Star.
London, England, 1830-09-16 00:00:00

WITCHCRAFT.

Edward Sutton, Thomas Walker, and Wilmsdorf Richards, Esqs. on
the Bench.
As soon as the magistrates had taken their seats, a schoolmaster of the
dame of Donnelly stepped up to the Bench, and searching his pockets,
said he had to submit to the Magistrates a summons the most extinct.
Binary which had ever been issued since the days of Joan of Arc, and he
wtsited to know if he was to be detained there from his business at the
.stance of a person who was deranged ?
Mr. WALKER, after looking at the summons, said that Knox, the
laintiff, had a right to summon him on such a charge, extraordinary as
it might appear. He hoped, however, that his (Donnelly's) wife was
not in court, as there was no necessity for her attendance.
Donnelly said he did not let her come.
Donnelly's wife ant) daughter were included in the summons.
Mr. WALKER said, that magistrates were bound by their com-
missions to inquire into all cases of witchcraft. (In a low tone)—ls
he here ? Perhaps we might settle it without inquiry.
Knox here made his appearance by the side of Donnelly. He was
active-looking man of middle size, with a dark visage, and about
40 years of age. There was no very peculiar wildness depicted in Ms
countenance. Having been desired to state circumstances as briefly as
could, he asked was Donnelly sworn ?
M. WALKER said he was not ; and perhaps it would not be ns.
essarv. If any one was to be sworn, it would be himself. What was
the charge ?'
Knox—Witching, your worship, real witching. (Laughter.) AAA
Ikrt is a letter which I wish you would read, but it is too long.
Mr. WALKER..—Was this letter written by the witch ?
Knox.—No, it was written by myself, but it would be too long to
read it all. Read it there (folding the letter) from that part down.
Mr. WALTER declined reading it.
Clerk of the Court—State all the facts now, and nothing else.
Knox hesitated some time.
Mr. WaLiLlt-What was it that occurred ?
Knox.—Let him be sworn, or let me be sworn, and let him deny It, if
be can, that he keeps it in his house, and that I have heard it every day,
:•nd every night, and every hour, and every minute, and every other
tune. (Loud laughter.)
Th. WALKER.—Have you seen it?
Knox.—Nu; I never saw it, but I heard it, and that five minutes be.
tine I came here, speaking as plain as Ido now. (Loud laughter.)
• Mi. WALKER.—'What is it you heard?
'Hnos.—A weasel-(loud and continued laughter) or something, I
dor.'t know what it is; but (turning to Donelly, whose risible faculties
were evidently in motion) I heard him say it was a weasel a hundred
times. (Laughter.) It knows all my thoughts and every thing that I
do. (Loud laughter.) I'm quite certain of that. And it knows what
I •:ni speaking even• at this moment. (Laughter.)
• Mi. WALKER.—Does it cut your cloth ? (Knox is a tailor.)

Knox.—No, it does not.
Mr. Wancza..—Does it do you any harm ?
Anox.—Yes, it annoys my mind. It is not a pleasant thing to have
my thoughts known. lam sure no one would like it.
Mr. WALKER.—trave you ever any thoughts that you would not
wish it should know ?
Knox.—Yes, perhaps I have. lam a Freemason, and it would get
the secret from me if it could. (Loud laughter.)
Mr. WALLER--But it was never able to get that from you ?
Knox—lt endeavoured to do it, but I kept upon my guard. (Loud
laughter.)
Mr. WALKER—WeII, I would strongly advise you, if you have any
thoughts which you wish to keep secret, to have a guard over them for
the future.
ICnox.—l could not be always on my guard.
Mr. WALKER—If Mr. Donnelly promises it shall not annoy you in
future, will that satisfy you ?

Knox made no ansitei.
Donnelly said he would do every thing in his power to satisfy him.
Mr. W&LKER—If he gives the weasel up to us, and we destroy it,
will that do 11 -

Knox—Well, let him bring the weasel here.
Mr. WALKER—Oh ! you. know it is invisible, you have never
seen it.
Knox—Will he swear it is not in his house? Will he swear that ?
Donnelly said he would swear if the magistrates thought it neces-
sary. He would not know a weasel, for he had never seen one in his
life. He complained of being annoyed in this way by a madman, and
stated that he had been kept idle by him during the whole week.
Mr. WALKER regretted to have heard some of Donnelly's observa-
tions, which were quite different from what he had expected. He was
sure that he would act with that humanity which one man owed to ano-
ther, and would not do any thing henceforth to annoy Mr. Knox.
Donnelly said he had been as kind to Knox as if he had been his
brother ; and would do every thing in his power to restore him to his
sense...
Knox (tossing his head and speaking in an under tone). .Oh I that
is all nonsense—there's a mystery in it.
Donnelly said he was certain he would still be annoyed by the
_plain-
tiff, for when the case would be dismissed in this court, he (Mr. Knox)
would immediately bring it into the Mayor's Office, and bring him
befor, the Mayor also. (Laughter.)
Knox—l will, into all the offices of the United Kingdom. (Laughter.)
Mr. WALKER (to Donelly)—Well, you have only to send word to
the different magistrates that you have destroyed the weasel.
Knox—lt knows all my thoughts, and knows the thoughts of many
other persons in Wexford also.
Mr. War.nza said that the case must be dismissed as it then stood,
but recommended Knox to employ an attorney, and then bring the case
before them, when they might be able to deckle in his favour.
Knox—ls there no law to punish a man for such annoyance ?
Mr. WALKER.--We cannot afford you redress, as the Act of Pattie-
merit relative to witchcraft has been abolished.
Knox—Then why not abolish the witches also ? (Bursts of laughter.)
Mr. WALKER observed that the case 'oust be dismissed.
Knox said he would go from Wexford to Dublin, and from Dublin
to Carrickfergus, and from Carrickfergus
_to London, and lay the entire
case before the Duke of Leinster. (1094 laughter.)
Mr. Cooper remarked that it was a wry deplorable we. He (Knox)
ought to get a few pet rats, and *them Bose in the room where the
weasel island when the weasel comes out, knock him down with a gaols.
luteL) 411 A
r. chards asked Knox when he did bear the weasel the first time ?
Knox answered a twelvemonth ago. Mr. Richards asked him had ba
any quarrel with Donnelly ? He said he had not.
The case remains over till the next Petty Bftsions.... Westford Raffia