In the spring of 1659, the burgh of Ayr became the focal point for the legal proceedings against Barbara Cunninghame, a resident of Newton. The gravity of the investigation is evidenced by the substantial witness list compiled nearly a year earlier, on 6 April 1658, which included thirteen men and six women prepared to testify against her. These individuals were brought forward to substantiate allegations that had emerged during a period of intense scrutiny, reflecting the procedural rigor often applied to such cases within the local courts of the mid-seventeenth century.
When Barbara stood trial on 29 March 1659, she formally entered a plea of not guilty to the charges leveled against her. Following the judicial process, the court returned a verdict of not guilty, effectively clearing her of the capital accusations. The matter concluded on 30 March 1659, when she was officially cautioned to maintain good behavior in all time coming—a standard legal requirement for those discharged from such serious allegations, ensuring their continued integration into the social and civic order of the community.