BRITISH “WITCHES”

Evening Star, Issue 22448, 19 September 1936, Page 2

BRITISH “WITCHES”

AN UNREPEALED ACT More than a million British people are liable at any moment to be prosecuted for witchcraft. A 300-year-old Act makes every person who professes to be in communication with the dead open to classification as ‘‘.a rogue and a vagabond-” ,' ThroUgh'diit the country Spiritualists and workers for religious equity and freedom are pressing for repeal of the Witchcraft and Vagrancy Acts. . These Acts are still being cited in prosecution of mediums; not long ago there was a charge made against a medium at Hove. Mr Frank Ha when, honorary secretary of the Spiritualists’ Central Council, said to an interviewer: — “ Any medium who professes to foretell the future or to be in communication with the dead is open to a charge of witchcraft. Under- these ancient laws magistrates are compelled automatically Ao convict. From time to time, especially in the north, charges of witchcraft "and fortune-telling are still .brought against Spiritualist mediums. In London we have been more fortunate. The last charge -of this nature was brought in 1928- “ But at the earliest possible moment we are hoping to bring before Parliament what is described as a ‘ Bill to relieve Spiritualists and mediums from prosecutions under the Witchcraft and Vagrancy Acts while genuinely ■ exercising their psychic powers in religious practice or scientific investigations.’ ’’ Mr Ha.wken pointed out that Spiritualism had at least one million adherents tOnlay, and that tho number was growing every week. Dr Nandor Fedor, of the Internationah Institute for Psychic Research, said:— The present method of prosecuting fake mediums by citing Acts which should-have been .abolished long ago is an appalling' anomaly. In pressing for a reform of the law, Spiritualists are willing to undertake the granting of certificates to bona-fide mediums, and that task would naturally be complicated. But, in. any event, there would be adequate ... protection for the public if the police , were to deal with malpractices under a- charge of false pretences.” • 1 . ’ "