I once read that in the middle ages, a Noble or Lord jealous of a private citizen's riches had only to accuse them of being a witch and the government (Noble or Lord) got to confiscate all the property. Too bad about the torture and all that, but hey, if they weren't a witch now they might become one in the future.
Yup.
One guy who repeatedly pulled that stunt got so rich his neighbor then accused him.
The first guy was slowly crushed to death under a door with stones piled on it.
Then that [now very rich] accuser had an “epiphany” and declared the witch trials to be ridiculous and ended them.
Bummer, eh?