Why was Phyllis Wick tried for witchraft?

[Roland]

The writers do a good job showing why Vickie is accused of witchcraft - all her knowledge about the future, her strange clothing etc. - but why would the original Phyllis, who clearly did not have all that baggage, be so accused?  Is it merely because she showed up at the same time as Angelique started all her mischief and, therefore, she became the "logical" suspect?  Still, it seems like most of the evidence we see being used to condemn Vickie would not be applicable in Miss Wick's case.

Any thoughts?

[MagnusTrask]

Ang didn't really have to work hard at making VW seem guilty.    She may have had to provide all the evidence used against P Wick.

[Julianka7]

I'd said it's a combination of Abigal's constant looking out for evil and the devil
and Angelique's tricks that put Phyllis in the hot seat.

The writers do a good job showing why Vickie is accused of witchcraft - all her knowledge about the future, her strange clothing etc. - but why would the original Phyllis, who clearly did not have all that baggage, be so accused?  Is it merely because she showed up at the same time as Angelique started all her mischief and, therefore, she became the "logical" suspect?  Still, it seems like most of the evidence we see being used to condemn Vickie would not be applicable in Miss Wick's case.

Any thoughts?

[alwaysdavid]

If Phyllis had shown even the slightest intrest in Barnabas, she would have been doomed. 

[arashi]

Good question! In the 91 series they just explained that she died (of pneumonia?) sometime shortly after arriving at Collinwood. They never explained it in the original series, I always assumed that Phyllis was accused of witchcraft and that she and Vicki had just swapped places. It raises a whole hell of a lot more questions then, like.... did Phyllis and Barnabas become such good friends? Did Peter fall in love with Phyllis originally? If so then that's one of the times the writers actually dealt with changing the past having consequences on the future when Peter came forward in time to find Vicki.... but I may be giving the story too much credit for that 

[Brandon Collins]

More than likely, Phyllis was probably just blamed for all the stuff that Ang was doing, and then when Ang caught wind of people suspecting her, she just piled on all the trappings, like she did with Vicki. I mean, by the standards of witch-trial logic, you really didn't need much to convict someone.

They wouldn't have suspected Ang outright because not only was she so nice and sweet to everyone's face, but she also came with the DuPres family, who were prestigious people, not to mention people that were practically family, so to accuse one of their servants would've been a huge insult, and vice versa for the DuPres to accuse a Collins servant. Phyllis was the newest employee, and she was also the most unattached to the family, so I'm sure they had no problem throwing her under the bus.

[Josette]

They wouldn't have suspected Ang outright because not only was she so nice and sweet to everyone's face, but she also came with the DuPres family, who were prestigious people, not to mention people that were practically family, so to accuse one of their servants would've been a huge insult, and vice versa for the DuPres to accuse a Collins servant. Phyllis was the newest employee, and she was also the most unattached to the family, so I'm sure they had no problem throwing her under the bus.

Other than the possible insult of accusing a DuPres servant, there's also the fact that she has been with them for some time, and they certainly didn't suspect her and presumably vouched for her.

[Nelson Collins]

ISTR Barnabas recognizing Phyllis when time was unfrozen in the present, after the swap back and Vickie returns, does Barnabas still remember Phyllis? or Vickie?  Is it ever made clear?  Cassandralique remembers Vickie, does she not?

Likewise, I thought it had been established/remembered by Barnabas thas Phyllis was tried for witchcraft.  Am I mistaken?

[Midnite]

Likewise, I thought it had been established/remembered by Barnabas thas Phyllis was tried for witchcraft.  Am I mistaken?

You're not mistaken.  Barnabas recognized Phyllis as Sarah's governess and surmised that Vicki must have taken her place.  He told Julia that Phyllis was declared guilty of witchcraft and was to have been hanged the day he was chained in his coffin.