- Which cases are categorised 'Balm yard'?
- Cases in which there is clear evidence of healing taking place in a collective context, often but not always with the term 'balm yard' used descriptively.
- Which cases are categorised 'Biomedical doctor previously consulted'?
- Cases in which it is stated that the person who consults the spiritual healer had previously seen a biomedical doctor, often described as 'doctor', or 'physician'.
- Which cases are categorised 'Body related ritual'?
- Cases in which the ritual undertaken explicitly involves the body, for example, items are reported to have been extracted from the body.
- Which cases are categorised 'Books'?
- Cases in which part of the evidence involves the use of printed or handwritten books. Often but not always these were books produced by the De Laurence publishing company in Chicago.
- Which cases are categorised 'Cash transaction'?
- Cases in which cash was passed from the person seeking assistance to the healer. Payment of money was often used as evidence in obeah trials, and police personnel often used money which they had previously marked in order to entrap people they thought were obeah practitioners.
- Which cases are categorised 'Charge changed during trial process'?
- Cases in which the charge was changed during the trial, for example from a charge of obeah to one of practicing medicine without a licence. These cases are recorded under the charge that the defendant was finally tried for.
- Which cases are categorised 'Clothing, bodily characteristics or age of defendant'?
- Cases in which one of these physical aspects of the defendant is provided in evidence.
- Which cases are categorised 'Defendant autonym for healing'?
- Cases in which the evidence reveals a term used by the defendant to describe him or herself or his or her work. Examples include 'scientist', 'professor', 'worker.
- Which cases are categorised 'Deliberate fraud probably involved'?
- Cases in which, to the best judgement of the researchers, the aim of the person charged appears to have been to make money rather than to heal or help. This is a subjective judgement. We have used it mainly for a small number of cases that took place in Kingston in the early twentieth century, which followed a common pattern. These cases are characterised by the fact that the client did not know of the practitioner in advance of the ritual, and was actively solicited to seek out help.
- Which cases are categorised 'Duppies'?
- Cases that refer to the presence of duppies, jumbies, ghosts, or spirits.
- Which cases are categorised 'East Indian client'?
- Cases in which the client is identified as East Indian either by the use of a term such as 'coolie' or 'Indian' in the primary source, or when s/he has a clearly Indian-derived name.
- Which cases are categorised 'East Indian defendant'?
- Cases in which the defendant is identified as East Indian either by the use of a term such as 'coolie' or 'Indian' in the primary source, or when s/he has a clearly Indian-derived name.
- Which cases are categorised 'East Indian ghost or duppy'?
- Cases in which a duppy, jumby, ghost, or spirit is referred to as East Indian, usually by the use of a term such as 'coolie' or 'Indian' in the primary source.
- Which cases are categorised 'Guilty plea'?
- Cases in which the defendant pleaded guilty.
- Which cases are categorised 'Items removed from body'?
- Cases in which items such as frogs or lizards are reported to have been extracted from the body.
- Which cases are categorised 'Letters to defendant'?
- Cases in which the evidence presented in court or otherwise discussed includes letters found in the possession of the defendant, often from alleged clients.
- Which cases are categorised 'Medicine without license charge discussed'?
- Cases in which magistrates or lawyers discuss the possibility that the case should really be tried under legislation prohibiting the practice of medicine without a licence.
- Which cases are categorised 'Mesmerism, Hypnotism, Spiritualism, Theosophy'?
- Cases in which one of these terms is used to describe the practice of the defendant, either by themselves or by something else.
- Which cases are categorised 'Notable case'?
- Cases which we think are of particular interest, often because the testimony included is lengthy.
- Which cases are categorised 'Obeah as insult or danger'?
- Cases in which the term obeah is used in a negative way. This includes some slander cases when one person accuses another of practicing obeah as an insult.
- Which cases are categorised 'Popular interest or crowds'?
- Cases in which there is clear evidence of popular interest, for instance there are crowd present in the courtroom, or crowd welcome the defendant after his or her trial.
- Which cases are categorised 'Practice involves harm'?
- Cases in which the acts described as obeah are designed to harm another person.
- Which cases are categorised 'Previous convictions'?
- Cases in which there is evidence that the defendant had previous convictions for obeah.
- Which cases are categorised 'Religious affiliation stated'?
- Cases in which the defendant claims affiliation with a specic religious tradition, for instance Baptist.
- Which cases are categorised 'Report after failed treatment?
- Cases in which there is evidence that the case came to court because the client was unhappy after rituals were undertaken that did not work.
- Which cases are categorised 'Report because costs too high'?
- Cases in which there is evidence that the case came to court because the client was unhappy because the ritual specialist asked for more money than the client though was reasonable or could afford.
- Which cases are categorised 'Report because treatment incomplete'?
- Cases in which there is evidence that the case came to court because the client was unhappy after rituals were begun but not completed.
- Which cases are categorised 'Ritual description'?
- Cases in which evidence includes a description of the ritual undertaken with the goal of exerting spiritual influence.
- Which cases are categorised 'Successful practitioner'?
- Cases in which there is evidence that the person prosecuted was an unusually successful spiritual practitioner, for instance reports of an extensive group of clients.
- Which cases are categorised 'Transnational'?
- Cases in which there is evidence that the practitioner or his/her clients had moved across national colonial boundaries.
