Morisone,Mary

Type	Primary	Secondary
Demonic	—	✓
Demonic Possession	✓	✓
Maleficium	—	✓

Notes: Complicated case involving numerous accusations of murdering children through magical strangulation and possession of several children. Much of the evidence was derived from the testimony of children who claimed to be possessed and tormented by witches. But there was great concern over the murdered children and a murdered minister. The record describes the physical torment of the possessed children in great detail. An extraordinary document! The second arrest, was about the possession of two girls Margaret Laird and Margaret Murdoch Laird was unable to eat or drink but there are no details about whether there was some personal dispute involved. The usual possession symptoms - spitting pins, contortions, pain, bite marks, and calling out names of tormentors. Very detailed documents. See Agnes Supp for description of the tormenting/possesion.

Trial Ref	Date	Year	Verdict	Sentence	Execution
T/JO/1135	13/4/1697	1697			No
T/LA/1224	12/3/1700	1700		Released	No

She was released from prison due to pregnancy. She was confined to Edinburgh by the Privy Council on 6 September 1698 to answer to them any time before 15 November 1698 for accusations of witchcraft. She seems to have been charged again in 1699 and then the diet was deserted in 1700. This is the same general trajectory as Annabel Reid (c/la/2971) Her husband's bond of caution survives - 20/5/1699. Denounced by Margaret Laird in Paisley, and Margaret Murdoch in Govan. Both girls claimed to be tormented by witches. Laird and Murdoch denounced many people while in fits. Most of the witness testimony was given in Paisley (19-21 April 1699, from Laird) and Glasgow (22 April 1699 from Murdoch). Testimony came from people who witnessed Laird's fits and denunciations among other things.