The only other case which he thought required any remarks from him was a case where a woman had been indicted for obtaining money under false pretences, under rather singular circumstances. It appeared that this woman was one of a band of persons who obtained money by going among the farmers and pretending to tell fortunes or representing themselves to have some power for good or evil – in this case believed with the fairies (laughter), The fact alleged against the accused was that she stated to a farmer’s wife that she had this power, and that if she did not get money she would exercise that power to her harm. In this way the unfortunate woman was induced to pay her about £2, to a farmer’s wife at all times, and at this session especially, a considerable sum. It appeared that she was afraid to tell her husband till came to pay his county cess, and then the murder came out.. Cases of this kind, although, perhaps, more common than they were aware of, did not often come before a criminal court. They must be satisfied that she did represent, for the purpose of obtaining the money, the fact that she had the power, either supernatural power, or power with the fairies, or those supposed qualities that enabled her to do this thing, and that the unfortunate woman, under that false representation, through fear of evil, or perhaps the hope of some good – in this case he believed the statement was that she would obtain a certain sum of money under a bed tied up in a purse, and that she was to give a shilling to little old woman with a red shawl – the usual nonsense that was told to young people, and that even some grown up people some times believed (laughter). It had been laid down by a very eminent judge that so far as the matter of fact was concerned that a pretence of power whether moral, physical or supernatural, made with the object of obtaining money, was one which came within the meaning of the statue. The case was somewhat peculiar in the circumstance that any person would be misled by such nonsense as this, and part with their money in consequence. That was the only case that he thought it necessary to make any particular remark upon…. Fortune Telling: Anne Smyth, alias Margaret Reilly, a young woman decked out in the showy habiliments so much affected by members of the gipsy class, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her as follows: ‘That on the 9th of February, 1830, she did falsely pretend to one Eliza Reddington that she had the power to tell what would happen to her and her family; that she had the power to tell fortunes; that she had constant intercourse and communication with the good people, otherwise the fairies: that she had come from the next fort, where she spent an hour each day with them; that she had the power to prevent her losing husband or any of her four footed beasts; that she had been sent by certain deceased members of her family to tell her that certain good fortune would happen to her; that she had the power to prevent anything bad happening to her husband; and that by means of these false pretences she did obtain the sum of £2, the goods and money of her said husband, with intent to defraud.’ Counsel for the Crown, Mr Sergeant Robinson, Mr Andrews, Q.C. and Mr Sedley, solicitor, defended the prisoner Mrs Reddington, a respectable looking woman of middle age, deposed that she was the wife of John Reddington, farmer, residing in the county Sligo. On the 9th February last, when her husband was absent at a fair, the prisoner came to her house about two o’clock with two cans. She asked the witness if she wanted a good can. She asked witness if she wanted a good can. She replied that she did not, and the prisoner then asked her had she any old umbrellas to men. Witness told the servant girl to bring out an old umbrella, and she did so. The prisoner then said that one part of the house was built in a very unlucky place, that it was visited three times every week by fairies, and that there was a ‘pass’ through it (laughter); that her six brothers and sisters had become fairies, and that she had a ‘gift’, and anything she would rub her hand to, either man or beast, would be cured (laughter). She moved her features in a very curious way, and witness was very much frightened at her. She then asked witness was her husband at home, and she replied that he was at Ballinafad fair. She said that witness had gone through a good deal of trouble and had lost a great number of cattle, that she had a great many enemies, and that the place was ‘grudged’ to her. She asked for a handkerchief three times, and became very wicked looking (laughter). The servant girl gave her a handkerchief, and she asked the witness whether she was a Roman Catholic. Witness replied that she was. The prisoner then put two knots on the handkerchief and asked her to catch one corner of it and pull against her. She did so. The prisoner then put a third knot on the handkerchief, and told witness to pull again. She did so, and the prisoner asked weren’t the knots very tight. Witness did not answer her, and the prisoner took the knots, and concealed them beneath the other portion of the handkerchief, and said witnesses’s trouble would not be very great if the knots were all gone. The prisoner then breathed on the handkerchief, and opened it. His Lordship: And were the knots all gone? Witness: They were (laughter). The prisoner then asked that her hand might be crossed with gold or silver. Witness told her she had none, but gave her half a dozen eggs. The prisoner told her to go back again, and leave none behind her. Witness believed the prisoner knew everything when she said there were more eggs behind, and she went back and got the remainder. She said she went back and got the remainder. She said she was not used to taking such things, and asked again for gold or silver. Witness said she was sorry she had none. The prisoner replied that she knew she had paper money. Witness felt that she had no alternative but to give her the money, and she went down and got her a pound note. The prisoner then said she wanted to speak to her privately, but witness said she would hear anything she had to say in the kitchen. She was very nervous about her, and the prisoner told her not to be afraid of her, and that ‘faint heart ne’er won fair lady’ (laughter). She the went out with her, and the prisoner told her that something very bad was going to happen to her husband, that two men named John and James would come in nine days’ time and take him out into the field. Witness was to prevent him from going with them, and that if he would not be prevented by witness she (the prisoner) would prevent him. She said she was always within three miles of them, that she lived in the next fort, and that her husband could be brought out about some money affair and that there was a ‘splean’ against him. The prisoner then tied the knots again on the handkerchief and asked witness to pull again. After that she blow her breath on the handkerchief and opened it, and the knots were gone. She asked witness for another pound note. Witness did not know what on earth to do or how to manage. The prisoner follower her into the parlour and would not allow the servant girl to enter further than the door, although the witness insisted that she should remain. The prisoner demanded another note. Witness said she was very poor, and that her husband required all his money. The prisoner said witness could borrow it and want it for a few days. Witness then gave her the second pound. The prisoner told her the servant girl to say nothing of what had occurred, and that if she did she would get her arm broken. Mr Sergeant Robinson: Did she say how? Witness: She meant by the fairies. She acted as a fairy all through (laughter). She said it was better for me to give it than lose my stock. She said she was sent to me by my friends, and that there were a good many of them amongst the good people, and that only I had spared myself I would be left nothing at all. There is a fort within a short distance of my house, and prisoner said she lived amongst the fairies there. Mr Sergeant Robinson: And she said she was sent to you by some of these ‘gentry’? Witness: She did. I was greatly afraid of her. The witness in answer to further questions, said she was still afraid of the prisoner. When leaving her house the accused said ‘God be with all here until we see them again’. She also said that that day week witness would find a red purse under the bed containing ten sovereigns, three notes, and one shilling. A wee woman with a red cloak would call, and she was to give her the shilling, and keep the £18. The prisoner also asked witness to wish three things, and she would give them to her. Witness said nothing, and the prisoner said she would wish for her, and the wishes she made were ‘Heaven and salvation, a happy death and a favourable judgement’ She then blew her breath on the witness and went out. (Laughter). She brought witness round to the end of the house and pointed to a place under a tree, where she said she was to dig that day fortnight, and she would find a cup filled with gold, and another gold cup that day week again. She then went away. The servant Bridget Loftus gave corroborative evidence. The defence was that it was a case of mistaken identity. The jury at once convicted the prisoner, and as it appeared that she had already been over four months in jail, she was sentenced to a fortnight’s imprisonment. Anon ‘Assize Intelligence’, Freeman’s Journal and Daily Commercial Advertiser (9 Jul 1880), p.3