Is It Better That 10 Witches Escape Than One Innocent Be Condemned?

The president of Harvard College, whose name was increased mother had a son named Cotton mother who was a well respected minister in Salem around this time. On June 15th, 1692, Cotton mother wrote a letter to the courts imploring them to not accept spectral evidence in these witchcraft proceedings. The courts did not follow his advice and allowed spectral evidence to condemn the accused women because this was basically all the evidence they had. Later on October 3rd, 1962, the elder matter, increased mother also denounced the use of spectral evidence. She said it were better that 10 suspected witches should escape than one innocent person be condemned. Wow. And this notion is a critical backbone of our criminal justice system today

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