Helen Duncan | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Victoria MacFarlane 25 November 1897 Callander, Perthshire, Scotland |
| Died | 6 December 1956 (aged 59) Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Other names | Hellish Nell |
| Occupation | Medium |
| Spouse | Henry Duncan (1916–1967) |
Victoria Helen McCrae Duncan (née MacFarlane, 25 November 1897 – 6 December 1956) was a Scottish medium best known as the last person to be imprisoned under the Witchcraft Act 1735 (9 Geo. 2. c. 5) for fraudulent claims. She was famous for producing ectoplasm which was proved to be made from cheesecloth.[1][2][3][4]
- ^ McHargue, Georgess. (1972). Facts, Frauds, and Phantasms: A Survey of the Spiritualist Movement. Doubleday. pp. 90–92. ISBN 978-0385053051
- ^ Haynes, Renée. (1982). The Society for Psychical Research 1882–1982: A History. MacDonald & Co. p. 144. ISBN 978-0356078755 "An investigation by Harry Price and other members of the Society for Psychical Research, to which he belonged at the time, showed that she certainly did use cheesecloth on occasion."
- ^ Paley, Ruth; Fowler, Simon. (2005). Family Skeletons: Exploring the Lives of our Disreputable Ancestors. The National Archives. p. 220. ISBN 978-1903365540 "Price revealed that Duncan's ectoplasmic manifestations were pieces of cheesecloth that Duncan swallowed and regurgitated at will."
- ^ Roach, Mary. (2007). Six Feet Over: Adventures in the Afterlife. Canongate books. pp. 122–130. ISBN 978-1847670809