When it comes to the infamous Salem Witch Trials, the methods used to prove guilt were anything but ordinary. The era’s notorious tests guilt roster reads like a macabre cookbook of superstition, torture, and outright imagination. Below, we walk through each of the ten infamous examinations that sealed the fate of the accused.
10 Cursed Cake Test
One of the most unsettling experiments involved a specially baked cake. The concoction combined rye meal with the urine of the afflicted girls. Dogs were fed the cake, and the supposed witch was expected to scream in agony as the “evil particles” in the urine supposedly transferred to the animal. This ritual sprang from the Cartesian “Doctrine of Effluvia,” which was mistakenly treated as medical fact at the time.
9 Dream Vision Test
Accusers often claimed to have seen the alleged witch in vivid dreams or visions, carrying out the Devil’s bidding. The logic was twisted: the Devil could assume any shape, but he could not inhabit a person’s body without that person’s permission. Such spectral evidence was sufficient to convict several accused until it was later dismissed, causing conviction rates to plummet.
8 Eyewitness Testimony
First‑hand accounts carried a lot of weight. Some witnesses swore they had actually observed the accused practicing black magic. These testimonies, whether truthful or fabricated, were enough to tattoo guilt onto the accused. Often, accusations sprang from a belief that a death or illness had been caused by witchcraft, prompting magistrates to issue arrest warrants for “affliction with witchcraft” or “entering a covenant with the devil.”
7 Witch’s Teat Test
According to folklore, a witch’s “teat” referred to any unusual mole or skin blemish. The test involved pricking the spot with a needle; if the victim felt no pain or did not bleed, the person was declared a witch. In many cases, the needles were deliberately blunted to guarantee a “cold and unfeeling” result.
6 Artifact Search Test
Investigators scoured the homes of the accused for any objects linked to witchcraft. Items such as poppets (voodoo dolls), cauldrons filled with ointments, palm‑reading books, horoscopes, broomsticks, black cats, and pointy hats were all considered incriminating evidence. Possessing any of these so‑called artifacts could instantly raise red flags.
5 Lord’s Prayer Recitation Test
Another literal test of faith required the accused to recite the Lord’s Prayer flawlessly. Any stumble, stammer, or outright spasm was taken as proof of guilt. The expectation was that, under God’s watchful eye, no mistake was permissible—even if the accused suffered from mental illness, hysteria, or were under the influence of hallucinogenic rye bread.
4 Touch Healing Test
This performance‑based test observed the afflicted’s reaction when the accused placed a hand on them. If the afflicted suddenly calmed, it was interpreted that the witch had drawn the “venom” back into herself, confirming her guilt. The logic hinged on the belief that a witch’s eye released evil toxins that could be reclaimed by the witch.
3 Dunking Test
When suspects refused to confess, torturers turned to water. The accused was repeatedly held underwater until they broke down and admitted to witchcraft. This method was not only physically brutal but also served to brainwash the victim into believing the falsehood.
2 Pressing Test
Another harrowing technique involved placing heavy stones atop the accused, crushing them into submission. An infamous victim was the 80‑year‑old Giles Corey, accused of being a warlock. He steadfastly refused to plead, and the stones ultimately crushed him to death, speaking louder than any confession ever could.
1 Water Float Test
In the final, grim assessment, the accused was bound with heavy rocks and thrown into a body of water. If the body floated to the surface, the person was declared a witch and later executed by other means. If the body sank, the individual was deemed innocent—though, unsurprisingly, nearly every victim drowned.