The Salem Witch Trials We have all heard fairy tales about witches and wizards. You know, the ones who ride broomsticks and have that evil laugh! Well, in Salem, Massachusetts, people believed it too. They may not have been the ones seen in popular books or movies, but they were considered a legitimate threat to the people of Salem. The "witches" of Salem became a famous part of history, as the trials began in January 1692. The Salem witch trials were among the darkest periods in human history as they caused unwarranted hysteria and fear of the unknown; as a result, it caused physical, mental and emotional harm and great loss of life. The first complaint of witchcraft was William. The court of Oyer and Terminer became the court responsible for witch trials. Many cases have occurred regarding witchcraft; some of which have become very well known. The first person officially tried was Bridget Bishop. Bridget was accused of bewitching five young girls. People say her "fit" forced them to do things and that they saw voodoo dolls at her house where she was staying. The biggest thing she did that condemned her was the amount of lying she told. Bridget approved all indictments against her and was officially found guilty on June 3. Shortly after, on June 10, she was executed by hanging. In total, 100 to 200 people were imprisoned last year, 24 died and 55 were falsely accused of witchcraft. The aftermath of the trials created a sort of closure and relief in the city. Only one of the six initially accusing girls actually apologized publicly, and that was Ann Putnam Jr. She issued a public apology in 1706 saying "she really felt that the Devil had taken over of her.” She also apologized for any other mistakes she made. Each of the perpetrators acted in different ways and some never truly apologized. Reverend Parris was removed from the church and expelled from the village in 1694. Governor Phips was removed from office: he believed in witchcraft, but knew the accused were innocent. The governor headed the court of Oyer and Terminer, and it was dissolved once he was removed from office. The king forced him to return to England where he died of a horrible fever in February 1695. After the year 1752, the town of Salem was renamed "Danvers" to leave behind its past of death and hatred. Finally, in 1957, the last names of “witches” were cleared. The town eventually realized its mistakes and erected a memorial in 1992 to honor those who died following accusations of witchcraft.