Witch Wars in Devon! July 15, 2016
Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern , trackback
1869, the Empire is at its height, teeming millions walk through Britain’s mighty metropolises and out in the Devon countryside the locals are consulting witches.
A witchcraft case reported from South Devon. Two or three young women living at Dittisham fell ill. Their mothers, thinking they had been illwished – that is, looked upon with the ‘evil eye’ – consulted a wizard at Teignmouth, who said the young woman were ‘deeply wounded,’ but promised a cure for a certain amount of money.
It would be interesting to know what this illness was: something contagious presumably to effect three girls or a common poisoning? In any case, the magic didn’t work…
The money was paid, but the girls still remained unwell, and at last the wizard said nothing could be done for them, and he gave the affair hopeless after receiving a good round sum.
So far so normal. The witch has tried, the witch has failed, and the witch is rich. Now what to do? Look for another witch, of course and the great things about conditions like these is that sooner or later people start to get better whether you do something or not.
A ‘witch’ was then consulted at Dartmouth, and many pounds, it is said, were expended on her, the money being sent by some secret friend to ensure success. Subsequently the young women got well, and the cure was attributed to the witch, who demanded four pounds in one sum.
What Beach loves is how a secondary problem now develops. How do we pay four pounds, an awful lot of money at this time? Well, naturally, you must employ another sorcerer. Also, isn’t it wonderful how instead of threatening the wrath of heaven or hell, he simply says he’ll call in the Bobbies.
The mothers, however were unable to raise the amount, and got friend to interpose with person known as the ‘white witch’ at Dartmouth and he so alarmed the woman by threatening to bring the case before the magistrates that she not only relinquished her claim to the four pounds, but returned part of the money she had previously received.
Beach wonders if the girls got ill again. He would bet money that the White Witch took a goodly cut of the returned money.
Any other witch stories, particularly amusing ones, please write: drbeachcombing At yahoo DOT com Our witchcraft tag is growing. Lut Times, 27 Feb 1869, 3
