SHE DANCED WITH THE DEVIL
Sworn testimony of Goodwife Parris, recorded the third day of Marche, sixteen hundred ninety-two. The accused was witnessed in the meadow after midnight, speaking in tongues unknowne to christian folke.
GUILTY?
THE ACCUSATION WALL — THE ACCUSATION WALL — THE ACCUSATION WALL — THE ACCUSATION WALL — THE ACCUSATION WALL — THE ACCUSATION WALL —
HER CATTLE WILTED OVERNIGHT
The livestock of Thomas Putnam, heretofore strong, did perish within a single fortnight following the cross words of the accused. A curse most foul is here alleged.
EXAMINE
A FAMILIAR IN CAT FORM
A small black creature did enter her window at the hour of three. Three neighbors attest. The animal was seen to speak.
SUSPECT
SHE DID NOT SINK
Bound thumb-to-toe and cast into the pond. The accused floated thrice, contrary to christian buoyancy. Ergo, a witch.
CONDEMNED
THE MARK UPON HER SHOULDER
A mole, dark as sin, present on the left shoulder of the accused. No pain did she feel when the pin was driven in. The Devil's Mark confirmed.
GUILTY
SHE READ BOOKS AT NIGHT
By candlelight, past the hour when decent women sleep, the accused was seen turning pages of unknowne text. No scripture, say the witnesses.
INQUIRE
— Testimonies of the Afflicted —
"I was pinched in the night by the shape of hir, and the marks remaine upon mine arme to this very day."
— Mercy L."She walked through mine locked doore. I did see hir shape plaine as noonday."
— Abigail W."A yellow bird perched upon hir shoulder in the meeting house, and none but the afflicted could see it."
— Ann P."Mine churne would not yield butter for seventeen dayes. She had passed thereby."
— Elizabeth H."In the glass of my window, I saw hir face in the flame, smileing."
— Goody O."She signed the blacke Booke. I saw her hand move, though no quill I saw."
— Tituba— EVIDENCE PILE — EVIDENCE PILE — EVIDENCE PILE — — EVIDENCE PILE — EVIDENCE PILE — EVIDENCE PILE —
WARRANT of arrest
Issued this daye by the magistrate's hand: let the accused be brought before the court, there to answer for the crymes of witchcraft, sorcerie, and consorting with spirits unclean.
SEALINDICTMENT
That you, not having the feare of God before your eyes, did wickedly and felloniously covenant with the devill. Plea: NOT GUILTY.
XSPECTRAL proof
The afflicted girls did cry out upon the shape of the accused, whereupon the shape did vanish into smoke. Admissible per the court's ruling of March 1.
IIITOUCH TEST
Upon the accused touching the afflicted, their fits did cease. Therefore, the fluid of the witch did return to its rightful source. Q.E.D.
IVVERDICT
In this theatre of paranoia, every pointing finger is a mirror. The chaos you have witnessed is the evidence and the sentence both. Step through the fractured court; the chaos IS the hierarchy.
— archive closed —