In the spring of 1650, the judicial machinery of Haddington focused its attention upon David Steward, a resident of Tyninghame. According to the extant records of the case (C/EGD/1828), David was drawn into the legal proceedings during a period when the Scottish courts were increasingly preoccupied with the prosecution of witchcraft. The documentation confirms that he was subjected to the common investigative technique of sleep deprivation throughout the month of April 1650, a method frequently employed at the time to secure testimonies or confessions from those held in custody.
The legal process moved with significant haste. Following his interrogation, David was brought to trial under the designation T/JO/789. The outcome of these proceedings was conclusive; David was found guilty, and the sentence was carried out on April 9, 1650. On that same day, the historical record notes that the execution was completed, marking the final entry in the documented life of the Tyninghame man.