Spectral Evidence

Admitted in the Salem Witch trials, but condemned by many before and after as legally invalid. Spectral evidence is evidence based on visions and dreams of the actions of a witch's spirit -- that is, testimony about what an accused person's spirit did, rather than the accused person in the body. Rev. Cotton Mather argued for its use if it was not the only evidence; he disagreed with the idea of others that the Devil could not make an innocent person's spirit act without their consent. Rev. Increase Mather, after the Salem trials, argued that spectral evidence could be deceptive, in his Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil Spirits Personating Men, Witchcrafts, Infallible Proofs of Guilt in such as are accused with that Crime."