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                         Spectral Evidence

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Spectral evidence is a type of evidence that was permitted by the Court of Oyer and Terminer during the Salem Witch Trials. If a witness claimed that the the spirit of the accused person appeared in the dreams of that witness, it was considered evidence in the trial. Often the witnesses claimed that the accused appeared in his or her dreams in the physical form of the accused. Some witnesses said they saw a cat or other animal in their dreams. Spectral evidence was accepted on the premise that the devil was powerful enough to send specters to good people so that they might be led astray.