The Helen Duncan Case

By Crusader1307

 While not a ''Monster'', ''Demon'' or related one Helen Duncan (an English Factory Worker) has the infamy to be the last person convicted under a Witchcraft Law. In this case, England and further, it was 1944 (not 1644). Duncan was a self-proclaimed Psychic and Medium who ''charged'' for Her often well documented abilities as a Medium. She conducted hundreds of Seances in Her life and was once ''quite a name'' in England and Europe. Helen was known for Her ''manifestations'' of the otherworldly substance known as ''Ectoplasm''. Many of Her ''creations'' were also documented by photography. When Duncan came under intense scrutiny by Authorities and Investigators, She often would have severe bouts of unknown seizures. Perhaps Duncan's biggest claim to The Paranormal, was that during World War II, She predicted correctly the sinking of a British Naval Warship in 1944. The British Government routinely kept such events hidden from Newspapers and Families (due to Enemy monitoring of Media for success in their attacks). At one point, The British Government ''looked to'' Duncan as a possible ''Spy''. To indict Her, The Courts invoked the last amended Witchcraft Act of 1735.

While The Courts did not think Her a Witch, the amended Law (as we have seen) placed ''Witches and Warlocks'' as Confident People and Hucksters. Duncan was seen as such, proving to some degree Her ectoplasmic ''trances'' were nothing more than cleverly concealed and deployed cheesecloth ''effects''. With little actual evidence Duncan was in fact a German Spy, The 1735 Act was invoked. The Charge stuck and Duncan was imprisoned for 9-months. Still ''at it'' as a Medium ''for Hire'' Duncan headed to Scotland after Her release. She was still working Her ''Craft'' as such in 1956 when She died at 59 years of age. And while she never got Her fame in Life as a ''real'' Medium, Helen Duncan is often cited in Psychological Studies Books and Courses in College as an excellent example of a ''Hoaxer''.