On This Day in 1692...

Today, February 29th, marks the 328th anniversary of the start of the Salem Witch Trials. On February 29th, 1692 the first warrant was issued by the Salem courts for the examination of the slave Tituba. Tituba's testimony on the following day would help set into motion a series of events that would turn our coastal town upside down within the year.

On March 1st, 1692, Tituba would be questioned and would then confess to witchcraft. Not only did she confess, but she spoke in detail about meetings with other women in the town that were allegedly conspiring with her, condemning these women to the same fate but saving herself. Others would follow in Tituba's path after this, confessing to a crime they didn't commit and then accusing others, thus amplifying the hysteria.