Sundry witches charged by the possessed had been engaged in controversy with the Salem church people.
Others of the accused had quarrelled with Mr.Parris.Still others had been engaged in old lawsuits against persons more or less connected with the girls.

One of the most fearful charges, which cost the life of a noble and lovely woman, arose undoubtedly from her better style of dress and living.

Old slumbering neighbourhood or personal quarrels bore in this way a strange fruitage of revenge; for the cardinal doctrine of a fanatic's creed is that his enemies are the enemies of God.
Any person daring to hint the slightest distrust of the proceedings was in danger of being immediately brought under accusation of a league with Satan.

Husbands and children were thus brought to the gallows for daring to disbelieve these charges against their wives and mothers.

Some of the clergy were accused for endeavouring to save members of their churches.( 398) (398) This is admirably brought out by Upham, and the lawyerlike thoroughness with which he has examined all these hidden springs of the charges is one of the main things which render his book one of the most valuable contributions to the history and philosophy of demoniacal possession ever written.
One poor woman was charged with "giving a look toward the great meeting-house of Salem, and immediately a demon entered the house and tore down a part of it." This cause for the falling of a bit of poorly nailed wainscoting seemed perfectly satisfactory to Dr.Cotton Mather, as well as to the judge and jury, and she was hanged, protesting her innocence.