Clothiers suggests warm cold warm germinators for all of them - mollis , vernalis , virginiana etc....
2 - 3 months @ 70ºF, then 2 - 3 months @ 39ºF, recycle

I'd go ahead and soak overnight, get them started absorbing a bit of water, can't hurt. If you do choose to begin with the cold, use a sturdy container on the chance they don't germinate this season, it could be with you for a year or more until they've been exposed to a wider range of temps (and more than once).

Interesting, I didn't realize that. This might be a dumb question, but does this mean I could just sow the seeds inside the house and keep the container at room temperature (like maybe in the bathroom where it's warmer) or possibly atop the fridge, and then follow up with it in the fridge?

W/S is just so much easier!

That's one way to do it. Another, easier way would be to just wait until August. Sow them right before labor day when the seeds would be ripe in nature. Leave them out all winter and plan for germination next year. Inside, you'll need sterile potting soil, sterile containers, and have to worry constantly about mold and fungus. Outside, the chances of those things are much smaller.

Thanks Token. I started soaking three seeds last night just to try W/Sing them, but that still leaves me nine more. I'll just hold on to them until August then.

I just checked Druse, Making More Plants and of witch hazel/Hamamelis he says -

Seed is difficult in any event. (my note: that doesn't mean dont try!) Best sown barely covered (some light may be beneficial to germination), placed outdoors for germination in second spring.

His recommendations are most often for fresh, not dried commercial, seed. Sounds to me like then like sowing in August 2010 wouldn't necessarily mean germination in Spring 2011, wonder if you shouldn't just WS now if it's easier for you, be very, very patient and pleasantly surprised if you do have germination some time this year. You could try the indoors, moving to refer, but would likely have to move them in and out more than once.

I top seed pots that are going to be with me for a while with chick grit, sometimes very fine aquarium gravel from the pet store. Chick grit is available by the pound, or another option in a pinch - you can use parakeet gravel from the pet supplies in your grocery store. Helps to prevent moss and algae from forming on top the sowing medium that might hinder seedlings.