Witchcraft in South Australia
Part IV
Gottfried Hoffman
In 1853, Lyndoch cattle and pig farmer, 28-year-old, Gottfried Hoffman was living the simple country life in the Barossa Valley. He had emigrated to Australia from Germany with his wife and family and settled in the predominately German Barossa Valley.
Devoutly Lutheran, Hoffman and his family were very well known as they often attended church services at nearby Bethany.
Things had been going well for the Hoffman family until in late October some of his cows and pigs had suddenly, and unexplainably become ill.
Devoutly Lutheran, Hoffman and his family were very well known as they often attended church services at nearby Bethany.
Things had been going well for the Hoffman family until in late October some of his cows and pigs had suddenly, and unexplainably become ill.
On the 5th of November 8-year-old Mary Wressell, a neighbour of Hoffman’s suddenly turned up on the families’ doorstep. She asked politely for some butter, which Mrs Hoffman supplied. Before she left Gottfried asked young Mary, if she could please ask her mother to drop by the house.
Young Mary returned home to her mother (also named Mary) and gave her the butter and message from Mr Hoffman. Mary Ann (mother) finished her chores and went over to the Hoffman house as requested.
Mary Ann knocked on Hoffman’s door and was greeted by Mrs Hoffman, who suddenly became hostile and accused May Ann of bewitching the family's cows.
Mary Ann, shocked by the allegation, began to deny any such doing when Gottfried suddenly emerged from the side of the house. He came toward Mary Anne, who held out her hand to shake Gottfried’s hand. Gottfried shook in return, then grabbed Mary Ann’s hand tightly, and slashed across her arm with a large knife.
He rubbed her blood across his hands and then stated: “mein cows right now.”
Mary Ann cried out in shock and pain, and Gottfried stabbed her in the arm again, then as she twisted to get away he stabbed her twice in the back. He then grabbed a large stick and beat her, before hitting her in the head with a large rock. Mary Ann fell to the ground but somehow managed to get up and make her way home.
As she stumbled along the path home, she looked back to see Gottfried standing at the front of the house with a shotgun.
Mary Ann, shocked by the allegation, began to deny any such doing when Gottfried suddenly emerged from the side of the house. He came toward Mary Anne, who held out her hand to shake Gottfried’s hand. Gottfried shook in return, then grabbed Mary Ann’s hand tightly, and slashed across her arm with a large knife.
He rubbed her blood across his hands and then stated: “mein cows right now.”
Mary Ann cried out in shock and pain, and Gottfried stabbed her in the arm again, then as she twisted to get away he stabbed her twice in the back. He then grabbed a large stick and beat her, before hitting her in the head with a large rock. Mary Ann fell to the ground but somehow managed to get up and make her way home.
As she stumbled along the path home, she looked back to see Gottfried standing at the front of the house with a shotgun.
Mary Ann made it home to her daughter, who raised the alarm with her father that something was wrong. Dr Notts from Gawler was called, and when he arrived, found Mary Ann hysterical. She had wound an inch and a half long on her arm that went through to the bone, and two stab wounds on her back and shoulder. She was also badly beaten and covered in bruises.
Curiously, during the entire court case, Hoffman did not deny his belief that Mary Ann Wessell was a witch that had hexed his farm, and that washing his hands in her blood would cure the family's problems!
Researched and written by Allen Tiller ©2018
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Bibliography
1854 'WITCHCRAFT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.', Inquirer (Perth, WA: 1840 - 1855), 8 March, p. 2. (SUPPLEMENT TO "THE INQUIRER."), viewed 09 Apr 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article657417531853 'LAW AND POLICE COURTS. SUPREME COURT—CRIMINAL, SIDE.', Adelaide Times (SA: 1848 - 1858), 3 December, p. 3. , viewed 09 Apr 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207121817
1854 'WITCHCRAFT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA.', Inquirer (Perth, WA: 1840 - 1855), 8 March, p. 2. (SUPPLEMENT TO "THE INQUIRER."), viewed 09 Apr 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65741753
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