woman in a winding-sheet, and told me that she was Goodman Fuller’s first wife, and Mr. Burroughs killed her because there was some difference between her husband and him.”

This was indeed most extraordinary language and imagery to have been used by a child of twelve years of age.  It is not strange, that, upon a community, whose fancies and fears had been so long wrought upon, holding their views, the effect was awfully great.  The very fact that it was a child that spoke made her declarations seem supernatural.  Then, again, they were accompanied with such ocular demonstration, in her terrible bodily sufferings, that none remained in doubt of the truthfulness and reality of what they listened to and beheld.  It did not enter their imaginations, for a moment, that there was any deception or imposture, or even delusion, on her part.  Her case is truly a problem not easily solved even now.  While we are filled with horror and indignation at the thought that she figures as a capital and fatal witness in all the trials, it is impossible not to feel that a wisdom greater than ours is necessary to fathom the dark mystery of the phenomena presented by her and her mother and other accusers, in this monstrous and terrible affair.

These occurrences, happening just before Mr. Burroughs was brought to the village as a prisoner, were bruited from house to house, from mouth to mouth, and worked the people to a state of horrified exasperation against him; and he was met with execration, when, on the 4th of May, Field-marshal Partridge appeared with him at Salem, and delivered him to the jailer there.  When we consider the distance and the circumstances of travel at that time, it is evident that the officers charged with the service acted with the greatest promptitude, celerity, and energy.  The tradition is, that they found Mr. Burroughs in his humble home, partaking of his frugal meal; that he was snatched from the table without a moment’s opportunity to provide for his family, or prepare himself for the journey, and hurried on his way roughly, and without the least explanation of what it all meant.  As soon as it was known that he was in jail in Salem, arrangements were commenced for his examination.  The public mind was highly excited; and it was determined to make the occasion as impressive, effective, and awe-striking as possible.  Another “field-day” was to be had.  On the 9th of May, a special session of the Magistracy was held,—­William Stoughton coming from Dorchester, and Samuel Sewall from Boston, to sit with Hathorne and Corwin, and give greater solemnity and severity to the proceedings.  Stoughton presided.  The first step in the proceedings was to have a private hearing, in the presence of the magistrates and ministers only; and the report of what passed there gives proof of what is indicated more or less clearly in several passages in the accounts that have come down to us in reference to Mr. Burroughs,—­that he was regarded as not wholly sound in doctrine on