proceedings held in 1692 in Salem, Massachusetts Bay Colony, that led to the hanging of 19 suspected witches and the imprisonment of many others; started in May with accusations by a few young girls against women in the community; special court was convened; trials quickly grew into mass hysteria implicating even the governor's wife; by October community leaders cast doubt on evidence; special court was dissolved and those imprisoned were pardoned; eventually indemnities were paid to the families of those killed; of the three presiding judges only Samuel Sewall admitted error in a public statement