Not everyone ended up dead. Many were jailed for months, then released when the hysteria finally fizzled out. One survivor was Dorothy Good, a four-year-old girl! Yes, a toddler accused of witchcraft. She spent months in chains and later had mental health issues. Poor kid.
The judges? They eventually apologized and admitted they saw “spectral evidence” (i.e., ghost accusations) was nonsense. Thanks, guys. Real helpful after twenty people were killed.
Salem Witch Trials History, Origins, and Travel Guide
By 1693, the madness ended. The colony even declared a day of fasting and contrition. But the names on that list? They live on, not as witches, but as tragic victims of fear and gossip.
