A Somerset “Witch” Exposed.
In view of the examinations which are at present being made at the National Laboratory of Psychical Research, South Kensington, into the mysterious powers of the Roumanian poltergeist girl, Eleonore Zugan, the following Somerset story taken from the “St James’s Evening Post,” dated Saturday, January 7th to January 10th, 1738, will be read with special interest:-
“We have a very odd account from Portishead, of the inhabitants in general there having been for several weeks past under a consternation of witchcraft, notwithstanding the incongruity of such sorcery being yet surviving in Great Britain: An outcry was daily made of this prodigy by droves of people who visited the house, where the witchcraft was supposed to be in full power (which belonged to one Flower, an old tailor, noted for nursing Parish children at 18d per week).
This old man and his old wife have severely felt the effect of it; for at every instant either one or the other had a bang on the head or some other part of the body, with large stones, spoons, knives, &c., and diverse people who visited the house for their satisfaction and truth of the matter, met with the same reception, and saw the windows broke, but knew not by what means; and such was the fear of many, that they thought it dangerous to enter the house; and the two old people, in order to drive the dilemma from them, were constantly at prayer, by the advice of the good people.
At length a gentlewoman of this city, who happened to be at a gentleman’s seat, hearing of this reported by the family where she then resided, and, putting no faith in such chimeras, resolved, like the rest, to visit the bewitched house, and saw several things flung about, but imperceivable from whence; and repeating her visit, at length began to look with a suspicious eye on a little girl of about 12 years old, granddaughter to the old people, who she always perceived placed herself in a window behind whatever persons came into the room, and she, receiving a blow on the arm with a spoon, conjectured it must come from the girl, and therefore immediately searched her, and to her surprise found two pockets full of large pebble stones, etc., under her petticoats, which she artfully flung at convenient opportunities, and carried on this subtlety so far, as to occasion much wonder that a little witch so young could manage her scheme so well, to deceive a whole parish; for besides this, she had a knack in changing her voice to several tones.
The gentlewoman had the thanks of the whole parish for laying this young witch.”
Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser, 20th October 1926.