Norman Devon's Forgotten Witches

1860-1910
1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-80399-422-2
Verlag: The History Press
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 6 - ePub Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 144 Seiten

Witchcraft and witches throughout history have long captured the imagination, yet hidden away in archives are records of long forgotten cases. Many of these are tragic, some are unusual - perhaps even inexplicable - but all are fascinating in their own right. Devon's Forgotten Witches 1860-1910 takes a deep dive through these records, bringing to the surface accusations of witchcraft in the county that have languished, unacknowledged, in the British Newspaper Archive for decades. These are the stories of ordinary people whose lives were touched in some way by witchcraft. Tracey Norman and Mark Norman examine these cases within their historical context, pulling together details from various news reports to explore what might really have happened. This work provides an intriguing snapshot of press coverage in the Victorian and Edwardian eras, showing how the public were urged to view those who still put their faith in 'incredible superstition'. Most importantly, the retelling of these stories gives a new voice to those whom the historical record has silenced.

TRACEY NORMAN is an historian and author with a particular interest in witchcraft cases. She is the author of the acclaimed play WITCH, using actual witch trial documents to tell the story of a (fictional) woman accused of witchcraft by a neighbour. Tracey co-authored Dark Folklore with her husband Mark for The History Press in 2020 and has also published the pamphlet 'Cards, Cocoa and Charms' which examines some obscure Devon witchcraft cases. Both Tracey and Mark give talks on folklore related subjects and write columns and articles for newspapers, periodicals and websites.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Norman, Tracey

Norman, Mark

Leseproben

2

MONEY, FRAUD AND FORTUNE-TELLING

LET US NOW CONSIDER the financial aspects of witchcraft cases. These are often connected with allegations or proof of fraudulent practices. As with any of the more esoteric arts, we cannot and should not say for certain what might be genuine, as such things are based on belief and faith. However, the courts would sometimes quite categorically state what was not genuine, regardless of the intention of the defendant.

Divination was an important part of superstitious and folkloric belief. You only have to look at the sheer number of ritual practices, charms and spells designed to ascertain who a future lover or partner would be to realise that a desire to look ahead and combat uncertainty was a big part of everyday life for many. And fortune-telling was one area in which it was unfortunately very easy for charlatans to find a home.

Between 1860 and 1910, prosecution for fortune-telling was governed by the Vagrancy Act 1824. Section 4 of this Act, headed ‘Persons committing certain offences to be deemed rogues and vagabonds’, stated:

Every person committing any of the offences herein-before mentioned, after having been convicted as an idle and disorderly person; every person pretending or professing to tell fortunes, or using any subtle craft, means, or device, by palmistry or otherwise, to deceive and impose upon any of his Majesty’s subjects […] shall be deemed a rogue and vagabond, within the true intent and meaning of this Act; and it shall be lawful for any justice of the peace to commit such offender (being thereof convicted before him by the confession of such offender, or by the evidence on oath of one or more credible witness or witnesses,) to the house of correction

In 1893, the duo of Frederick George Venn, a phrenologist, and William Priestly, astronomer, found themselves charged on remand in the courts at Teignmouth for professing to tell fortunes. The men were defended by Mr J. Carter of Torquay against the prosecution of Mr Beal from the Exeter law firm of Friend & Beal.

According to the newspaper report on the case (, 18 April 1893), the services offered by the defendants had been advertised in the and read as follows:

Matrimony, photograph, future husband or wife, with position – 1s 6d

One year’s events – 1s 6d

Five years’ – 3s 6d

Life chart – 5s 6d to 7s 6d

Sex and birth time

Professor Priestly, Okehampton Street, Exeter, Devon

There appears to be no evidence to suggest that Priestly was an astronomer – astrologer would be a more accurate assessment. The high-status term of ‘professor’ certainly seems to have been employed for effect, to lend gravitas to the services that were being offered.

The advertisement clearly generated a lot of interest. The prosecution noted that when the pair were arrested and their house searched, police seized a book which documented that, from the beginning of the year to the time of the search, not more than four months later, receipts were listed for 494 letters sent from people all over the country.

The scale of the operation had led to such a significant number of complaints that the police were called upon to investigate, and this job fell to the inappropriately named PC Crooke, based at Exeter. The ingenious officer came up with a scheme to test the credentials of the ‘professor’ and arranged for Mrs Crooke to send a letter of enquiry, under an assumed name. This she did:

A lady friend of mine has sent me an old copy of of February 4th, in which I find your advertisement with regard to matrimony. Please send me a photo of my future husband, for which I send a postal order for 1s 6d with this letter. I was born on 9th April, 1863. Frances Mary Heylner.

(, 18 April 1893)

Priestly replied to the letter from a new address in Teignmouth, the business having relocated from Exeter, with the promised photograph and some details. He described a tall male, with a good physique, dark brown hair and eyes, aged between 29 and 31. The man’s profession was said to be that of a manager in a good commercial business and ‘Miss Heylner’ could expect to meet him sometime in November or December.

Of course, no scheme like this is worth its salt without the chance of on-sales to follow. Priestly’s reply suggested that the enquirer should continue to have either a five-year event or life event chart cast at the appropriate additional cost, in order to learn more. ‘Time of marriage, with all details, see included in five years’ events.’

In the interest of pursuing the case further, Mrs Crooke then wrote a second letter under the guidance of her husband, enclosing payment for the five years’ events prediction to be cast and saying how pleased she was with the first response received. In time she received a reply, again with more details about what to expect in the future.

1893 April to June no events of any material interest are pointed to, save a communication from a friend, which is a source of much gratification to you. August to September, marking a business matter decidedly to your advantage, but the event of the year par excellence is the meeting with your future husband, November to December, as described.

1894, February to April, he is marked as unexpectedly received a legacy, your permanent engagement and a gift being marked in October.

1895, February, he is anxious for early union, to which in August you consent. August recording marriage and at conclusion you visit Plymouth, where he has relatives, remaining until October, when you remove to London, Hammersmith, where he has prepared a very pleasing home for you, the remainder of the year, and until May, 1896, being rendered active by putting those finishing touches which so beautifies a home.

July to September, 1896, marks a very pleasant promotion as being made your husband, while December records a visit from a female friend near and dear you as the source of much pleasure.

1897 is a year of evil character and inimical to you, though fortunate to your husband, and you will wisely transact no matters of any importance save by proxy.

1898, March to April, a pending business offer, if made and accepted, will lead to your removal abroad; in fact, I regard from 1898 to 1901 as most important.

(, 18 April 1893)

The construction of this plan is, of course, quite significant. The first three years are generally good in nature, leading into a particularly bad year for the enquirer. Her predicted future husband, however, does well and this leads into the prospect of a major life change, with news that the next three years after that are the most significant of all.

This dangles a carrot which invites the need to know more. But the five-year plan ends at this point. Fortunately, there is a solution. Priestly suggests to ‘Miss Heylner’ that, because her prediction is so important and changeable, it will be in her best interests to have her full life events foretold and that this will only cost her a further 4. It is a common tactic, even today, for keeping people hooked on a scheme once they are invested in it.

The true nature of what was going on had been revealed by that point and there was no need to take this line further. The case against the men was watertight and Mr Carter took the decision to plead guilty on behalf of his clients. In mitigation, the lawyer suggested that his clients were ignorant of the law and had never appeared in court before. If they were treated with leniency, he said, they would withdraw all of their advertisements and cease any future business.

The court ruled to imprison the men for one month with hard labour, and instructed them to pay costs. But, interestingly, this was not an end to the business.

Frederick George Venn found himself back in court in October of the same year, once again on a fortune-telling charge, in a case which was reported in the (17 October 1893). It is unclear from the original case in April of the same year what Venn’s role in the scam actually was, as everything referred to Priestly. We might find a clue in this second case, which is brought against ‘Frederick George Venn alias William Priestley of Teignmouth’.

Although there is a slight variation in the spelling of the surname, the same two characters are being mentioned in this report. There are a couple of possibilities as to what might have taken place here. Either William Priestly has moved on and Venn has decided to use his name to have another attempt at the same fraud, or the newspaper reporter who ran the original story misunderstood the case and named it as two men, where in fact it was always one. Although the former seems more likely on the surface, the lack of any mention of Venn’s involvement in the April case is telling.

In this new case, Venn was tried for fortune-telling in St Thomas, an area of Exeter. He had received a letter which was signed from a Miss Amy Scott, a servant living at Bristol. Miss Scott wanted to know details of when, and to what manner of person, she would get married and how many children the couple might have.

Venn, under Priestly’s name, replied to Miss Scott, saying that he didn’t charge a fee any more for ‘ruling horoscopes’ but he would be prepared to send the information that was required if she was to send him 1 6 as a gift instead....