ANCIENT BELIEFS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 163, 11 June 1929, Page 7

ANCIENT BELIEFS

CASES OF WITCHCRAFT. SOMERSETSHIRE AND HUNGARY. A TRAGIC EPISODE. (United Press Association.; —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) Received June 11, 12.35 p.m. LONDON, June 10. How the belief in witchcraft still survives in agricultural districts is shown by two episodes occurring as far apart as Somersetshire and Hungary. In the Somerset case a farmer was bound over to keep the peace for threatening a neighbour of many years standing, whom he accused of casting the evil eye. The Hungarian case had a more tragic ending. A farmer, named Pittlik became mysteriously ill and, in a frenzy, prophesied that the witch who had cast a spell over him would appear in the sick room at a certain time.

An old hag hobbled into the room at the stated moment, and Pittlik’s family beat her to death with sticks. Pittlik leapt from his bed completely cured.

The assailants were arrested and sentenced to long terms of imprisonment. They appealed to the Supreme Court, however, and the sentences were reduced to three months’ imprisonment, the court holding that the family were justified in the assumption that the woman was a witch.