Page 4 - aruba-today-20230202

A4 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 2 February 2023

Connecticut may exonerate accused witches centuries later

By SUSAN HAIGH erated Elizabeth Johnson
Associated Press Jr., who was convicted
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — of witchcraft in 1693 and
Decades before the infa- sentenced to death at the
mous Salem witch trials in height of the Salem Witch
Massachusetts, Alse Young Trials. Johnson is believed to
was killed at the gallows be the last accused Salem
in Connecticut, becoming witch to have her convic-
the first person on record to tion set aside by legislators.
be executed in the Ameri- In 2006, former Virginia Gov.
can colonies for witchcraft. Tim Kaine gave an informal
The Windsor town clerk reg- pardon to Grace Sher-
istered the death on May wood, a widowed midwife
26, 1647, in a diary entry who was blamed by neigh-
that read: “Alse Young was bors for ruining crops, kill-
hanged.” Young was the ing livestock and creating
first of nine women and storms and subsequently
two men executed by the accused of being a witch.
colony of Connecticut for With her hands bound,
witchcraft over 15 years, a Sherwood was thrown into
period during which more a river to see if she floated,
than 40 people faced trial which was purported to in-
for having ties to Satan. In this Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023 photo, Beth Caruso, author and co-founder of the CT Witch Trial dicate guilt. She managed
Now, more than 375 years Exoneration Project, which was created to clear the names of the accused, stands on the Palisado to set herself free and spent
later, amateur historians, Green in Windsor, Conn., where in 1651, an accident during a local militiamen training exercise seven years in prison.
researchers and descen- led to the accusation of witchcraft and hanging of Lydia Gilbert. Connecticut’s witch trials
dants of the accused Associated Press were held in the mid-to-
witches and their accus- “They’re talking about ninth-generation relatives ogy to the estimated 4,000 late 1600s. In each of the
ers hope Connecticut law- how this has followed their of accused witches. “And Scots, mostly women, who New England colonies,
makers will finally offer post- families from generation to to me, that’s an easy thing were accused of witch- witchcraft was considered
humous exonerations. generation and that they to do if it gives people craft up until 1736. Of the a capital offense. Accord-
While such requests aren’t would love for someone peace.” 4,000, about 2,500 were ing to the earliest laws in
new, they have become just to say, ‘Hey, this was Other states and countries killed. A Scottish member of the colony of Connecticut,
louder as many genealogy wrong,’” said Connecticut have attempted to atone parliament last year called “any man or women (to)
buffs discover they have state Rep. Jane Garibay, for a history of persecut- for posthumously pardon- bee a Witch, that is, hath
distant relatives involved in who proposed an exonera- ing people as witches. Last ing them. or consulteth with a familiar
the lesser-known Connecti- tion resolution after receiv- year, Scotland’s prime min- In 2022, Massachusetts spirit, they shall bee put to
cut witch trials. ing letters from eighth- and ister issued a formal apol- lawmakers formally exon- death.”q

California seeks new gun restrictions following shootings

By ADAM BEAM concealed guns are al- think helps it with constitu- lenge that is sure to come,” and they would have suc-
Associated Press lowed. tional muster.” Portantino said. ceeded, had it not been
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) Democratic state Sen. An- “This is not window dress- It would also ban anyone for a strategic blunder re-
— California Gov. Gavin thony Portantino, the bill’s ing. This is to put a strong younger than 21 from hav- quiring a two-thirds vote of
Newsom wants to limit author, called that excep- bill on the governor’s desk ing a permit to carry their the Legislature so the bill
where people can carry tion “a legal nuance that I to withstand a legal chal- gun concealed and would could take effect immedi-
concealed guns after mul- require all permit holders to ately. Democrats could not
tiple mass shootings left have more training, includ- round up enough support,
dozens dead across the ing on how to safely store and the bill died.
state in January, calling for and transport guns. “That’s not going to hap-
more restrictions in a state California and half a doz- pen this year,” Newsom
that already has some of en other states previously said. “I will be signing this
the nation’s toughest gun had laws that required legislation.”
laws. people to give a reason Newsom and legisla-
He endorsed legislation if they wanted to carry a tive Democrats vowed to
Wednesday that would concealed gun in public double down on passing
ban people from carry- like citing a direct threat to a new law this year. Their
ing concealed guns into their public safety. cause came with renewed
churches, public libraries, But a U.S. Supreme Court urgency, after mass shoot-
zoos, amusement parks, ruling last year struck down ings in Monterey Park and
playgrounds, banks and all those laws, making it easier Half Moon Bay left 18 peo-
other privately owned busi- California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2023, for people in those states to ple dead and 10 others
nesses that are open to the at the I.D.E.S. Portuguese Hall in Half Moon Bay, Calif., with get a permit to carry a con- wounded. In total, the state
public. The rule wouldn’t victims’ families, local leaders and community members that cealed weapon. had six mass shootings in
apply if the business own- were impacted by the devastating shootings the day before. California Democrats tried January and at least 29

er puts up a sign that says Associated Press to pass new rules last year people were killed.q