No one suspected the boy’s agency, except Caleb Powell.  That worthy knew the young man, and believed that there was nothing marvellous or superstitious about the “manifestations.”  Desirous of being esteemed learned, he laid claim to a knowledge of astrology, and when the “witchcraft” was the town talk he gave out that he could develope the whole mystery.  The consequence was that he was suspected of dealing in the black art, and was accused, tried, and narrowly escaped with his life.

On the court records of Salem is entered:—­

“December 3, 1679.  Caleb Powell being complained of for suspicion of working with ye devill to the molesting of William Morse and his family, was by warrant directed to constable, and respited till Monday.”  “December 8, (Monday) Caleb Powell appeared ... and it was determined that sd.  Morse should present ye case at ye county court at Ipswich in March.”

This order was obeyed, and the trial came on.  The following is a specimen of the testimony presented:—­

“William Morse saith, together with his wife, that Thursday night being November 27, we heard a great noyes of knocking ye boards of ye house, whereupon myselfe and wife looks out and see nobody, but we had stones and sticks thrown at us so that we were forced to retire.

“Ye same night, ye doore being lockt when we went to bed, we heerd a great hog grunt in ye house, and willing to go out.  That we might not be disturbed in our sleep, I rose to let him out, and I found a hog and the door unlockt.

“Ye next night I had a great awl that I kept in the window, the which awl I saw fall down ye chimney into ye ashes.  I bid ye boy put ye same awl in ye cupboard which I saw done, and ye door shut too.  When ye same awl came down ye chimney again in our sight, and I took it up myselfe.

  “Ye next day, being Saturday, stones, sticks and pieces of bricks came
  down so that we could not quietly eat our breakfast.  Sticks of fire came
  downe also at ye same time.

“Ye same day in ye afternoon, my thread four times taken away and come downe ye chimney againe; my awl and a gimlet wanting came down ye chimney.  Againe, my leather and my nailes, being in ye cover of a firkin, taken away, and came downe ye chimney.

“The next, being Sunday, stones, sticks and brickbats came down ye chimney.  On Monday, Mr. Richardson [the minister,] and my brother was there.  They saw ye frame of my cow-house standing firm.  I sent my boy to drive ye fowls from my hog’s trough.  He went to ye cow-house, and ye frame fell on him, he crying with ye hurt.  In ye afternoon ye potts hanging over ye fire did dash so vehemently one against another that we did sett down one that they might not dash to pieces.  I saw ye andiron leap into ye pott and dance, and leap out, and again leap in, and leap on a table and there abide.  And my wife saw ye andiron on