13 May 2009

Rebecca Jane York - Britain's last convicted witch

Notorious as her case was Helen Duncan was not the last person in Britain to be convicted as a witch (or at least under the provisions of the Witchcraft Act of 1735*).

The last person was Jane Rebecca Yorke, a medium from Forest Gate in East London. Yorke was arrested in July 1944 following reports that she was defrauding the public through exploiting wartime fears. She was found guilty in September of seven counts against the Act, fined £5 and placed on good behaviour for three years, promising to hold no more seances. The light sentence was due to her age of 72.


* The purpose of the Witchcraft Act of 1735 was to deal with persons pretending to have the power to call up spirits, or foretell the future (It was thus aimed at fraudulent mediums). People convicted under the Act were subject to fines and imprisonment rather than execution. It was superseded by the Fraudulent Mediums Act of 1951.

10 comments:

Ardent said...

How did Aleister Crowley escape conviction? Interesting.

SnoopyTheGoon said...

What do you mean the last? Do you want to say a man can't hope anymore?

James Higham said...

That late in history? Wow.

jams o donnell said...

I don't think he was ever charged Ardent!

Haha, perhaps we should bring back petty treason Snoopy!

Indeed but it was aimed at bogus mediums nd other charlatans rather than the eccentric old crone at the edge of teh village, James

Claude said...

Jams, don't you wish sometimes that you had the power? And bring certain politicians down?

jams o donnell said...

It's so tempting Claudia. That's for sure!

Alison said...

They went after witches big time in WWII because they thought they were giving away secrets. Hadn't heard about Rebecca though, did read a book about Helen a few years back. Essex history is rich with witches!

jams o donnell said...

THey certainly did that in respect of Helen Duncan Alison, even though she was a charlatan. Her trial and sentence was a farce

Steve Bates said...

Hmph. I'll wager there are more than a few women bartenders in London alone who are very good at "call[ing] up spirits". Besides, why all the controversy? It sounds as if everyone found a happy medium...

jams o donnell said...

Steve now that's dreadful! Hahahaha