Giles Cory would not plead to the indictment, and was pressed to death. In modern law one thus mute is understood to plead _not guilty_, but at that period one must plead before he could be put on trial, and might be tortured till he pleaded or died. Mr. Cory would not countenance any phase or feature of witchcraft. TUESDAY, MAY 10TH Died in prison Sarah Osbun, condemned, wife of Alexander. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3D Died in prison, Ann Foster, widow of Andrew, of Andover, who died, 1685, aged 106. Elizabeth Proctor, widow of John (above), was reprieved on account of her condition, then pardoned. Mrs. Thomas Bradbury, of Salisbury, daughter of John Perkins, of Ipswich, eighty years old, condemned, then acquitted. Rebecca Eames, wife of Robert, of Boxford, condemned, reprieved. Elizabeth Morse, of Newbury, reprieved. Abigail Falkner and Elizabeth Johnson, both of Andover, daughters of Rev. Francis Dane, were respectively thirteen and five months in jail. Mary Lacey, wife of Lawrence, daughter of Andrew and Ann Foster (above), confessed, accused her mother of bewitching her, and escaped punishment. As above there were twenty-eight convictions, nineteen persons were hanged, and one was pressed to death, “fifty-five were pardoned, one hundred and fifty more were imprisoned, and two hundred others or more were accused.” Several dogs were accused, and one of Danvers and another of Andover were executed. Let it now be noted and remembered, that no witch or wizard was ever burned to death in Salem town or Essex county. THE BEGINNING OF THE END REV. JOHN HALE’S CHANGE OF HEART Early in October, 1692, the wild and extravagant methods of the court had penetrated every community, and by relation or friendship, almost every family, and too, accusations rested upon families of the wealthy and the learned, of clergymen and laymen, and even it was whispered upon one of the judges of the court and the wife of the governor; and it was only when the ruthless authority of the law invaded those homes that the fury of the storm abated. When Rev. John Hale, of Beverly, who had been conspicuously active in the convictions, found his wife in the diabolical toils, he experienced a sudden change of heart, and prayed for peace. The time was ripe; Mr. Hale’s sentiments echoed from every home. The establishment of the new court (Wm. Stoughton, Chief Justice, Thomas Danforth, Wait Winthrop, John Richards, and Samuel Sewell, Associate Justices) and the abolition of the old court, helped the cause. In the January next following fifty persons were indicted. All who were tried were acquitted except three, who were pardoned. All who were not tried were discharged on the payment of thirty shillings each. In the following May, when a jail delivery had been decreed, one hundred and fifty went forth. LOFTY CHARACTER OF THE CONDEMNED JUDGE JOSEPH STORY’S TRIBUTE