Chousley,Elspeth
Case Reference: C/EGD/822
Case Summary
| Case Ref | C/EGD/822 |
|---|---|
| Accused | Elspeth Chousley |
| Case Start Date | 7/1677 |
| Case Date | 9/9/1679 |
| Common Name | Chousley,Elspeth |
|---|
Characterization
| Type | Primary | Secondary |
|---|---|---|
| Not Enough Info | ✓ | ✓ |
| Name | Title | Involvement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Cowan | Investigator | ||
| William Cuthbertson | Investigator | ||
| James Finke | Investigator | ||
| James Gourlay | Investigator | ||
| William Hutchison | Investigator | ||
| John Rutherford | Investigator |
| Source | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Circuit Court Books | JC10/3 fo. 25r., 27r., 44r. | first reference is to three men being arrested for falsely proceeding against her in 1678. Third reference says the diet was deserted. |
| Process Notes | JC26/50 | more details |
Trials (1)
| Trial Ref | Date | Year | Verdict | Sentence | Execution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T/LA/1182 | 9/9/1679 | 1679 | Released | No |
Case Notes
Her community attempted to extrajudicially arrest and investigate her for witchcraft. Her tormentors were charged with Hamsucken, robery, wrong imprisonment, and hurting subjects. In June of July 1677 a group of people broke into her house, took things and broke things. They kept her in prison and hired a pricker. They also tortured three other witches and pressured them to denounce her. She paid to get out of prison and was released. Then in June or July of 1678 the group assaulted her again - they broke her doors and windows and went at her with swords and pistols. The baillie was drunk when this happened. Five people testified to these events.