why did abigal and betty start shouting out the names of the people who might be accocitated with witch craft

Abigail quickly takes over as the leader of the girls, and she threatens them to keep silent. She claimed that if anyone told on her for lying, she would kill them, and they believed her. Abigail was the one who started the confessing by shouting out “I saw Sarah good with the devil, I saw Goody Osburn with devil” (45).

The night Abigail Williams was in the forest all the girls were dancing for the devil, but because she confessed and quickly blamed other people, Reverend Hale forgets about her and focuses on the ones whose names she shouted out. She obviously enjoys being the center of attention and knows everyone will look to her to give the names of witches and save the town from the devil.