Pressing

Giles Corey was pressed to death on Sep. 19, 1692 for the "crime" of witchcraft. Corey's execution was dictated because he stood mute in court. He refused to plead either innocent or guilty. He simply stood in silence. Many of Corey's friends believed he remained silent in court because, by doing so under English law, he could leave his property to whomever he pleased. Otherwise, the Sheriff would confiscate it.

Giles reportedly was a stubborn, fiery man who realized that he would not get a fair trial. By not pleading one way or the other, English law dictated that person could not be tried, but the penalty for standing mute was "slow crushing under weights" until a plea was forthcoming or the person died.

On Monday, September 19, 1692, 80-year-old Giles Corey was led naked to a pit in the open field beside Salem Jail. He was made to lie down in the pit, then six men lifted heavy stones, placing them one by one, on his stomach and chest. Giles Corey did not cry out, which perplexed Sheriff Corwin whose duty it was to squeeze a confession from the old man.

"Do you confess?" the Sheriff cried over and over. More and more rocks were piled onto him, and the Sheriff, from time to time, would stand on the boulders staring down at Corey's bulging eyes. Robert Calef, who was a witness along with other townsfolk, later said, "In the pressing, Giles Corey's tongue was pressed out of his mouth; the Sheriff, with his cane, forced it in again."

Three mouthfuls of bread and water were fed to the old man during his many hours of pain. Finally, Giles Corey cried out at Sheriff Corwin, "Damn you. I curse you and Salem!" Giles Corey died a few seconds later.

The process of pressing one to death is a long, painful one. Before the victim dies, their ribs are crushed by the weight. If the victim's ribs do not puncture their lungs, the victim will be quickly suffocated. If, however, the lungs are punctured, the victim will continue to breath, if painfully, until they drown in their own blood.