Anastatia Carthy[…] remembered the eldest of the prisoners, Johanna Galvin, coming to her house in January last; it was towards evening, and having told witness that she was from the Iron Mills in Tipperary and a daughter of Mrs Jackson (a celebrated fairy-woman and charm-maker of the last age), she asked for lodgings for the night. Having consented that she should remain, she then told her that her daughters, the two other prisoners, were at a short distance, and witness having desired that they also should lodge with her for that night, the elder prisoner desired her to send for them, as she was wholly unable to walk… The eldest woman took a tea-cup, and having poured in some water, placed therein an herb which she took from her pocket. The cup was laid on a shelf, and in a short time, when the prisoner went again to the cup, she appeared to be much concerned, and called the witness to inspect the contents of the cup – the witness observed that the water appeared as if tinged with blood. Galvin then communed with the two younger women when some mysterious signs and words passed between them. The prisoner next asked witness if any thing ailed her daughter who was present. The witness hesitated to tell her, but she observed it was useless to conceal the matter; and that she could do her a service if made acquainted with the fact. Witness then acknowledged that her daughter was afflicted by a swelling of the neck and a throat when she caught a cold… The old crone then at once affected to see the daughter’s berrin in the cup and its bloody tinge – but she intimated that, if proper means were used, the calamity might be averted. She went on conjuring them to effect this desirable object, till the hen fell off the roost with the power of her charm… The next proceeding was to compose the philtre which was to affect the restoration of her daughter from those ill favoured spirits which had nearly possessed her. A skillet was put upon the fire – water from the confluence of three streams  was procured, poured into the skillet, placed over the fire, and quan. Suf. Of herbs having been added to the liquid, the ‘hell broth’ was in process of decoction, stirred up by the old beldame. Suddenly the hag stopped, and declared that she could not proceed in the composition unless she had yellow money with a cross on it (a gold guinea) to aid her in the process. The witness assured her that she had none. ‘Could she not procure it?’ ‘No.’ ‘What a pity – she could have the charm completed in a very short time indeed with such help – but in the absence of gold she would be enabled to do the cure with the aid of some white mother (silver); and with the assi-tance [sic] of more prayers.’ The witness then persuaded the good man to give her a shilling which he happened to have in his pockets. This was put into the mass of herbs, and the compound stirred ; but it would not do without more l’argent – 1s. 6d. was then pulled from the stocking purse, or trash-bag, and this was placed in a the pot to boil. Still the manes of the spirits were not to be appeased by so slight an offering, more money was still wanted – none was in the house – and in the extremity the poor duped woman bethought herself of a neighbour who had the price of a new cloak, which was to be put in requisition to help the process of the prisoner’s incantations – 10s. were obtained, and the philtre was on the point of completon [sic], when the old witch suddenly fell upon the floor, filled with inspiration, and, in her trance, called out ‘the boy or the horse, the boy or the horse’ – and this she explained when recovered, that it had been suddenly revealed to her that either the only son of the silly woman on whom she was practising or her horse were to be carried off by the fairies. There was yet a remedy for this evil. In St Patrick’s Church-yard, near this city, there grew an herb, the only one in LimerickCounty, which could prevail, and this pulled with the paddle of a goose’s foot, and before sunrise, would prevent the loss of either man or beast! Well, of course, the herb must be pulled, and away the set, all three, the horse having been yoked for the purpose of bearing them to the Church-yard, and accompanied by the boy or girl who were to be rescued from an early grave. Previous to their setting out, however, lest the night air should affect them, they begged the loan of all the disposable wearing apparel they could procure from the poor woman, giving of course a solemn promise to return in a hurry, and do service for the civilities they had received. When they came near the Churchyard, the prisoners left the car, with strict directions after the boy and girl should not mar the charm by prying after them. It is unnecessary to say they did not return.’ Bibliography: Anon, ‘Unparalleled Imposture!’, 1834), 1