The next step in the proceedings is one of the most remarkable features in the case.  It is, in some points of view, more suggestive of suspicion, that there was, behind the whole, a skilful and cunning management, ingeniously contriving schemes to mislead the public mind, than almost any other part of the transaction.  Mary Warren, as has been said, was a servant in the family of John Procter.  She was a member of the “circle” that had so long met at Mr. Parris’s house or Thomas Putnam’s.  She was a constant attendant at its meetings, and a leading spirit among the girls.  She did not take an open part against her master or mistress at their examination, although she acted with avidity and malignity against them as an accusing witness at their trials, two months afterwards.  It is to be noticed, that Ann Putnam and Abigail Williams, at the examination of Elizabeth Procter, April 11, accused her of having induced or compelled “her maid to set her hand to the book.”

On the 18th of April, warrants were got out against Giles Corey and Mary Warren, both of Salem Farms; Abigail Hobbs, daughter of William Hobbs, of Topsfield; and Bridget Bishop, wife of Edward Bishop, of Salem,—­to be brought in the next forenoon, at about eight o’clock, at the house of Lieutenant Nathaniel Ingersoll, of Salem Village.  How Mary Warren became transformed from an accuser to an accused, from an afflicted person to an afflicter, is the question.  It is not easy to fathom the conduct of these girls.  They appear to have acted upon a plan deliberately formed, and to have had an understanding with each other.  At the same time, occasionally, they had or pretended to have a falling-out, and came into contradiction.  This was perhaps a mere blind, to prevent the suspicion of collusion.  The accounts given of Mary Warren seem to render it quite certain that she acted with deliberate cunning, and was a guilty conspirator with the other accusers in carrying on the plot from the beginning.  No doubt, it frequently occurred to those concerned in it, that suspicions might possibly get into currency that they were acting a part in concert.  It was necessary, by all means, to guard against such an idea.  This may be the key to interpret the arrest and proceedings against Mary Warren.  If it is, the affair, it must be confessed, was managed with great shrewdness and skill.  She conducted the stratagem most dexterously.  All at once she fell away from the circle, and began to talk against the “afflicted children,” and went so far as to say, that they “did but dissemble.”  Immediately, they cried out upon her, charged her with witchcraft, and had her apprehended.  After being carried to prison, she spoke in strong language against the proceedings.  Four persons of unquestionable truthfulness, in prison with her, on the same charge, prepared a deposition to this effect:  “We heard Mary Warren several times say that the magistrates might as well examine Keysar’s daughter that