In the quiet and pastoral setting of Pencaitland, Haddington, the life of Alexander Bell took a dramatic turn in the mid-17th century when he found himself among a group of six individuals accused of witchcraft. The exact details of his case, recorded under case number C/JO/2708, remain scarce in historical records, leaving much about the circumstances shrouded in mystery. However, it is documented that Alexander's entanglement in the witchcraft accusations culminated on the 29th of May in 1650, a date two notations mark in the archives: one for his case entry and another for the recording of his confession.
Though the trial notes associated with trial number T/JO/156 offer no additional clarity, the record of a confession made by Alexander suggests a significant breakthrough in his case occurred on that same day. In the context of the period, such confessions were often obtained under duress or coercion, yet the specific nature of Alexander's admission and the events leading to it are not detailed in the surviving documents. The shared fate of Alexander Bell and the five others similarly accused remains a poignant testament to the intense climate of fear and suspicion that characterized the Scottish witch trials of the time.