Wrongly Convicted Database Record

 

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Martha Cory

 

Charge:

Witchcraft

Sentence:

Death and Executed

Years Imprisoned:

Year Crime:

Year Convicted:

1692

Year Cleared:

1711

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Massachusetts

County or Region of Crime:

Essex

City of Crime:

Salem

Result:

Legislature Overturned Conviction after Execution

Summary of Case:

"Martha Giles was convicted of being a witch and hanged on September 22, 1692. Martha's husband Cory Giles was pressed to death by having rocks placed on him in an effort to extract a confession of witchcraft. Martha Giles was exonerated from her conviction in 1711, and Cory Giles was exonerated of his witchcraft charge in 1711. On December 11, 1711 Martha Giles' estate was awarded a total of £21 compensation for her conviction and her husband's wrongful death while being tortured."

Conviction Caused By:

Innocence Proved By:

"On October 17, 1711 she was exonerated when her Bill of Attainder was reversed by the Massachusetts legislature."

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

£21 (total for husband and wife)

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Age When Imprisoned:

Age When Released:

Sex:

Female

Skin/Ethnicity:

White

Information Source 1:

"Petitions For Compensation And Decision Concerning Compensation, 1710-1711, Salem Witchcraft Trials 1692, (Famous American Trials website)"

Information Location 1:

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/SAL_PET.HTM

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Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org

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