Editing Spectral evidence (section)

===Wider controversy===
The Court of Oyer and Terminer adjourned on 22 September, with the expectation of reconvening before long. By this time, however, with nineteen people hanged (and one, [[Giles Corey]], [[Crushing (execution)|crushed to death]]),{{sfn|Le Beau|1998|page=183}} criticism of the trials was becoming increasingly vocal.

On 8 October, an influential Boston merchant, [[Thomas Brattle]], wrote an open letter arguing against the unjust proceedings of the court. Brattle rejected the validity of spectral evidence, which he claimed was the "only pertinent evidence" brought against any of the accused. "I think it is clear," he wrote, "that the prisoner at the bar is brought in guilty, and condemned, merely from the evidences of the afflicted persons."{{sfn|Brattle|1914|page=176}} He argued that the judges were therefore receiving testimony from the Devil, and thought it strange that they "should so far give ear to the Devill, as merely upon his authority to issue out their warrants, and apprehend people".{{sfn|Brattle|1914|page=182}} One proof Brattle gave against spectral evidence was the following:{{sfn|Brattle|1914|page=188–189}}

{{quote|These afflicted persons do say, and often have declared it, that they can see Spectres when their eyes are shutt, as well as when they are open ... I am sure they lye, at least speak falsely, if they say so; for the thing, in nature, is an utter impossibility. It is true, they may strongly fancye, or have things represented to their imagination, when their eyes are shutt; and I think this is all which ought to be allowed to these blind, nonsensical girls.}}

It was around this time, on September 29, 1692, that the governor of the province, [[William Phips]], who had been absent during the trials, returned to Massachusetts from Maine. In a letter of 12 October, he remarked that he had been surprised to find "many persons in a strange ferment of dissatisfaction", and on enquiring into the matter, he learned that "the Devill had taken upon him the name and shape of severall persons who were doubtless inocent and to my certain knowledge of good reputation". He suspended the trials, and forbade the incarceration of any more suspected witches.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/n163.html |title=SWP No. 163: Two Letters of Gov. William Phips (1692–1693) |publisher=Salem Witch Trials Documentary Archive |accessdate=6 October 2021}}</ref> On 29 October, the court was officially dismissed. Phips next reviewed the petitions for the release of those who remained in jail, and where he found the evidence to be primarily spectral, he released the prisoners on bond to their families.{{sfn|Le Beau|1998|pages=206–207}}

[[Cotton Mather]] defended the court's methods in his book, ''[[The Wonders of the Invisible World]]'' (which began circulating in manuscript form in October, but was not published until the following year). While admitting the possibility that "among the Persons represented by the Spectres which now afflict our Neighbours, there will be found some that never explicitly contracted with any of the Evil Angels", he suggested that these people may have been guilty of lesser offences, for which reason God had permitted the Devil "to bring in these Lesser ones with the rest for their perpetual Humiliation".{{sfn|Mather|1862|pages=17–20}} Mather also cited the precedent of previous trials, including the Bury St Edmunds case.

Cotton's father, [[Increase Mather]], took the opposite approach in his own work, ''Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits Personating Men''. He argued that the Devil could indeed appear in the shape of an innocent person, and cited numerous authorities to that effect, including the Biblical story of the [[Witch of Endor]].{{sfn|Mather|1693|pages=1–2}} Against the argument that God would not allow the Devil to impose upon innocent people in this way, Increase brought forward the example of [[Job (biblical figure)|Job]], and insisted that God's ways are inscrutable.{{sfn|Mather|1693|pages=9–10}}{{sfn|Weisman|1984|page=177}} He concluded that "to take away the Life of any one, meerly because a Spectre or Devil, in a bewitched or possessed person does accuse them, will bring a Guilt of innocent Blood on the Land, where such a thing shall be done".{{sfn|Mather|1693|page=19}}

However, in a postscript, Increase asserted that his work was not intended as "any Reflection on those worthy Persons who have been concerned in the late Proceedings at Salam". He recommended Cotton's account of the trials, and hoped that "the thinking part of Mankind will be satisfied, that there was more than that which is called Spectre Evidence for the Conviction of the Persons condemned".{{sfn|Mather|1693|page=42}}

A new court convened in January 1693, to consider the remaining cases; this time, the use of spectral evidence was firmly limited. Almost all of those brought before the court were acquitted; and in May, Phips issued a general pardon, bringing the trials to an end.{{sfn|Le Beau|1998|pages=209–210}}