Methods of Torture and Superstitions During the Salem Witch Trials
Methods of Torture Water boarding Strappado Squassation Red hot pincers Burning Iron Chair Hanging Burning at the Stake Death upon the rack Beheading Drawing and Quartering The Wheel Garrotting Chair The Boots Vat of lime
Waterboarding Water by the jugfuls were funnelled into the victim’s swelling body as he or she was stretched between iron rings secured to the wall and the floor.
Strappado Prisoner’s wrists were bound to a rope, which was placed on a pulley. Man on other side of rope would pull prisoner off the ground and drop him from a certain height s so that his shoulders and arms dislocated
Squassation This torture is similar to strappado except that the rope is suddenly released and then checked before the prisoner’s feet touched the floor. It was also done to dislocate limbs and it sometimes caused death.
Red Hot Pincers/Burning Iron Chair Pincers made of metal and set in fire- used to burn and tear flesh Iron Chair- The prisoner was bound to an iron chair with a hole in its seat; then a fire was lit beneath the chair.
Hanging Considered ideal punishment because it was not gory as beheading was and it was cheap (a skilled executioner was not needed) Death after time of hanging usually occurs about 20 minutes later
Burning at the Stake Preferred because it did not shed the victim’s blood and it insured that the condemned did not have a body to carry on the next life. Some would be hanged then have their dead bodies be burnt at the stake, yet most would be burnt alive.
Death Upon the Rack Prisoner would be tied to the rack and would be elongated gradually for days Every joint in the body would be dislocated Loud popping heard during a very painful process Inquisitor would apply more tortures to prisoner while he is being stretched out
Beheading It is effective and humane if it is conducted properly Can be very gruesome and may require several blows to several the head if not conducted properly be a skilled headsman- very gory because blood from the aorta and veins spurt out Prisoner dies from shock and loss of blood pressure, and due to the fact that the head is severed
Drawing and Quartering The most commonly used form of drawing and quartering included tying four horses to the prisoner in his extremities (hands, feet) and send the horses galloping off in different directions Resulted in complete quartering of the body People gathered to watch the drawing and quartering as a form of entertainment and such
Picture is too Graphic to Place on this PowerPoint The Wheel Prisoner would be tied to the edge of a wheel or a rock Prisoner would then be rolled down a hill, usually over beds of spikes and such, so that the body was totally mutilated by the time the wheel reached the bottom Considered a popular form of punishment that was enjoyed by viewers and spectators passing by. Picture is too Graphic to Place on this PowerPoint
Garroting Chair Prisoner’s head was locked into a cuff while a sharp point was screwed in slowly into the back of prisoner’s neck
The Boots/ Vats of Lime The suspect’s legs were enclosed in a wooden “boot” and then wedges were driven down through the top. This technique smashed the legs. Stubborn prisoners were thrown into vats of scaulding lime and scrubbed with wire brushes
Magical Self Protection Drive a nail into the witch’s footprint in a dusty road; this act will cause a similar wound in the foot itself. Tear a witch’s forehead above the brow until the blood runs, and this act will neutralize her spell. Nail a horseshoe above the front door. Attach a “hag-stone” (a holed stone) to the keys of the barns to protect farm animals from bewitchment.
Magical Self Protection Hide a pair of scissors or knife under the doormat. Place long glass tubes with colored pebbles up the chimney. S-shaped wall-ties were thought to guard a house from storms. Pain a hex (anti-witch symbol) on barn doors.
Superstitions Knocking on Wood Throwing Salt over the Shoulder Yawning and Sneezing Brides veil/church bell Broken mirrors 7, 9, 40, 13