Unjustified Acts
After the suspects of witchcraft had been tried in court, the magistrates and the jury decided what fate the "guilty" would face. There were multiple punishments, but commonly, the accused were sentenced to be hanged. In a special case, Giles Corey had refused to acknowledge using magic, and was crushed to death by rocks to force a confession. |
Like many others, George Burroughs also didn't get the chance to be tried in court. The authorities imprisoned suspects until they were assessed and the court had come to a verdict. This assessment often took so long that many prisoners perished from starvation and inhumane conditions while imprisoned. According to the English Bill of Rights, the Cruel and Unusual Punishment Clause was established to prevent tortuous or excessive suffering upon the people. These witch trials used various means of torture upon the innocent and misunderstood residents.
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