This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/scotland/tayside_and_central/7268111.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Plea for 'witches' to be pardoned | Plea for 'witches' to be pardoned |
| (2 days later) | |
| Campaigners have submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for the last woman convicted under the Witchcraft Act to be pardoned. | Campaigners have submitted a petition to the Scottish Parliament calling for the last woman convicted under the Witchcraft Act to be pardoned. |
| Helen Duncan spent nine months in Holloway prison after being found guilty at a trial in 1944. | Helen Duncan spent nine months in Holloway prison after being found guilty at a trial in 1944. |
| She had told a séance a warship had sunk before the news had been officially announced. | |
| A second petition calls for all those convicted under witchcraft legislation in Scotland to be pardoned. | A second petition calls for all those convicted under witchcraft legislation in Scotland to be pardoned. |
| Family stigma | Family stigma |
| Both petitions have been organised by a paranormal group, Full Moon Investigations. | Both petitions have been organised by a paranormal group, Full Moon Investigations. |
| A petition to the Westminster Government last year failed to secure a pardon for Mrs Duncan. | A petition to the Westminster Government last year failed to secure a pardon for Mrs Duncan. |
| This new document calls on the Scottish Government to urge the Home Secretary to reconsider the case. | This new document calls on the Scottish Government to urge the Home Secretary to reconsider the case. |
| Mrs Duncan, born in Callander, Perthshire, held a séance at which the spirit of a dead sailor was said to have revealed the loss of the battleship HMS Barham with most of her crew. | |
| The sinking had been kept secret by the authorities to maintain wartime morale. | The sinking had been kept secret by the authorities to maintain wartime morale. |
| Helen Duncan spent nine months in prison | Helen Duncan spent nine months in prison |
| Although not convicted for being a witch, Mrs Duncan was jailed for pretending to use witchcraft. | |
| The crime of being a witch was abolished by the 1735 Witchcraft Act. | |
| Roberta Gordon presented the signatures to Frank McAveety, convener of the public petitions committee, at Holyrood. | Roberta Gordon presented the signatures to Frank McAveety, convener of the public petitions committee, at Holyrood. |
| Mrs Gordon, who has been a medium for more than 28 years, said: "I feel that at the time the country was paranoid about security with D-Day coming up and the evidence used against her wasn't accurate. | Mrs Gordon, who has been a medium for more than 28 years, said: "I feel that at the time the country was paranoid about security with D-Day coming up and the evidence used against her wasn't accurate. |
| "It would take away the stigma of the family that is still living, the granddaughters, the great-grandsons and she has got a great granddaughter. | "It would take away the stigma of the family that is still living, the granddaughters, the great-grandsons and she has got a great granddaughter. |
| "For them to know that Helen Duncan is not classed as a witch would be the icing on the cake." | "For them to know that Helen Duncan is not classed as a witch would be the icing on the cake." |
| The campaigners claim about 4,000 people were convicted under the witchcraft legislation in force between 1563 and 1736, 85% of them women. | The campaigners claim about 4,000 people were convicted under the witchcraft legislation in force between 1563 and 1736, 85% of them women. |
| The petition states that torture was used to extract confessions as late as 1704 and those convicted were almost always strangled before their body was burnt. | The petition states that torture was used to extract confessions as late as 1704 and those convicted were almost always strangled before their body was burnt. |
| The petition states: "Many of today's professions have their roots in tradition and what could be seen as mystical wisdom. | The petition states: "Many of today's professions have their roots in tradition and what could be seen as mystical wisdom. |
| "Professions such as mediumship, herbalists, midwifery, reiki and many alternative therapies, to name just a few." | "Professions such as mediumship, herbalists, midwifery, reiki and many alternative therapies, to name just a few." |