Salem Witch Trials
NEARLY OPPOSITE THIS SPOT
STOOD, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET,
A BUILDING DEVOTED FROM 1677 TO 1718
FOR MUNICIPAL AND JUDICIAL USES.
IN IT, IN 1692,
WERE TRIED AND CONDEMNED FOR WITCHCRAFT
MOST OF THE NINETEEN PERSONS
WHO SUFFERED DEATH ON THE GALLOWS.
GILES COREY WAS HERE PUT TO TRIAL
ON THE SAME CHARGE AND, REFUSING TO PLEAD,
WAS TAKEN AWAY AND PRESSED TO DEATH.
IN JANUARY 1693, TWENTY ONE PERSONS
WERE TRIED HERE FOR WITCHCRAFT,
OF WHOM EIGHTEEN WERE ACQUITTED
AND THREE CONDEMNED, BUT LATER SET FREE,
TOGETHER WITH ABOUT 150 ACCUSED PERSONS,
IN A GENERAL DELIVERY WHICH OCCURRED IN MAY.