In the waning months of 1677, Thomas Mitchell of Stirling found himself ensnared in the tumultuous witch trials that swept through Scotland between 1563 and 1736. As historical records from December of that year show, Thomas was accused of the dreadful crime of witchcraft, a charge that clouded the lives of many during this era. However, unlike countless others, Thomas's brush with accusations did not lead to the grim outcomes that befell so many others of his time.
On the 3rd of December, 1677, Thomas stood before the lord commissioners as part of trial proceedings recorded under case number T/JO/628. The deliberations reached a verdict of "Not Proven," a distinctive facet of Scottish legal practice that indicated there was neither sufficient evidence to securely convict nor absolution due to an acquittal. The commissioners, upon a thorough examination, proclaimed that there was no substantial presumption of guilt against Thomas. It was acknowledged that the charges brought against him were of a malicious nature, reflecting the dark intrigues that often imbued these prosecutions. Consequently, Thomas was released, a decision that spared him the harsher fates that historically greeted many individuals caught in the fervor of witchcraft allegations.
Thomas Mitchell's case reflects the complexities and occasional capriciousness of early modern Scottish witch trials. His release stands as a testament to the layers of human and procedural dynamics that sometimes allowed accused individuals to return to their lives unscathed. This record illuminates not only the precarious nature of societal interactions during this fraught period but also a flicker of judicial discernment in an era marked by fear and superstition.