When Sarah Cloyce and Elizabeth (Bassett) Proctor were arrested in April, they were brought before John Hathorne and Jonathan Corwin during a meeting in Salem Town. John Alden, William Proctor John Flood, Mary Toothaker and her daughter Margaret Toothaker and Arthur Abbott. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Within a week, Giles Corey, Abigail Hobbs, Bridget Bishop, Mary Warren, and Deliverance Hobbs were arrested and examined. Also included were Elizabeth Colson, Elizabeth Hart, Thomas Farrar, Sr., Roger Toothaker, Sarah Proctor, Sarah Bassett, Susannah Roots, Mary DeRich, Sarah Pease, Elizabeth Cary, Martha Carrier, Elizabeth Fosdick, Wilmot Redd, Sarah Rice, Elizabeth Howe , Captain Ann Sears, Bethiah Carter Sr. and her daughter Bethiah Carter Jr., George Jacobs, Sr. and her granddaughter Margaret Jacobs, John Willard, Alice Parker, Ann Pudeator, Abigail Soames, George Jacobs, Jr., Daniel Andrew, Rebecca Jacobs, Sarah Buckley and her daughter Mary Witheridge. In September 1692, Giles Corey refused to defend himself in court and was killed by peine forte et dure, a form of torture in which the condemned person is pressed under heavy rocks, the weight becoming ever larger, in an attempt to make him count. Objections from Elizabeth's husband, John Proctor, during the proceedings led to his arrest that day. Multiple warrants were issued before John Willard and Elizabeth Colson were arrested; George Jacobs Jr. and Daniel Andrews were not captured. The men were both local magistrates and also members of the Governor's Council. On June 3, the grand jury approved indictments against Rebecca Nurse and John Willard, but they did not immediately go to trial, for unclear reasons. On September 20, Cotton Mather wrote to Stephen Sewall: "I may be more capable of helping to raise a banner against the infernal foe," requesting "an account of the evidence given at the trials of half a dozen, or if you please, a dozen of the principal witches who have been convicted." Mary Eastey was released for a few days after her initial arrest because the accusers failed to confirm that it was she who had tormented them; she had been arrested again when the accusers reconsidered. Bridget Bishop's case was the first brought before a grand jury, which approved all charges against her. Up to this time, all proceedings were investigative, but on 27 May 1692 William Phips ordered the establishment of a special court of Oyer and Terminer for the counties of Suffolk, Essex and Middlesex to prosecute the cases of those in prison. She went to trial the same day and was convicted. One of the condemned, Dorcas Hoar, was granted a temporary reprieve, with the support of several ministers, to confess to being a witch. Keep in mind: This is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay When the Court of Oyer and Terminer convened in late May, the total number of people in custody was 62.