Trial Details
T/JO/870 Helen Kirkpatrick
- Name of the accused
- Helen Kirkpatrick
- Associated case
- C/JO/2887 (24/4/1706)
- Trial process type
- Local Court
| associated trials | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| trial reference | accused | trial type | trial year | trial place |
| no recorded trials | ||||
Pre-trial actions
| commissions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| commission body | type | date | seal | notes |
| no recorded commission | ||||
| previous commissions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| commission body | date | |||
| no recorded prior commission | ||||
| appeals | ||
|---|---|---|
| central authority | reason | appeal date |
| no recorded appeals | ||
| complaints | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| type | date of complaint | lodged at | appeal date | complainent | involvement |
| no recorded complaints | |||||
| move to higher legal authority | |
|---|---|
| moved to | date of move |
| Bailie | 24/4/1706 |
| denunciations | |
|---|---|
| denuncation date | dated |
| 9/1/1706 | slander and counter slander between parties |
| imprisonments | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| incarceration date | central trial imprison | prison | location | moving |
| no recorded imprisonments | ||||
| tortures | |
|---|---|
| date of torture | torture type |
| no recorded tortures | |
| ordeals | |
|---|---|
| date of ordeal | ordeal type |
| no recorded ordeals | |
| confessions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| central trial confession | date | location | notes |
| no recorded confessions | |||
other information
- Pre-trial notes
- Complicated case which involves slander and counter slander between the minister and the accused. Inquiry held at presbytery level and several witnesses called for both sides. Eventually Mr Rae's case was proven and Kirkpatrick sentenced to lesser excommunication. Rae then wanted the case, now an accusation of witchcraft, referred to bailie of regality of New Dalgarno. The suspect was scratched (a form of counter-magic) in 1706.
- watched?
- no
- watch date
- no information
- arrested?
- no
- arrest date
- no information
- fled?
- no
- date absconded
- no information
- action dropped?
- no
- action dropped date
- no information
- action dropped by
- no information
- trial action body
- no information
- confronting suspects?
- no
Trial phase
- trial date
- 1706
- trial place
- no information
place of trial
- settlement
- no information
- parish
- no information
- presbytery
- Penpoint
- county
- Dumfries
- burgh
- no information
verdict
- verdict
- Guilty
- defence
- no
- female accusers
- 0
- male accusers
- 1
- recorded as high status?
- yes
- order for central judiciary trial
- no
- judiciary trial date
- no information
- circuit court (mixed central and local)
- no
- circuit name
- no information
- local court with central representatives
- no
- trial notes
- No trial appears to have been held apart from interrogation of witnesses and two main parties. Case referred to bailie of regality who ordered her to be 'put out of bounds'. This sentence is only recorded in the presbytery book.
| persons associated with the trial | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| name | title | office | occupation | involvement | witchpricker? | notes |
| Peter Rae | Mr | None | minister | Complainer | no | Minister at Kirkbride from 1703. Also clerk to Penpoint presbtyery 1703-1718. In 1714 a number of Rae's parishioners complained about him and he was involved in another long inquiry and slander case which was referred to the synod. Rae was found libelled by his parishioners. Involved in case and trial in 1706. |
Post-trial phase
- sentence
- Banishment
- executed?
- no
- execution date
- no information
- execution place
- no information
- execution method
- no information
- post trial notes
- None
| other named witches | ||
|---|---|---|
| name | trial link | accused link |
| no recorded named witches | ||
Mentioned as a witch
| mentioned as a witch | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| type | name | mention date | fate | linked trialdate | trial link | notes |
| no mentions | ||||||