In the bustling burgh of Stirling during the year 1677, amidst the backdrop of Scotland's troubled witch trials, a woman named Janet McNair found herself ensnared in the web of accusations that marred the age. Janet, a resident of this central Scottish town, became the focus of allegations that, while shrouded in the usual air of suspicion and fear, were also marked by a distinctly malicious undertone. The historical record, dated December 3rd, 1677, under the case reference C/EGD/1758, reveals a courtroom drama that unfolded with all the tension of its era but concluded with an uncommon resolution.
Janet's case came swiftly before the lord commissioners on December 2nd, 1677, where the charges against her were subject to rigorous scrutiny. During the trial, documented under T/JO/627, the commissioners sifted through the evidence, which ultimately held little weight or substance. They determined that there was "no presumption of guilt", a rare finding amid the fervor of the witch hunts. Instead, the accusations were exposed for what they were—malicious in nature and lacking a credible foundation. With her verdict marked as "Not Proven," a legal term from Scots law denoting that while the evidence was insufficient to convict, it was likewise insufficient for a full acquittal, Janet was nevertheless released, a decision that echoed a sense of justice seldom seen in this era.
Janet McNair's release stands as a testament to the incisive role some judicial figures played, who sometimes managed to cut through the haze of superstition and societal fear. Her case serves as a poignant reminder of the delicate balance of justice and the human stories caught up in the larger tapestry of the Scottish witch trials.