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Defendants   
Name Charge Outcome Punishment Appeal
William Henry Practising obeah Unknown Unclear None View details
Case details   
Date:
17/04/1924
Date accuracy:
Start date of trial
Trial Type:
Criminal
Court or location:
Morant Bay Resident Magistrates' Court
Court type:
Magistrates' Court
Territory:
Jamaica
Dataset:
Jamaica Gleaner dataset 1890-1939
Sources   
Title/Headline/Description Publication/Reference Date
Country Courts. Obeah Case At Morant Bay Gleaner 23/04/1924

Enos Hercules Christie's evidence: Testified that he is a licensed druggist and lives at Seaforth, St Thomas. Christie keeps a drug store. On the 29th March last, the accused came to his shop at about 11.30am. The accused said, 'You have a case with a white man.' Christie said, 'Yes.' The accused said, 'Poor fellow, they are working obeah on you like h-- and I am a Frenchman from Kingston. I can let you win the case.' Christie said, 'I am pleased to meet with a man like you and I hope you won't charge me too much.' The accused said, 'I will only charge you a pound and will come at 7 o'clock next morning.' The accused directed Christie to get some white rum and one yard of black thread. Christie also was not to boil any rice in the yard, for it would 'scatter the case.' The next morning the accused came to Christie's place at about 9.30 o'clock. Christie took the accused into a back room. The accused said Christie must give him the rum and the thread and 4/6 for 'eye sight'. The accused called for a drinking glass. The 4/6 was made up of a two-shilling piece and a two-and-sixpence piece. Both coins were marked with a cross under the King's throat. His Honour: 'Mind you don't get let in for an attempt on the life of the King.' (laughter) Christie said: 'Defendant drew a vial from his pocket which contained some liquid, a portion of which he poured into the drinking glass, into which there was some of the rum. Some of the liquid from the vial was also rubbed on the the thread by...

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Categories   
  • Cash transaction
  • Ritual description
  • Transnational