Jane Rebecca Yorke
Encyclopedia
Jane Rebecca Yorke was an English medium
who was the last person convicted under the Witchcraft Act of 1735.
Yorke worked as a medium for many years from Forest Gate
, east London. She was prosecuted by police in 1944 because of claims she was defrauding the public by exploiting wartime fears. During séances with Yorke, undercover police were told to ask about non-existent family members. Yorke provided elaborate details on them which she claimed had been provided by her spirit guide such as telling an officer that his non-existent brother had been burned alive on a bombing mission. Yorke’s alleged spirit guide was a Zulu and she also frequently claimed to summon Queen Victoria
. She was witnessed terrifying a hysterical woman who said she had seen the spirit of her dead brother, by warning her that her husband might also be killed. Yorke predicted that the Second World War would end in October 1944.
She was arrested in July 1944. At her trial in September at London's Central Criminal Court
she was found guilty on seven counts against the Witchcraft Act of 1735. Yorke was fined £5 and placed on good behaviour for three years, promising she would hold no more séances. The light sentence was due to her age of 72.
Yorke's case demonstrated that, following the earlier trial of Helen Duncan
, the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided that the Witchcraft Act
was still useful in dealing with cases involving mediums. Although the Act was used as a threat in several subsequent cases, the last in 1950, this was the last in which someone was actually convicted under it.
Mediumship
Mediumship is described as a form of communication with spirits. It is a practice in religious beliefs such as Spiritualism, Spiritism, Espiritismo, Candomblé, Voodoo and Umbanda.- Concept :...
who was the last person convicted under the Witchcraft Act of 1735.
Yorke worked as a medium for many years from Forest Gate
Forest Gate
Forest Gate is a residential area in the London Borough of Newham, 7 miles northeast of Charing Cross. It is bordered by Manor Park to the east and and to the west lies Stratford town centre. The northern half of the busy Green Street runs through it.-History:...
, east London. She was prosecuted by police in 1944 because of claims she was defrauding the public by exploiting wartime fears. During séances with Yorke, undercover police were told to ask about non-existent family members. Yorke provided elaborate details on them which she claimed had been provided by her spirit guide such as telling an officer that his non-existent brother had been burned alive on a bombing mission. Yorke’s alleged spirit guide was a Zulu and she also frequently claimed to summon Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. She was witnessed terrifying a hysterical woman who said she had seen the spirit of her dead brother, by warning her that her husband might also be killed. Yorke predicted that the Second World War would end in October 1944.
She was arrested in July 1944. At her trial in September at London's Central Criminal Court
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
she was found guilty on seven counts against the Witchcraft Act of 1735. Yorke was fined £5 and placed on good behaviour for three years, promising she would hold no more séances. The light sentence was due to her age of 72.
Yorke's case demonstrated that, following the earlier trial of Helen Duncan
Helen Duncan
Helen Duncan was a Scottish medium best known as the last person to be imprisoned under the British Witchcraft Act of 1735.-Early life:...
, the Director of Public Prosecutions had decided that the Witchcraft Act
Witchcraft Act
In England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland a succession of Witchcraft Acts have governed witchcraft and provided penalties for its practice, or for pretending to practise it.- Witchcraft Act 1542:...
was still useful in dealing with cases involving mediums. Although the Act was used as a threat in several subsequent cases, the last in 1950, this was the last in which someone was actually convicted under it.