In 1655, in the coastal town of Wick, Caithness, Bessie Andro found herself embroiled in a severe and perilous situation—facing allegations of witchcraft at a time when such accusations could lead to dire consequences. Bessie's case, noted in the source by Larner and catalogued in unspecified fugitive lists, reveals that the judicial response to her situation was complex. Her trial is referenced in the documents of the circuit court, indicating that the authorities had embarked on a pursuit or investigation to address the charges levied against her.
The details regarding the specific accusations against Bessie remain sparse in the existing records. The resolution of her case is similarly shrouded in mystery, as the historical notes do not disclose the outcome of the trial. This silence in the records leaves much to the imagination about Bessie’s experiences and the community's treatment of her. Such fugitive lists typically suggest that Bessie may have been either avoiding capture or otherwise navigating the legal proceedings surrounding her alleged witchcraft. The lack of a determined conclusion in the records underscores the challenges faced by historians in piecing together the stories of those accused during this tumultuous period in Scottish history.