Arizona republican., 1914-05-16
TRIAL OF ANN TURNER

In the early part of the seven teenth century superstition ran riot among all classes in England, and not only was the ignorant class sus- ceptibe, but the great men and the court ladies entertained most re- markable ideas regarding love po- tions and the like. It was one of the many singular fallaces of the reign of James l.
 The chief priestess who distributed indulgence at this time was Ann White Witch" She is said to have been a woman of remarkable beauty, and it was through this reason that she was able so completely to carry out her work among large num- Der of followers Ann professed, among other arts. to understand how to preserve youth, to kindle love and to chill desire.
 One of Ann's chief patrons was Lady Essex. From the White Witch" Lady Essex secured one philter to chill her husbands love and another to warm the man she wished to call her lover, the Earl of Rochester. Lady Essex had scant need for sorcery, for Rochester fell an easy prey to her charms.
 Sir Thomas Overbury, who had hitherto concurred with Rochester and aided him in his amours, now opposed the marriage scheme. When the Countess heard of Overbury's ob- jections she resolved to destroy him. She tried various means to accom- plish this. and finally was able to secure Mrs. Turner to compound a poison that could be administered in small doses with the result that after several months OverbuIy died. The result of this death caused the arrest of Mrs. Turner, her man Wes- ton. and the apothecary Franklin, who had sold the drug
 The king was forced to appoint a commission of inquiry into the poets death and he named the following: Ellsmere, Lennox. Zouch and Coke, and their meetings were held in the Lord Chancellor's residence, York HouEe, to which the accused were summoned. Weston told the story of the crime. Ere long Mrs. Turner and Franklin confessed their guilt The White Witch" turned over the paraphernalia with which she worked | the roll of devils, the scarf of white crosses, the bundle of waXen dolls and the scrap of human skin. At the trial Mrs. Turner was con- pelled to expose the nefarious busi-
 ness which she had worked with | such excellent profit She was com | pelled to lay bare the history of her | life, and in doing so named the large number of gentlemen and ladies who had consulted her in various ways. | This confession sealed the fate of
 nany of them, and resulted in the Earl and Countess of Somerset being | Tower.
 | The criminals were executed at Tyburn. When Mrs. Turner appeared. | in her yellow bands and powdered | hair. before the mighty crowd, many | of them wept for the beautiful though faded creature who knew the secret l ways of all human hearts. She stood
 on the gallows raving at the world she was about to leave, and calling
 down the fire from heaven to con-
 sume 1t in the midst of sin and l shame.
 The Earl and Lady Somersets
 trial occurred later, on May 24, 1616 It was a great day in London. All private business was suspended for
 time; the shops were closed and
 the parks deserted. The execution
 of Mrs. Turner had occurred on No- vember 15, 1915.
 Mrs. Turner had made herself ia .
 nous in the fashionable world as
 the inventress of q yellow starch and, in allusion to this circumstance
 Lord Chief Justice Coke, who in sum .
 ming up had accused her of being guilty of the seven deadly sins. also
 declared that she was the inventor
 of yellow -starched ruffs and cuffs
 and that she would be the last by
 whom they would be worn
 The Chief Justice also gave strict
 orders that Mrs. Turner should be
 hanged in that attire which she had rendered fashionable. This addition to the sentence was fully carried
 out; and the fair demon, on the day of her execution, came to the scaf- fold arrayed as if for some festive occasion
 Numerous persons of quality. ladies as well as gentlemen. went in their
 coaches to Tyburn to see the last
 of Mrs. Turner It is needless to say that the yellow ruff was never more
 worn from that day. The reason assigned for the light punishment given to the Earl and Countess of Somerset seems to have been brought
 about by fear from the king who dreaded the revelation by his former favorite of some discreditable secret Tomorrow-1rial of the French