Hurley appears to have been stocked with real witches from a very early date, but as in all such matters, innocent persons will occasionally be suspected. The Hurleyites, however, used no such crude methods as did the good and gracious Pilgrim Fathers - here was no cutting off of ears, nor is there record that the ducking-stool was used to settle the vexed question. The method employed with Betsey Conway is illustrative and, while quite as efficacious, left no unpleasant after effects so far as could be observed.

    Betsey lived in a log hut near the watering trough on the Wynkoop property, other side of the creek, and was strongly suspected of being a witch. One day while calling at the home of Cornelius Hotaling, a daughter of the house placed salt under her chair. Now a true witch under such circumstances is helpless, and when Betsey arose when the time came to go and without difficulty left the house she should have cleared her fair fame of the imputation, but folks will talk.

    Another and instantly effective way of settling the matter was to stick a pin in the bottom of a chair in which the suspected person sat. Under such circumstances the witch is held fast and wholly unable to move, while the innocent person proves the fact promptly and to the great gladness of the assembled company. The writer can testify that he has never to his knowledge seen a witch sit on a pin.

Source:

Hine, Charles Gilbert, The Old Mine Road, New Brunswick, NJ, Rutgers University Press, 1963: page 42.