Witchcraft in South Australia: Part IV Gottfried Hoffman

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.

 On the 5^th 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 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.

Gottfried was soon arrested and charged with cutting, maiming and assaulting Mary Ann Wresell. During the court case, Hoffman’s wife and brother’s testimony conflicted with that of Wresell, but the evidence was overwhelming, and the jury found him guilty. Hoffman was sentenced to 5 years of hard labour.

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

https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide/

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-article65741753
1853 '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

Witchcraft in South Australia Part II: Witchcraft Laws Around the World.

Witchcraft in South Australia

Part II:

Witchcraft Laws Around the World.

Last blog I introduced a very brief history of witchcraft persecutions across the world. There is much more I could say, but this isn’t the blog to do so. This week, I am going to cover some of the laws pertaining to the practice of witchcraft across the world, many of which have been repealed, but others remain intact, some in countries you would not suspect!

 Ye Olde witch, ‘malefici’ (male) or ‘maleficae’ (female) was thought to be a devil-worshipping practitioner, or in league with the devil to gain something for themselves. They were everyday people who were accused of witchcraft for political or social gain, or because they didn’t conform to someone else’s religious views, or sometimes it was purely for how they looked.

1542

In Britain and the English Isles, accusations of witchcraft were rife. In 1542, Henry VIII introduced the Witchcraft Act 1542 (33 Hen. VIII c.8) which was the first law to define witchcraft as a punishable felony. A witch found guilty could face a punishment of death or forfeiture of goods and chattels. It also removed the right to “benefit of clergy”, which was a legal device that anyone that could read a passage from the Bible, would be spared from death by hanging.

1563

Elizabeth 1 was next to make laws in England directed at witchcraft with the release of “Act against Conjurations, Enchantments and Witchcrafts. (5 Eliz. I c. 16).”[1]
 Within her new laws, Elizabeth 1 decreed that anyone who should "use, practice, or exercise any Witchcraft, Enchantment, Charm, or Sorcery, whereby any person shall happen to be killed or destroyed" would forego the benefit of clergy and be put to death.
However, for lesser charges of witchcraft, where a person, wasn’t not seriously hurt or killed, imprisonment was the preferred option.
 The same year the Scottish Witchcraft Act was set in place. This act established that both the practice of witchcraft and consulting witches were felonious offences punishable by death. It did not clearly define what witchcraft was, nor how to identify a witch. (Moir, 2014)

1604

 James I was next to add witchcraft laws with; “An Act Against Conjuration, Witchcraft and dealing with evil and wicked spirits”.  James' I, act broaden the scope of the act that anyone who practised

1649

The Scottish Witchcraft Act of 1649 expanded on some aspects of the previous, Witchcraft Act of 1563, by passing laws to enforce acts of godliness. It now became illegal to worship false idols, be guilty of blasphemy and cursing parents. It also enabled a new clause that allowed the death penalty for consulting with witches, devils or “familiar spirits”.

1735

With the passing of The Witchcraft Act of 1735 (9 Geo. 2 c. 5), previous acts in England and Scotland were repealed and replaced under one Act. The new act took away the death penalty for guilty parties, and instead enforced fines and imprisonment.
 The scope of “witchcraft” was broadened to become more inclined to represent those who claimed to be psychic. Any person who claimed to be able to tell the future, convene or talk with spirits, cast spells or various other acts could be arrested, fined and imprisoned.
 This is the act under which Helen Duncan was found guilty of witchcraft in 1944.
 The act remained current until 1951 when it was replaced with the Fraudulent Mediums Act of 1951.
 The Fraudulent Mediums Act of 1951 was repealed in 2008 and replaced by consumer protection regulations.

 South Africa still enforces The Witchcraft Suppression Act, 1957, which was based on the Witchcraft Act of 1753. (Juta and Company, Ltd., 2005.)
 This act states items such as Causing disease or injury to another person or thing, by supernatural means, indicating one is a wizard, or professing to use supernatural powers, witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment or conjuration shall be liable for a conviction can be imprisoned for 20 years.
 Any person who employs a witchdoctor, witch-finder or professes to be a wizard can be fined five hundred Rand or imprisoned for a maximum of 5 years, or both.
Anyone who pretends to use any supernatural power, witchcraft, sorcery, enchantment or conjuration, or undertakes to tell fortunes, or pretends from his skill in or knowledge of any occult science to discover where and in what manner anything supposed to have been stolen or lost may be found guilty and face a fine of two hundred Rand or two years imprisonment.

 The South African Act was then Amended in 1970 to repeal the 3^rd act of the to now read;
“To amend the Witchcraft Suppression Act, 1957, so as to make it an offence for a person who pretends to exercise supernatural powers, to impute the cause of certain occurrences to another person; and to provide for incidental matters.”

The South African witchcraft act is still enforceable to this day.

Next week we will explore current Australian laws regarding witchcraft.

Researched and written by Allen Tiller © 2018

https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide/

References

Goodare, Julian. “The Scottish Witchcraft Act.” In Church History, 39-67. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.

Juta and Company, Ltd.,2005, WITCHCRAFT SUPPRESSION ACT 3 OF 1957, Juta and Company, Ltd. viewed 9 April 2018, http://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/1957-003.pdf

Moir, S, 2014, Scottish act of 1563, Washington and Lee University, viewed 9 April 2018, https://witchhunts.academic.wlu.edu/2014/12/09/scottish-act-of-1563/

Rosen, Barbara & Rosen, Barbara, 1929- 1969, Witchcraft, Edward Arnold, London

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[1] UK.Gov, 2018, Act against Conjurations, Enchantments and Witchcrafts. (5 Eliz. I c. 16), The National Archives, Gov. UK viewed 9 April 2018, http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/8c14488f-6e52-41bb-bab9-23f2ca3bb07c

Beachport: Casualties of War

Beachport: Casualties of War

We think of you in silence.

With a heart that is sincere.

And cherish all the memories

Of the days when you were here.

The 19th of February 1942, the Japanese bombed Darwin, the first attack on the Australian mainland by a foreign invader in a major global conflict. The two air raids on Darwin killed 235 people with a further 300 to 400 wounded.

7^th months earlier, in the southern coastal town of Beachport, South Australia, two other deaths, directly associated with the war occurred on the 14^th of July 1941. The deaths of Able Seaman W.L. Danswan and Seaman T.W. Todd of the Royal Australian Navy.

 Sea mines, laid by the enemy, had begun to be found along the shipping routes of South Australia’s southern coast, with two sea mines found previously to this one. The mine was found 8 miles out at sea from Beachport, by local fisherman, Mr Stephens, who reported the find to the local constable.
 The navy was called, and three men, Lieut. Commander Greening, Able Seaman Danswan and Seaman Todd were sent from Adelaide to defuse or detonate the 4ft diameter iron sea mine.

Photo: An unidentified man standing next to the enemy mine 

which exploded and killed Junee serviceman 

William Danswan, as well as Thomas Todd.

(Source in Bibliography)

The Navy men arrived in Beachport on Sunday the 13^th, and with the help of four local fisher boats, headed out to sea to tow the mine back to the shore and examine it. On Monday the 14^th the mine was pulled ashore at Beachport for dismantling, but instead, it was decided that it would be easier to blow it up, so the mine was pulled across the bay by a boat, and taken ashore near an old piling to be destroyed.
 A demolition charge was connected to the mine, with a mile of cable ran out towards the cemetery, over a railway line, to ensure the safety of the 3 navy men. They pushed the plunger to detonate the mine, but it didn’t work, so a second line of cable was run out. This time, as the plunger was pushed, a passing railway truck disconnected the cable, and again the bomb did not explode.

The two Seamen waited 15 minutes, and made their way down to inspect the mine. They got within a few feet of it when it suddenly exploded, killing them almost instantly. Their Lieut. Commander, who had not descended the sand dunes, remained unharmed.
 Many locals, standing on the local jetty and beach front witnessed the large explosion and death of the Seamen, and many more came out to see what was going on after hearing the concussive blast of the detonation.,

 Able Seaman W.L.E. Danswan, who was from the town of Junee in New South Wales, was transferred from the H.M.A.S. Canberra to the Birkenhead Naval Base only 4 months previously. He left behind a widow.

Seaman T.W. Todd, who was from Rosewater, S.A. left behind a wife, Gwendoline Todd, and a young son, Ronald.

A monument to the men, the first two casualties on Australian soil of World War Two, stands at the eastern end of the surf beach carpark on the Millicent-Beachport road

Researched and written by Allen Tiller.

© 2018 Allen Tiller

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheHauntsOfAdelaide/

www.allentiller.com.au

www.eidolonparanormal.com.au

Bibliography:

1941 'MILLICENT NEWS.', Southern Cross (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1954), 25 July, p. 6. , viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article167770740

1941 'MINE EXPLOSION AT BEACHPORT.', The South Eastern Times (Millicent, SA : 1906 - 1954), 18 July, p. 2. , viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200099123

1941 'No Title', The South Eastern Times (Millicent, SA : 1906 - 1954), 22 July, p. 1. , viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200099143

1949 'Family Notices', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), 14 July, p. 14. , viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36675976

National Archives of Australia, 2018, The bombing of Darwin – Fact sheet 195, National Archives of Australia, Australian Government, viewed 01 Jan 2018, http://www.naa.gov.au/collection/fact-sheets/fs195.aspx

Source: https://www.juneesoutherncross.com.au/story/4601686/junee-servicemans-tragic-wwii-demise-photos/#slide