Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/109

 plead, that he might thus preserve to his unfortunate family the little patrimony which he well knew his attainder as a wizard would surely confiscate—his indomitable fortitude under his terrible sufferings, and his heroic death, are all too painful and revolting in their details for admission into such a work as this. If such information is desired, it is matter of history, and may easily be obtained from reliable sources.

But we have thought that by presenting a few passages, taken from the records of the preliminary examination of the persons first accused, and brought up for trial, the reader would gain a clearer realization of the unfairness of the whole proceedings; and see how, owing to the inflamed state of the popular mind, and the preconceived prejudices of all classes of people, clearly including judges and jurors, against the accused, the unhappy prisoners were, in fact, already judged and condemned even before they were brought to trial.

Great pains had been taken to give publicity and éclat to the coming event: the session of the court was made the universal