Hellish Nell, the Last Witch of Scotland
Summary
Harvey Guillén explores the life of Helen Duncan, a Scottish medium dubbed "Hellish Nell" who gained fame for her séance performances during WWII. Accused of leaking top-secret military intelligence about sunken ships, Duncan was investigated by MI5 and arrested under the 1735 Witchcraft Act. Convicted as the last person in Britain under this law, she was imprisoned to silence her before D-Day, leaving her legacy shrouded in mystery regarding her powers.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The danger of knowing too much and Helen Duncan's legacy
Helen Duncan's childhood and the origin of 'Hellish Nell'
The mechanics of Helen's séances and ectoplasm tricks
Harry Price's investigation and the regurgitation theory
1933 arrest for fraud charges and the 'Piggy' spirit incident
Sponsorship breaks
Predicting the sinking of HMS Hood and HMS Barham
MI5 surveillance and fears regarding D-Day leaks
Sponsorship breaks
The raid, arrest, and conviction under the Witchcraft Act
Conclusion: The mystery of her powers and final thoughts
Listen ad-free on Castria