Salem Five Exonerated

[Althalus]

I found this recently:

 On Hallowe'en night, the acting govenor of Massachusetts approved a bill exonerating five women accused of witchcraft and hanged in Salem, Massachusetts, over three centuries ago - Bridget Bishop, Susannah Martin, Alice Parker, Wilmot Redd and Margaret Scott.  A total of 20 men and women were hanged on Gallows Hill, Salem, in 1692 after lengthy and dubious trials in which children were encouragd to make accusations against their elders, and spectral evidence was accepted at face value.

 Taken from FT155:14

[PurpleStuart]

I thought they had been exonerated quite a while back.

Is this the first time it has been recognised officially then?

[Althalus]

They were talking about doing so a while back, but they come up with all reasons why they shouldn't, this is the only time when it has been officially recognised, they have also put up a memorial to it.

[ScaryD]

Yeah, I read this in FT too.    Nice to see a memorial's been built for them - about bloody time too!

[Kira]

Yeap too right, about time that it was done. Yes u were right P.s they were exonerated about 100yrs after the were executed but it has been in the news again because of the building of the Memorial