I checked the dates and I do see why ansel12 might call this a British case. I do think it rather odd that Salem witch trials weren't called the same when they happened about 14 yrs earlier.
Frankly, I've never heard either called a British case. I just thought Ansel12 was making the point that it was a British case since we were still under British rule at the time. That would apply to the Salem witch trials also. Perhaps Ansel is just trying to point that fact out since most people don't place these things in their original context of history.