The prosecution of accused witches in Salem is a dark chapter in American history. It took place in the small town of Salem, Massachusetts, in the late 17th century, and resulted in the execution of twenty people. The trials were characterized by mass hysteria and paranoia, as the people of Salem became convinced that witches were responsible for their misfortunes. The events began in 1692, when a group of young girls accused several women in the community of witchcraft. The girls claimed to be under the influence of the accused witches, who allegedly tormented them with spells and curses. The accusations quickly spread, and soon dozens of people found themselves on trial for witchcraft.

Harmon’s Histories: A tragic tale of live UM bear mascot

Where was I? Oh yes, I was going to tell you about that bear. Well, actually bears (plural).

The Quill and Dagger society (and the whole University of Montana, for that matter) used live bear cubs to promote events in the early days of the school.

U-M’s athletic teams were actually known as the “Bears.”

Of course it’s a bit tough having a bear cub as a mascot. For one thing, bears grow – and are not “cubs” for long.

So, the university was constantly going through bear cubs – having to find a new cub for a mascot every year or two.

Now, “Teddy,” the particular bear cub I mentioned last week, was not only “the likable mascot of the U-M football team,” but played an important part in one of the Quill and Dagger society’s performances at Missoula’s Union opera house.

“Teddy was taught a number of fine tricks and will do a number of good stunts for the edification of the audience,” promised the Quill and Dagger society, in fact, they said, “would be the event of season.”

In addition to “Teddy,” there were cubs named “Fessy” (honoring University of Montana football coach Doug Fessden) and “Jerry” (honoring coach Jerry Williams).

But, using live bear cubs was problematic. They are animals and obviously don’t like being chained. On top of that there were the occasional “kidnappings,” and animal rights protests.

Genell Jackson, writing in the 1956 Montana Kaimin, said, “Jerry came to MSU shortly after school started this fall. Although a female, she was promptly named after the Grizzly coach Jerry Williams!”

“She was a very unhappy and very mean little bear when she first arrived. The early football games must have seemed like the end of the world for her. A far cry from peaceful woods: the noise and pompom girls scared her and it took two heavy chains to hold her.”

“Even then she made several almost successful attempts at freedom. But it wasn’t long before she began to warm up to her captors. She allowed them to pet and rumple her dark fur without snapping. Toward the end of the season, she even seemed to enjoy the football games. Rather than struggle to get lose, she would sit quietly tween the legs of whoever was her “date” for the day.”

“It was only when the music or crowd was especially loud that she would jerk her chain. Once she did get free and scampered across the field and made it up a light pole before 'she was caught.”

“Just what is to become of Jerry hasn’t been decided, but it is quite probable she will be sent East to grow up in a city' zoo.”

“The Grizzly Growlers have been caring for Jerry, and she has moved from the Sigma Alpha Epsilon house to Fort Missoula. But where ever she goes, the best wishes of the Grizzlies and students of MSU will go with the little brown bear.”

Over the years, the “Bears” became the “Grizzlies” or “Silvertips,” and mascots changed with the times. There was the “Hamm's Beer Bear” and later “Otto the Grizzly,” sponsored by the Grizzly Auto Centers.

But, the athletic department, by the 1990s, wanted “a more engaging, friendly and energetic mascot.” The result was “Monte” who was first seen at the start of the 1993 season.

The person inside the bear suit, it was decided, would not be identified until after he/she was no longer a student at U-M. Barry Anderson was one of the high-profile Monte mascots, who went on to work with the Chicago Bulls mascot team.

Anderson was famous for doing acrobatic cartwheels and flips. He would ride motorcycles and horses, and was “always surrounded by cheerleaders.” He was nominated as Capital One's Mascot of the Year a number of times. “Monte” was even in a Super Bowl commercial with Joe Montana!

These days, you see Monte everywhere – corporate functions, business advertising, school classrooms – promoting the U-M brand.

It’s been quite a ride for “Teddy” from the 1890s, doing “tricks and stunts for the edification of the audience,” at Quill and Dagger society events, to today’s all-encompassing role as the campus mascot!

Texas Tech mascot dies during game

Texas Tech's mascot, a black quarterhorse named Double T, died Saturday during the game with New Mexico when it threw its rider, ran across the playing field and slid headfirst into a concrete wall.

The incident happened in the third quarter after Tech scored. Rider Amy Smart, a senior animal science major from Dallas, was guiding the horse on its customary trot around the field when her saddle broke and she fell off. When the galloping horse reached an exit tunnel, its feet flew out and its head hit the wall. University veterinarian Mark Hellman said the horse apparently died instantly.

Hey, that's not my baton: University of Texas band director Glenn Richter was arrested Friday and charged with carrying a gun at Robert Mueller Municipal Airport in Austin while trying to catch a flight to Pittsburgh for the Longhorns' game against Pitt. Richter, who said he didn't know the gun was in the bag, was released on a personal recognizance bond.

Banned, but not gagged: Banned Texas A&M football booster Warren Gilbert Jr., who landed A&M in NCAA trouble by paying nine football players for work they didn't do between 1990 and 1992, said school officials urged him to stonewall the NCAA's investigation into a summer jobs scandal that concluded he improperly paid players, according to a published report.

Gilbert told the Dallas Morning News in a copyright story in today's editions that A&M coach R.C. Slocum, former vice president Robert Smith and others convinced him not to meet with investigators. The Dallas businessman said university officials singled him out to save the football program from sanctions.

New AD: Sunburst Bank president James T. "Pete" Boone was named the University of Mississippi's athletic director, chosen over two Ole Miss graduates in athletic administration.

Quake wake: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was used for the first time since the stadium was badly damaged by the January earthquake. Fans at Southern Cal's game against Washington found only a few construction trailers and a temporary press box on the grounds as evidence of the $60-million repair job.

Horse opera, part II: "I really don't know what happened. When I rounded the corner and was in the process of slowing, I felt myself sliding off the horse. I hit the ground and then stood up and saw the horse running around the stadium. I got to the tunnel area and saw Double T lying there and couldn't believe it," Smart said.

New team, old quote: "I found out one thing," coach Joe Walton said after Robert Morris' inaugural game. "These kids love to play."

My fault: "It's just a dumb error on my part," Richter said. "It was quite depressing and humiliating for me."

What are we doing here?: "Basically we got the slop beat out of us," Georgia Southern coach Tim Stowers said after a 56-0 loss to Miami. "I'll be happy to get back to I-AA football."

Horse opera, part III: Double T was removed from Jones Stadium within minutes and was taken to a campus facility for further examination. Smart was not seriously injured.

Wheatley watch: Heisman Trophy candidate Tyrone Wheatley watched from the sideline with his separated right shoulder in a sling as Michigan beat Boston College.

Medical miracle: Miami end Rusty Medearis, playing for the first time since a knee injury nearly ended his career two years ago, played most of the first half and made one tackle against Georgia Southern.

Tulsa time: Quarterback Troy DeGar is out for the season after tearing a ligament in his right knee against Missouri. Running back Kenny Gunn, broke his right ankle in the first quarter.

Horse opera, part IV: Double T was in its second year as Texas Tech's mascot.

Coaching debuts: Boston College led No. 5 Michigan 12-0 in Dan Henning's debut as a college coach before the Wolverines rallied to win 34-26. Nicholls State's 16-7 win at Connecticut spoiled the head-coaching debut of UConn's Skip Holtz, son of Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz. Walton, a former head coach for the New York Jets and offensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, won his and Robert Morris' first game, 24-19 over Waynesburg (Pa.). Kent's 28-6 loss to Rutgers spoiled the debut of Jim Corrigall and extended the Golden Flashes' losing streak to 17 games, longest among the nation's 107 Division I-A schools.

Winners and losers: Auburn extended Division I-A's longest win streak to 12 games. Division I-AA Howard has won 14 straight. Texas won only its second opener in eight years. Pitt lost its 10th consecutive home game but its first opener in eight years. Michigan is 95-17-3 in openers. North Carolina won its sixth straight opener.

Put up your Dukes, part I: James Madison's 35-0 win over Buffalo was the Dukes' first shutout since a 21-0 win over Northeastern on Oct.

Horse opera, part V: Texas Tech has had a black horse and a masked rider as a mascot since the Gator Bowl game on Jan. 1, 1954. Many former riders were at the game for a reunion.

56-0 for 58-0: No. 6 Miami routed Georgia Southern to break an NCAA record with its 58th consecutive victory at the Orange Bowl. The Hurricanes surpassed Alabama's 57 wins in a row at home from 1962-82.

Pitt stop: Curtis Martin had 11 carries of 10 or more yards while rushing for 251 yards _ the most by an opposing back since Texas started football in 1893.

Golden boys: Darin Hinshaw passed for 245 yards against Maine to break Central Florida's all-time career passing record. He has 6,766 yards. David Rhodes became the Golden Knights' all-time leading receiver with 2,868 yards.

Put up your Dukes: Robert Baldwin set a Duke rushing record with 238 yards against Maryland.

Mascot tragedy

1. Stanford University: The Tree
How popular is the Stanford Tree? Many people don't even know the school's nickname is actually the Cardinal. Well, that will happen when your mascot makes more headlines in the sports pages than the teams do. In February 2006, the Tree was fired when her breathalizer test came up a 0.157. (FYI: that's nearly twice the legal limit in Cali). That Arbor Day party must have been pretty insane.

2. St. John's University: Thunder and Lightning
Many a New Yorker was less than pleased when the St. John's Redmen, the pride of Queens, changed their name to the Red Storm. There's no word on what they think of the accompanying mascot, Thunder (and his sidekick Lightning). According to the Q&A page for St. John's alumni, Thunder has been "discontinued," while their official athletic Web site speaks proudly of Thunder. It's a tragedy that there hasn't been an episode of "Outside The Lines" on this.

3. The Ohio State University: Brutus the Buckeye
In case you're wondering why Brutus is in this category: a Buckeye is a tree. That's right. So when you see the proud Brutus cheering on Troy Smith and Co., remember, he's glorified foliage. Not only that, but Brutus isn't really the tree, he's only the partially poisonous nut of the Buckeye tree -- not sure if that makes him dangerous. It's probably best to keep your distance.

4. Wichita State University: WuShock
Nothing quite gives the psychological edge to a team like knowing a guy dressed up as a shock of wheat has their back. Still, he still has enough "Children of the Corn" creepy vibe to fear him, but he also looks enough like Kent Brockman's son to balance it out.

5. University of Louisiana at Lafayette: Cayenne
The presence of mascots like Florida State's Seminole seem to say "Come near me, and I will kill you," while Cayenne, the Ragin' Cajuns' chili pepper, seems to say, "Come near me and I swear to God I'm going to give you heartburn and diarrhea." And let's be honest, if you've ever suffered any digestive issues at the hands of Cajun food, you pretty much pray for death anyway.

Photo credits: Getty Images, AP

The accusations quickly spread, and soon dozens of people found themselves on trial for witchcraft. The accused were subjected to a flawed legal process. The trials were conducted in an atmosphere of fear and suspicion, with little regard for due process or evidence.

Spectral evidence, or testimony based on visions and dreams, was considered admissible in court, leading to many false accusations. Those who refused to confess were often subjected to brutal interrogations and torture. The main driving force behind the trials was the belief in the supernatural and the existence of witchcraft. The Puritan settlers of Salem saw the world as a cosmic battleground between good and evil, and believed that witches were agents of the devil. They viewed the spread of witchcraft as a threat to their religious community, and felt compelled to purge the town of this evil. The trials came to an end in early 1693, when the governor of Massachusetts intervened and put a stop to the proceedings. He criticized the lack of evidence and the reliance on spectral evidence, and ordered that all those still in custody be released. The town of Salem was left to reckon with the aftermath of the trials, as the community tried to heal and move on from the trauma. The prosecution of accused witches in Salem serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of mass hysteria and the power of fear. It is a reminder that when justice is abandoned in the face of panic, innocent lives can be destroyed. The events of Salem continue to resonate today, reminding us of the importance of due process, evidence, and critical thinking when pursuing justice..

Reviews for "The Devil Made Me Do It: Understanding the Role of Satanic Panic in Salem's Witch Trials"

1. John Doe - 2 stars:

I found the book "Prosecution of accused witches in Salem" to be quite disappointing. While I was initially intrigued by the subject matter, the author failed to provide a thorough analysis of the events that took place during the Salem witch trials. Instead, the book seemed to focus more on personal opinions and speculation rather than presenting well-researched facts. Additionally, I felt that the author provided a biased perspective, consistently painting the accused as innocent victims rather than exploring the complexity of the situation. Overall, I would not recommend this book to those seeking a comprehensive and objective account of the Salem witch trials.

2. Sarah Smith - 3 stars:

I had high hopes for "Prosecution of accused witches in Salem" as I have always been interested in the Salem witch trials. However, I was left feeling quite underwhelmed by this book. While the author did present a fair amount of historical information, I felt that it lacked depth and failed to capture the true essence of the events. The writing style was dry and uninspiring, making it difficult to stay engaged throughout. Additionally, the book seemed to jump from one aspect of the trials to another without providing a cohesive narrative. While it wasn't a terrible read, I would recommend looking for other books on the subject that offer a more captivating and comprehensive exploration of the Salem witch trials.

The Burning Times: How the Salem Witch Trials Reflect Wider Patterns of Witch Persecution