During World War II, Helen Duncan, a renowned Scottish spiritualist medium, faced trial by the British government under the Witchcraft Act of 1735. Accused of using her psychic abilities to aid the enemy, she became the last person in Britain to be prosecuted under this archaic law. The trial, held in 1944, garnered significant media attention, with the prosecution presenting evidence of her alleged communication with spirits, including those of deceased soldiers, and her involvement in séances. Despite her defense that she was merely exercising her spiritual gift, Duncan was found guilty and sentenced to nine months in prison, highlighting the persistence of superstition and the government's attempt to control wartime anxieties.
