A woman convicted of witchcraft and sentenced to death in Salem, Massachusetts in 1693 has been pardoned.
On Thursday, the state legislature voted to exonerate Elizabeth Johnson Jr., who was once tried and located guilty of being a witch amid the hysteria of the Salem Witch Trials.
She is the final “witch” to be officially cleared.
Nineteen folks from Salem and neighboring cities had been hanged and one man was pressed to demise after teenage girls claimed to have considered them engage in sorcery. As a result of Salem Village used to be run by means of theocratic nutjobs, the women’ claims have been deemed credible.
Johnson, who was once 22 at the time, was once spared execution when Gov. William Phips voided her punishment after realizing Salem used to be run by way of idiots.
“We will be able to never be capable to trade what came about to victims like Elizabeth but on the very least can set the record straight,” mentioned state Sen. Diana DiZoglio, who tacked the pardon onto a price range invoice, which passed.
The measure handed after a months-long lobbying effort with the aid of a gaggle of highschool students from North Andover. Whereas all others convicted of witchcraft had been exonerated, Johnson come what may managed to slip throughout the cracks over time.
Because the Associated Press stated,
In the 328 years which have ensued, dozens of suspects officially have been cleared, together with Johnson’s own mom, the daughter of a minister whose conviction in the end was reversed. However for some reason, Johnson’s name wasn’t incorporated in more than a few legislative attempts to set the file straight.
Johnson could now not be reached for comment, though she is possibly tremendous stoked about it.
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