In The Crucible, what evidence is there that John Hale has an impact on the townspeople?

When Reverend Hale first arrives in Act 1, he brings a great many big books with him, and he claims that they are heavy because "they are weighted with authority."  Parris, in the stage direction, is described as "a little scared."  So far, we have witnessed an indignant Parris, an anxious Parris, a belligerent Parris, but this is the first time we see him awed by someone else.  Further, his reputation has preceded...

When Reverend Hale first arrives in Act 1, he brings a great many big books with him, and he claims that they are heavy because "they are weighted with authority."  Parris, in the stage direction, is described as "a little scared."  So far, we have witnessed an indignant Parris, an anxious Parris, a belligerent Parris, but this is the first time we see him awed by someone else.  Further, his reputation has preceded him to Salem.  Proctor says to him, "I've heard you to be a sensible man, Mr. Hale.  I hope you'll leave some of it in Salem."  He is obviously well-respected by both Parris and Proctor, despite their differences with each other.

Moreover, Parris and the Putnams obviously defer to him when they seem not to defer to anyone else.  As he peruses his books, "All wait, avidly," and Parris speaks to him in "hushed" tones.  Hale's confidence and knowledge seems above them all, including Giles Corey.  When Hale rejects Parris' assertion that the Devil would not come into a minister's house, saying, "What victory would the Devil have to win a soul already bad?  It is the best the Devil wants, and who is better than the minister?"  Giles intones, "That's deep, Mr. Parris, deep, deep!"  So far, everyone seems to be quite impressed with the learned Mr. Hale, even including those people who have very high opinions of themselves and their own ideas about what's going on.

Then, as he questions Abigail, it is clear that he knows just which questions to ask to get to what appears to be the heart of the matter, the cause of Betty's and Ruth's ailment.  He does likewise with Tituba, and it is Hale who is able to extract a full confession from the slave.  He gets her to name others who, she says, came to her with the Devil: Sarah Good, Sarah Osburn, and two more she does not name.  It is the information that he gathers from Tituba that necessitates the setting up of the court, that prompts the girls to accuse more women, and that convinces the town that they are telling the truth.  Without Hale's influence, this fatal chain could not have begun.