He struck her over the head because her mother is a witch
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
April 26, 2019 7:52pm CST
No, a witch and NOT the other word that people interchange with witch.
Apparently a farmer's son thought it only just[ified] that he get a shovel and strike a woman over the head with it. Apparently some butter had gone missing, and it was reported that the assaulted woman's mother had been seen speaking some "mysterious rites".
The clipping I show you is just that, a clipping, and appears to be missing a line or so. However, I can tell you what I think the "mysterious rites" were.
I'm thinking it was probably just Irish (Gaeliege)
The things you find online.
Belfast Morning News, Belfast, Ulster, Crime newspaper clipping from Apr 23, 1879.
6 people like this
3 responses
@RasmaSandra (98026)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Apr 19
That is just what is the problem. People react much too fast to something they think is odd instead of waiting or thinking or even finding out if they are speaking in a different language. I can speak both English and Latvian and I never had a problem speaking Latvian in public even though everyone else spoke English. However, a friend of mine was ashamed to use the Latvian language in public because she thought people would think she was strange.
2 people like this
@Deepizzaguy (122232)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
27 Apr 19
The paranoia of some people does make some people act irregular sometimes with other people.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
27 Apr 19
This was a news clipping from the late 1800's, so a different time. However, not really such a different time when you think about it. People can not use Spanish ere in the US without someone saying "Your in America, Speak English!"
It's sad, really, that a people have to fear speaking their mother tongue/
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Apr 19
Oh my gosh - the things people assumed back then (and probably truly thought it was a fact)! Yah, just what were those "mysterious rites" . . . it may have very well been another language. So strange to think this was all over some missing butter!
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Apr 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum So crazy that they thought it was an act of witchcraft . . . I wonder what happened with this case in the end ! Just because she was speaking in a way they did not understand does not mean that it was "bad". All things not understood probably went into the "it must've been witchcraft" category. People disputing over missing butter couldn't survive in current times 
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! Just because she was speaking in a way they did not understand does not mean that it was "bad". All things not understood probably went into the "it must've been witchcraft" category. People disputing over missing butter couldn't survive in current times .@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Apr 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum Such a weird case, but of course serious back then that this made the papers. Ignorant, yes . . . supposedly people are more educated these days, but even so there are still a lot of ignorant, fearful folks.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
27 Apr 19
Yes, I am almost certain it was Irish, or if not Irish, then another celtic language. The butter could have been used up and the farmer's wife might have forgotten to make more, or something else.. I mean, it's sad that it was over butter.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
27 Apr 19
It doesn't surprise me that there are people who still fear witchcraft and would behead someone if they thought they were practicing it.
1 person likes this
