We don't know. There are numerous theories including:
1. They lied.
2. Ergotism
3. Fueding between Village and Town
4. Encephalitis
The Salem witch trials is not a movie you idiot. They were a series of witchcraft trials that were caused by a witch hysteria in Essex County, Massachusetts, centering in Salem. Bridget Bishop owned an inn and was accused during the hysteria. She was the first to be tried and the first to be executed.
Nineteen people were hanged during the Salem witch trials.
There were no actual, practicing witches invovled, accused or otherwise existing in Salem during the witch trials.
Obviously, the Salem Witch Trials tried a very different crime. But, other than that, the Salem Trials were very much like a normal civil trial today.
John Proctor was accused and hanged during the Salem Witch Trials.
outside of Salem
During the Salem Witch Trials in Salem Massachusetts in 1692, 19 were hanged, 1 was pressed to death and as many as 13 died in prison.
Samuel Paris worked as a minister in Salem, Massachusetts during the Salem witch trials. His daughter and niece were both amongst the girls who were accused of being witches.
the Salem witch trials
19
a lot of people
Torture was no utilized for getting confessions during the Salem Witch Trials.