John Procter was accused and eventually executed on only the testimony of a young girl trying to save herself. Rebecca Nurse was also hung at the age of 71. Rebecca was very noble and honest, and was thought to be immaculate. The accuser gained power as the accusations went on and more people were condemned, until finally two very esteemed members of the community were put to death. .
In the hunt for communists a pattern similar to that of the Salem witch trials is present. The accuser first starts by accusing those who are known communists, saying that they have committed espionage. The accusations then move to more important figures, much the same as the Salem witch trials. "Americans accused of being Communists: Presidents Roosevelt and Truman, New Deal Liberals, Democrats, State Department and government officials, The Army and some American generals" (Americans accused of being Communists). The accused ranged from the president to people with certain beliefs or associations. As one can see, the accused persons in each trial are based solely on the discretion of the accuser.
The main accuser in the Salem witch trials is Abigail Williams. She is first accusing people because she herself is under fire for the illness of a young girl in the town. She shifts the focus from herself by accusing Mr. Parris" black slave named Tituba, who she knows will be an easy target: .
Mrs. Putnam, unable to wait: Mr. Parris's slave has knowledge of conjurin", sir (38).
It is common knowledge that Tituba may know witchcraft, therefore Abigail uses her "innocent victim" front to accuse Tituba: .
Hale: Why are you concealing? Have you sold yourself to Lucifer?.
Abigail: I never sold myself! I"m a good girl! I"m a proper girl!.
Mrs. Putnam enters with Tituba, and instantly Abigail points at Tituba.
Abigail: She made me do it! She made Betty do it!.
As one reads this, they can easily realize that Abigail is lying when she accuses Tituba.