredible
493
00:25:53,133 --> 00:25:55,933
Outpouring of contrition
And remorse.
494
00:25:55,933 --> 00:26:00,933
And the families of the victims
Were recompensed for lost money.
495
00:26:00,933 --> 00:26:04,500
Obviously, they couldn't
Get back their loved ones.
496
00:26:04,500 --> 00:26:06,833
Narrator: official pardons were
Also granted
497
00:26:06,833 --> 00:26:08,967
To the witch hunt victims.
498
00:26:08,967 --> 00:26:12,067
But in the years
That followed the tragic events,
499
00:26:12,067 --> 00:26:14,867
The salem region suffered many
Misfortunes,
500
00:26:14,867 --> 00:26:19,233
Such as droughts, crop failures,
Smallpox outbreaks,
501
00:26:19,233 --> 00:26:22,367
And tribal attacks,
Making many puritans
502
00:26:22,367 --> 00:26:26,333
Feel that god was continuing to
Punish them for their mistake.
503
00:26:26,333 --> 00:26:28,367
*
504
00:26:28,367 --> 00:26:31,500
Nonetheless, the witch trials
Were a turning point
505
00:26:31,500 --> 00:26:34,067
For religion in america.
506
00:26:34,067 --> 00:26:36,733
Really, I think if you look
At this time period,
507
00:26:36,733 --> 00:26:40,433
It was the beginning of the end
Of a theocracy, right.
508
00:26:40,433 --> 00:26:44,300
This was a time when religion
Was the end-all and be-all here.
509
00:26:44,300 --> 00:26:47,800
And this showed that
It couldn't be maybe trusted
510
00:26:47,800 --> 00:26:50,067
With such complete control.
511
00:26:50,067 --> 00:26:53,133
And it started breaking down
At that point.
512
00:26:53,133 --> 00:26:54,900
Selwood:
America was set up as a country
513
00:26:54,900 --> 00:26:58,067
Where people could express
Their own religious views.
514
00:26:58,067 --> 00:27:01,200
They were escaping religious
Persecution in the old world
515
00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,733
To live out their vision
Of a better world.
516
00:27:03,733 --> 00:27:06,133
And the fact that so quickly
It descended
517
00:27:06,133 --> 00:27:08,300
Into this kind of
Religious tyranny,
518
00:27:08,300 --> 00:27:11,667
I think is something that still
Haunts the american imagination.
519
00:27:14,133 --> 00:27:17,133
Narrator: a century after
The salem witch trials,
520
00:27:17,133 --> 00:27:19,200
The newly independent
United states
521
00:27:19,200 --> 00:27:22,600
Guaranteed the separation
Of church and state,
522
00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:25,200
And in the constitution's
First amendment,
523
00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:27,967
Proclaimed freedom
Of religious expression
524
00:27:27,967 --> 00:27:31,200
As one of the country's
Founding ideals.
525
00:27:31,200 --> 00:27:34,267
Today, protected by
The full force of the law,
526
00:27:34,267 --> 00:27:36,667
Witchcraft in all its forms
527
00:27:36,667 --> 00:27:40,733
Is one of the united states'
Fastest-growing religions.
528
00:27:40,733 --> 00:27:46,667
*
529
00:27:46,667 --> 00:27:49,700
Witchcraft for so long
Was the taboo thing,
530
00:27:49,700 --> 00:27:51,467
The absolutely forbidden thing
531
00:27:51,467 --> 00:27:53,867
That had to be rooted out
At all costs.
532
00:27:53,867 --> 00:27:56,567
And yet now society
Has come to understand
533
00:27:56,567 --> 00:27:58,500
And embrace
And accept witchcraft.
534
00:27:58,500 --> 00:28:00,500
This would have been
Unimaginable to the people
535
00:28:00,500 --> 00:28:02,300
In salem in the 1690s.
536
00:28:02,300 --> 00:28:04,333
And the thing that would
Probably have horrified them
537
00:28:04,333 --> 00:28:06,600
The most
Is that their history
538
00:28:06,600 --> 00:28:10,133
Has become such a vibrant part
Of that growth story.
539
00:28:10,133 --> 00:28:14,133
Now, salem is a haven
For modern-day witchcraft.
540
00:28:14,133 --> 00:28:17,233
Everything that you can find
To do with modern witchcraft
541
00:28:17,233 --> 00:28:19,700
And modern pagan practices
Is now in salem.
542
00:28:19,700 --> 00:28:24,067
This is almost international
World headquarters for it.
543
00:28:24,067 --> 00:28:25,467
Narrator: in particular,
544
00:28:25,467 --> 00:28:27,700
Salem today is renowned
As america's
545
00:28:27,700 --> 00:28:30,100
Top halloween destination,
546
00:28:30,100 --> 00:28:33,633
Attracting large numbers
Of revelers every october.
547
00:28:33,633 --> 00:28:36,767
[ cackling ]
548
00:28:36,767 --> 00:28:43,600
Happy halloween from salem,
Massachusetts.
549
00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:44,767
Happy halloween.
550
00:28:44,767 --> 00:28:47,267
[ cheering ]
-happy halloween!
551
00:28:47,267 --> 00:28:49,367
*
552
00:28:49,367 --> 00:28:50,867
Narrator:
Throughout the year,
553
00:28:50,867 --> 00:28:54,567
Salem proudly promotes itself
As the witch city
554
00:28:54,567 --> 00:28:56,933
And is home to a huge number
Of shops
555
00:28:56,933 --> 00:28:59,067
That sell witchcraft supplies
556
00:28:59,067 --> 00:29:01,900
And mysterious
Occult paraphernalia
557
00:29:01,900 --> 00:29:05,067
For casting magic spells.
558
00:29:05,067 --> 00:29:07,500
Dickinson: when the first
Witchcraft shop opened in salem,
559
00:29:07,500 --> 00:29:10,833
Where witches, alleged witches,
Were put to death,
560
00:29:10,833 --> 00:29:12,733
It was almost like
An "I dare you."
561
00:29:12,733 --> 00:29:16,233
"I dare you" to try to take this
Right away from me.
562
00:29:16,233 --> 00:29:21,067
So I think it's a very american
Type of freedom, isn't it?
563
00:29:21,067 --> 00:29:25,867
Narrator: ironically, even those
Executed as witches in 1692
564
00:29:25,867 --> 00:29:28,067
Would certainly
Have been outraged
565
00:29:28,067 --> 00:29:31,467
By all the witchcraft
Going on in salem today.
566
00:29:33,067 --> 00:29:35,267
I think the spirits
Of the accused
567
00:29:35,267 --> 00:29:37,833
From the salem witch trials
Are still here.
568
00:29:37,833 --> 00:29:39,400
I also think
It's important to note
569
00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:41,933
None of the actual accused
In the salem witchcraft trials
570
00:29:41,933 --> 00:29:43,333
Were actually witches.
571
00:29:43,333 --> 00:29:46,967
So they probably don't look
At us too fondly for practicing.
572
00:29:46,967 --> 00:29:48,567
So out in the open here.
573
00:29:48,567 --> 00:29:51,833
*
574
00:29:51,833 --> 00:29:54,800
Narrator: today, many witches
And residents of salem
575
00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:58,733
Believe the spirits
Of those accused in 1692 remain,
576
00:29:58,733 --> 00:30:00,900
Vengefully haunting the town
577
00:30:00,900 --> 00:30:05,433
As a result
Of their wrongful executions.
578
00:30:05,433 --> 00:30:09,867
Salem historian sam baltrusis
Feels particularly cursed
579
00:30:09,867 --> 00:30:12,933
Because of his relation
To ann putnam jr.,
580
00:30:12,933 --> 00:30:16,400
Whose testimony sent
So many victims to the gallows.
581
00:30:16,400 --> 00:30:19,067
*
582
00:30:19,067 --> 00:30:21,833
Sam is looking to modern-day
Salem witchcraft
583
00:30:21,833 --> 00:30:23,567
To lift the curse.
584
00:30:29,933 --> 00:30:36,267
*
585
00:30:36,267 --> 00:30:40,733
Narrator: during the infamous
Salem witch trials of 1692,
586
00:30:40,733 --> 00:30:44,133
20 innocent men and women
Were executed.
587
00:30:44,133 --> 00:30:47,267
Today, salem is renowned
Not just for being the site
588
00:30:47,267 --> 00:30:49,900
Of one of history's
Deadliest witch hunts,
589
00:30:49,900 --> 00:30:54,700
But also for its
Remarkable present-day
Population of witches.
590
00:30:54,700 --> 00:31:00,533
*
591
00:31:00,533 --> 00:31:03,267
Man: I conjure this circle
As a barrier
592
00:31:03,267 --> 00:31:07,300
To protect this space
From all malice and harm.
593
00:31:07,300 --> 00:31:10,300
I conjure this circle
594
00:31:10,300 --> 00:31:13,400
To serve as a place
Beyond time and space
595
00:31:13,400 --> 00:31:15,200
Where the gods and spirits
596
00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:19,233
May meet in perfect love
And perfect trust.
597
00:31:19,233 --> 00:31:21,633
This space is declared sacred.
598
00:31:21,633 --> 00:31:24,067
[ stick tapping ]
599
00:31:24,067 --> 00:31:27,700
Gough: today,
Witchcraft is extremely popular,
600
00:31:27,700 --> 00:31:32,433
And I believe that is because
You don't need an institution
601
00:31:32,433 --> 00:31:34,600
To tell you what to do
And when to do it.
602
00:31:34,600 --> 00:31:41,233
You're not following the dogma
Of a big organized religion.
603
00:31:41,233 --> 00:31:44,233
Man: I invite you
To affirm with me this title
604
00:31:44,233 --> 00:31:46,367
To claim this power as your own.
605
00:31:46,367 --> 00:31:48,500
Speak up forth
And make it so.
606
00:31:48,500 --> 00:31:49,833
I am witch.
607
00:31:49,833 --> 00:31:51,933
All: I am witch.
608
00:31:54,133 --> 00:31:56,400
The fascination now
With witchcraft
609
00:31:56,400 --> 00:31:58,600
And the general societal
Openness towards it,
610
00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:02,067
In many places, it is lawfully
Recognized as a religion.
611
00:32:02,067 --> 00:32:04,167
It's something that those back
In salem
612
00:32:04,167 --> 00:32:05,467
At the time of the trials
613
00:32:05,467 --> 00:32:09,100
Simply could not
Even have comprehended.
614
00:32:09,100 --> 00:32:11,267
Narrator:
Ironically, although witchcraft
615
00:32:11,267 --> 00:32:14,267
Is practiced very openly
In salem today,
616
00:32:14,267 --> 00:32:18,600
Back in 16 92, when so many
People were executed as witches,
617
00:32:18,600 --> 00:32:23,333
There was almost certainly
No witchcraft happening.
618
00:32:23,333 --> 00:32:27,967
As a result of the terrible
Miscarriage of justice in 1692,
619
00:32:27,967 --> 00:32:32,267
Salem historian sam baltrusis
Believes that salem today
620
00:32:32,267 --> 00:32:37,267
Remains cursed by the spirits
Of those wrongfully executed.
621
00:32:37,267 --> 00:32:41,633
As someone who has written about
The spirits of salem
622
00:32:41,633 --> 00:32:45,267
And the impact
Of the salem witch trials,
623
00:32:45,267 --> 00:32:47,667
I have to say that salem,
Without a doubt,
624
00:32:47,667 --> 00:32:50,733
Is the most haunted location
In the country.
625
00:32:50,733 --> 00:32:55,967
What happened in 1692 left a
Psychic imprint on the land.
626
00:32:55,967 --> 00:32:58,700
The land is stained with blood.
627
00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:04,433
Narrator: sam believes that
He's also personally cursed
628
00:33:04,433 --> 00:33:07,467
Because of his relation
To ann putnam jr.,
629
00:33:07,467 --> 00:33:10,367
Who accused 17
Of the 20 men and women
630
00:33:10,367 --> 00:33:14,600
Wrongfully executed in 1692.
631
00:33:14,600 --> 00:33:16,267
Hoping that
A witchcraft ceremony
632
00:33:16,267 --> 00:33:19,100
Will be able to magically
Lift his curse,
633
00:33:19,100 --> 00:33:23,433
Sam has come to the parsonage
Where the salem witch hunt began
634
00:33:23,433 --> 00:33:26,500
With witch high priestess
Dana masson.
635
00:33:29,600 --> 00:33:32,300
Sacred space has been created.
636
00:33:33,367 --> 00:33:37,800
A crystal shield is
Surrounding us
637
00:33:37,800 --> 00:33:40,633
Above, below and on all sides.
638
00:33:42,700 --> 00:33:47,433
Anything malevolent, evil
Or bane has been cast forth
639
00:33:47,433 --> 00:33:49,267
From this space.
640
00:33:49,267 --> 00:33:53,133
Only that which is of love
And light may remain.
641
00:33:53,133 --> 00:33:56,067
So mote it be.
642
00:33:56,067 --> 00:33:59,567
Narrator: dana has a personal
Interest in this ceremony, too,
643
00:33:59,567 --> 00:34:01,300
Because she happens
To be related
644
00:34:01,300 --> 00:34:04,500
To a victim of the witch hunt,
Elizabeth howe,
645
00:34:04,500 --> 00:34:09,833
One of the many who was accused
By ann putnam jr.
646
00:34:09,833 --> 00:34:14,967
I call unto and invite
To this sacred space
647
00:34:14,967 --> 00:34:19,467
The spirits of those
Who were accused
648
00:34:19,467 --> 00:34:22,833
In the salem witch trials
Of 1692
649
00:34:22,833 --> 00:34:24,867
To join us in our circle today.
650
00:34:24,867 --> 00:34:27,067
*
651
00:34:27,067 --> 00:34:32,100
I call unto and invite those
Who were accusers
652
00:34:32,100 --> 00:34:36,100
In the salem witch trials
In 1692
653
00:34:36,100 --> 00:34:39,267
To join us in our circle today.
654
00:34:39,267 --> 00:34:40,667
Hail and welcome.
655
00:34:42,533 --> 00:34:44,533
[ exhales ]
656
00:34:44,533 --> 00:34:46,933
So I feel -- I feel like
657
00:34:46,933 --> 00:34:49,100
When you called forward
The accusers,
658
00:34:49,100 --> 00:34:52,633
I feel like that ann putnam jr.
Is here with us.
659
00:34:52,633 --> 00:34:54,100
I think she is, too.
660
00:34:54,100 --> 00:34:57,133
Narrator:
Now that all the spirits
Of the wrongfully executed
661
00:34:57,133 --> 00:35:00,967
Are believed to be gathered
Inside the magic circle,
662
00:35:00,967 --> 00:35:03,933
Sam hopes that
By restating an apology,
663
00:35:03,933 --> 00:35:06,267
Which ann putnam jr.
Regretfully wrote
664
00:35:06,267 --> 00:35:08,333
After the witch trials,
665
00:35:08,333 --> 00:35:12,300
The vengeful spirits
Will lift their curse.
666
00:35:12,300 --> 00:35:15,233
Baltrusis: so I'm going
To apologize to you
667
00:35:15,233 --> 00:35:17,567
Representing elizabeth howe.
668
00:35:18,867 --> 00:35:21,900
And these are your words.
669
00:35:21,900 --> 00:35:24,433
"I desire to be humbled
Before god
670
00:35:24,433 --> 00:35:28,567
For the accusing of several
Persons of a grievous crime
671
00:35:28,567 --> 00:35:32,067
Whereby their lives
Were taken away from them,
672
00:35:32,067 --> 00:35:36,267
Whom now I have good reason to
Believe were innocent persons,
673
00:35:36,267 --> 00:35:38,600
And earnestly beg forgiveness
Of god
674
00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:41,500
And from all those
Onto whom I have given
675
00:35:41,500 --> 00:35:44,067
Just cause
Of sorrow and offense,
676
00:35:44,067 --> 00:35:47,367
Whose relations were
Taken away or accused."
677
00:35:51,300 --> 00:35:55,767
So I apologize to you
And the innocent victims
678
00:35:55,767 --> 00:35:58,767
For my cousin
Ann putnam jr.
679
00:36:04,433 --> 00:36:11,267
On behalf of elizabeth howe
And all of the other accused,
680
00:36:11,267 --> 00:36:12,867
I accept.
681
00:36:12,867 --> 00:36:20,833
*
682
00:36:20,833 --> 00:36:22,367
Narrator:
Sam hopes the curse
683
00:36:22,367 --> 00:36:24,867
That he believes
Has afflicted him will now
684
00:36:24,867 --> 00:36:28,867
Be lifted by the spirits
Of those wrongfully executed.
685
00:36:28,867 --> 00:36:30,200
But most of all,
686
00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:34,067
Just as ann putnam jr.
Learned from her mistakes,
687
00:36:34,067 --> 00:36:36,900
He hopes that the lessons
Of the salem witch hunt
688
00:36:36,900 --> 00:36:39,767
Will be learned
All across the world,
689
00:36:39,767 --> 00:36:41,200
Because, sadly,
690
00:36:41,200 --> 00:36:45,400
Murderous witch hunts
Are still taking place today.
691
00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:48,333
*
692
00:36:52,267 --> 00:36:58,900
*
693
00:36:58,900 --> 00:37:03,600
Narrator: during the notorious
Salem witch trials in 1692,
694
00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:06,533
20 innocent men
And women were executed
695
00:37:06,533 --> 00:37:09,800
In one of history's
Deadliest witch hunts.
696
00:37:09,800 --> 00:37:13,367
Gough: the irony
And undoubtedly the tragedy
697
00:37:13,367 --> 00:37:15,567
Is that none of the people
Executed
698
00:37:15,567 --> 00:37:18,400
In salem
For witchcraft were witches.
699
00:37:18,400 --> 00:37:22,067
They were behaving just a little
Bit different from the norm.
700
00:37:22,067 --> 00:37:26,833
But that was enough
To accuse them of witchcraft.
701
00:37:26,833 --> 00:37:29,433
Narrator:
12-year-old ann putnam jr.
702
00:37:29,433 --> 00:37:32,067
Was one of the most
Prolific accusers,
703
00:37:32,067 --> 00:37:36,333
Whose testimony helped convict
17 of the 20 accused witches
704
00:37:36,333 --> 00:37:38,733
Who were executed.
705
00:37:38,733 --> 00:37:42,867
Among those she testified
Against were george burroughs,
706
00:37:42,867 --> 00:37:45,467
The former reverend
Of salem village,
707
00:37:45,467 --> 00:37:47,333
And giles corey,
708
00:37:47,333 --> 00:37:50,533
The only person
In american judicial history
709
00:37:50,533 --> 00:37:54,267
To be tortured to death
For refusing to plead.
710
00:37:54,267 --> 00:37:59,433
Picknett: there is no doubt that
A terrible historic wrong
711
00:37:59,433 --> 00:38:02,767
Was done
To all the accused at salem.
712
00:38:02,767 --> 00:38:08,867
It was just... [ sighs ]
An utterly tragic case
713
00:38:08,867 --> 00:38:10,367
Of mass hysteria,
714
00:38:10,367 --> 00:38:14,233
Which just got completely
Out of hand.
715
00:38:14,233 --> 00:38:17,467
It's almost impossible
To imagine the terror
716
00:38:17,467 --> 00:38:20,933
Of being one
Of the accused at salem.
717
00:38:20,933 --> 00:38:24,500
To know that you're not
Bewitching anybody.
718
00:38:24,500 --> 00:38:26,467
You're not possessed
By the devil.
719
00:38:26,467 --> 00:38:28,067
You're just an ordinary person.
720
00:38:28,067 --> 00:38:30,733
And suddenly all
Of your neighbors
721
00:38:30,733 --> 00:38:33,867
That you might have got
On well with in previous times
722
00:38:33,867 --> 00:38:36,467
Are there
Pointing the finger at you
723
00:38:36,467 --> 00:38:39,900
And saying you're a witch.
"Kill, kill, kill."
724
00:38:39,900 --> 00:38:42,167
Narrator:
For the modern united states,
725
00:38:42,167 --> 00:38:45,933
Salem's frenzied witch hunt
Back in 1692
726
00:38:45,933 --> 00:38:47,867
Has served as a stark warning
727
00:38:47,867 --> 00:38:50,867
Of the dangers
Of religious tyranny.
728
00:38:50,867 --> 00:38:53,733
It's because freedom
Of religious expression is today
729
00:38:53,733 --> 00:38:57,167
Constitutionally guaranteed
In the united states
730
00:38:57,167 --> 00:38:58,500
That salem has been able
731
00:38:58,500 --> 00:39:03,300
To become a hotbed
Of modern witchcraft.
732
00:39:03,300 --> 00:39:05,100
Allouise: this town needed
A sort of reclamation
733
00:39:05,100 --> 00:39:06,767
After what happened here.
734
00:39:06,767 --> 00:39:08,700
Horrors happened
And people were executed.
735
00:39:08,700 --> 00:39:10,933
Now it's a place
Where witchcraft in a community
736
00:39:10,933 --> 00:39:13,300
Is thriving and flourishing.
737
00:39:13,300 --> 00:39:16,067
So it's taking it back
For the practitioners now
738
00:39:16,067 --> 00:39:18,900
And saying we won't
Allow something like
This to happen again.
739
00:39:18,900 --> 00:39:21,333
*
740
00:39:21,333 --> 00:39:22,800
Narrator: but sadly,
741
00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:25,900
Although the lessons of history
Have been learned in salem,
742
00:39:25,900 --> 00:39:31,067
Elsewhere, murderous witch hunts
Are still taking place today.
743
00:39:31,067 --> 00:39:33,133
Selwood: when we look and smile
At the bright lights
744
00:39:33,133 --> 00:39:35,933
And exuberance of salem today,
We should remember
745
00:39:35,933 --> 00:39:38,700
That allegations of witchcraft
Have not gone away.
746
00:39:38,700 --> 00:39:41,567
There are parts of the world in
Which allegations of witchcraft
747
00:39:41,567 --> 00:39:44,733
Are still brought against
People, predominantly women,
748
00:39:44,733 --> 00:39:48,800
And they are regularly convicted
And executed for witchcraft.
749
00:39:48,800 --> 00:39:52,333
Unfortunately, all over
The world,
750
00:39:52,333 --> 00:39:56,867
People are being condemned
As witches and horribly killed,
751
00:39:56,867 --> 00:40:00,633
Tortured, you name it,
Especially in african countries
752
00:40:00,633 --> 00:40:04,233
Or in parts of asia.
753
00:40:04,233 --> 00:40:07,033
Narrator:
Just like in salem in 1692,
754
00:40:07,033 --> 00:40:09,067
In modern day witch hunts,
755
00:40:09,067 --> 00:40:11,533
The main accusers often hope
To take land
756
00:40:11,533 --> 00:40:13,867
And property
From the accused.
757
00:40:13,867 --> 00:40:17,700
And as in salem, the accusers
Often enlist support
758
00:40:17,700 --> 00:40:23,533
Against the marginalized victims
By whipping up mass hysteria.
759
00:40:23,533 --> 00:40:27,867
All it takes is one person
Says, "That woman over there
760
00:40:27,867 --> 00:40:30,533
Is a witch,"
And the mob descends.
761
00:40:30,533 --> 00:40:35,667
It's just this sheer, vicious,
Primitive horror
762
00:40:35,667 --> 00:40:37,567
That seems to lurk
In people's minds.
763
00:40:37,567 --> 00:40:42,500
And when you get a mob together,
They share in that mentality.
764
00:40:42,500 --> 00:40:45,467
Narrator: 21st-century
Witch hunts around the world
765
00:40:45,467 --> 00:40:48,467
Are a reminder
That the lessons of history
766
00:40:48,467 --> 00:40:50,633
Must continually be learned
767
00:40:50,633 --> 00:40:53,400
Or else history
Will be repeated.
768
00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:55,133
The salem witch trials,
769
00:40:55,133 --> 00:40:57,767
The world's most notorious
Witch hunt,
770
00:40:57,767 --> 00:41:01,300
Remains
A tragic cautionary tale.
771
00:41:01,300 --> 00:41:03,433
Felix: there's no doubt
A terrible wrong
772
00:41:03,433 --> 00:41:05,667
Was done on all of the accused.
773
00:41:05,667 --> 00:41:08,100
They were all innocent
774
00:41:08,100 --> 00:41:11,900
Of everything other
Than they deviated slightly
775
00:41:11,900 --> 00:41:14,167
From what the puritans
Thought at the time.
776
00:41:14,167 --> 00:41:18,333
It's haunted america
For the best part of 300 years.
777
00:41:18,333 --> 00:41:20,300
Gough: throughout the course
Of history,
778
00:41:20,300 --> 00:41:25,767
There have been many american
Miscarriages of justice,
779
00:41:25,767 --> 00:41:31,600
But perhaps none greater
Than the salem witch trials.
780
00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:34,500
Narrator: given what happened
Back in 1692,
781
00:41:34,500 --> 00:41:37,400
It's surely one of history's
Greatest ironies
782
00:41:37,400 --> 00:41:39,700
That today
Salem has become
783
00:41:39,700 --> 00:41:43,533
The proud capital
Of modern american witchcraft,
784
00:41:43,533 --> 00:41:46,067
Even though there almost
Certainly weren't any witches
785
00:41:46,067 --> 00:41:49,133
At all in salem in 1692.
786
00:41:49,133 --> 00:41:51,333
There are plenty now.
787
00:41:51,333 --> 00:41:53,600
So despite
The infamous witch hunt,
788
00:41:53,600 --> 00:41:55,900
You could say that in the end,
789
00:41:55,900 --> 00:41:59,300
Freedom of religious
Expression won.
790
00:41:59,300 --> 00:42:03,300
*
63604
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