William Griggs

Reverend Parris believed the unnatural behavior to be an illness and asked Salem Village’s local physician, William Griggs, to examine the girls. He did not find any physical cause for their strange behavior and concluded that they were possessed. During the questioning of the three accused, Betty, Abigail, and six other girls would often scream and tumble on the floor of the meetinghouse. Griggs suggested that bewitchment was the cause. The girls were eventually asked to name their supposed tormentors. They did so, thus bringing about the witch trials, which ended with the deaths of 19 innocent people.