The Witchcraft Act of 1735 stands as a pivotal moment in the history of witch trials in Great Britain. This historic legislation, passed by the Parliament of the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1735, brought an end to the dark era of hunting and executing individuals accused of practicing witchcraft. Unlike its predecessors, the Act introduced a significant shift in perspective, assuming that there were no real witches with genuine magical powers but rather individuals who claimed such powers to deceive and exploit the vulnerable. The maximum penalty under this new law was a year's imprisonment, marking a stark departure from the earlier belief that witches derived their abilities from pacts with Satan. Instead, the Act embraced a more primitive and medieval view, in line with the early Christian Church's position, which had been contested over the centuries by witch-phobic Inquisitors. This Act, aligning with the broader European trend, led to the decline of witch trials in the 18th century after reaching a peak around 1600 and a series of outbursts in the late 17th century. It signaled a significant step toward the modern legal history of witchcraft and ultimately put an end to the persecution of those accused of being witches in Great Britain. The last execution for witchcraft in the region occurred in 1727 when Janet Horne met a tragic fate.

In September 1943, Helen Duncan found herself behind bars, a peculiar victim of the Witchcraft Act 1735. Her alleged crime? Claiming the ability to summon spirits, a practice that led to her arrest and imprisonment. However, her followers have long argued that her incarceration was not just a matter of supernatural beliefs but rather a sinister scheme concocted by superstitious military intelligence officers. The pivotal moment that drew the authorities' attention occurred when she purportedly made contact with the spirit of a sailor from the ill-fated HMS Barham, a sinking that was concealed from the public at the time. Helen faced a litany of charges, including conspiracy to contravene the Witchcraft Act 1735, obtaining money by false pretences, and public mischief. Duncan's nine-month prison term marked her as often described as the last person convicted under this archaic Act. However, Jane Rebecca Yorke, from Forest Gate in east London, shares this dubious distinction, convicted in September 1944 for similar offenses. The Witchcraft Act 1735 met its end in 1951 with the enactment of the Fraudulent Mediums Act, championed by Spiritualists and Thomas Brooks MP.

1. Explore the life of Helen Duncan, her arrest and prosecution.

2. Explore the last witchcraft murder case in England.

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