In the tumultuous atmosphere of 17th century Scotland, where suspicion and fear of witchcraft were rife, James Russell of Dreva, Peebles found himself ensnared in the judicial system's relentless pursuit of witches. On the 26th of September, 1679, James was summoned to appear before a trial in Peebles, a town that, like many others in Scotland during this period, grappled with the pervasive fear of witchcraft.
Though accused and brought before the court, his case took an unexpected turn as the trial records indicate that the "diet was deserted," a legal term denoting the abandonment of proceedings against him. This meant that, despite the gravity of the accusations, the trial did not progress to conviction or sentencing, and James was released. The exact reasons for the desertion of the diet are not detailed in the surviving records, leaving a gap in the narrative that invites both relief for James and an enduring question of the circumstances that led to his reprieve. Thus, James Russell returned to his life in Dreva, leaving behind the shadow of an accusation that, for many during this era, might not have ended so fortuitously.