Spectral Evidence
By: Jonathan Montes-Boydstun
Spectral evidence refers to a witness testimony that the accused person's spirit or spectral shape appeared to him/her them in a dream.
Spectral evidence was testimony that the accused witch's spirit appeared to the witness in a dream or vision (for example, a black cat or wolf). The dream or vision was admitted as evidence.
The evidence used in these cases included confessions given under torture, supposed eyewitness testimony, and physical inspections of the accused. One of the most disturbing pieces of evidence given was spectral evidence, or evidence based on the visions or dreams of the accusers.