Witches Defense: The Trial
“Will the courtroom please rise as the judge enters the courtroom?” Jennifer shot Jack a small smile and then looked at the floor. He silently inhaled a deep breath. “This court is now in session. June Swanson is charged of witchcraft by the town of Bluehill. The defendant pleads not guilty.”
The judge nodded wearily and sat down. She was a tall lanky woman with frown lines etched into her stone face. “I frankly are quite tired of these witch cases, and in an act with God on my side, I believe it is to everyone’s benefit to skip the opening statements. Mrs. Tillbrook you are fighting for the side of the town saying that she is guilty of witchcraft and Mr. Sanders you are saying that she was falsely accused and should be let free. Please continue on to the witnesses.”
Rain fell on the roof, each drop adding to the tension as the first witness stood up.
“Mrs. Tillbrook, your witness.”
“Jonathon Turner,” Jennifer stood up and paced in front of the jury.
“I find it surprising that you’re taking the prosecution,” the judge whispered to her as she passed.
She just gave her a smile and stopped in front of the witness stand.
“How do you know Miss Swanson?”
“She’s a school teacher to my kids, but she lives by the lumber yard.”
“How would you know where she lived?”
Question by question, Jennifer weaved the story of his life: living with his sickly wife and two children, the boy ten and the girl eight. He owned the main lumber company in town and was mostly there working extra hours into the night to make sure everything was ready for the next day. The children were not poor, but as he put it, no sum of money could save his children from witchcraft. He had spotted her one evening with the devil and a child. Finally the devil left with the child screaming but she threw something at the child and he was silent.
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