Case file · Witch trials
The Pittenweem witches
In 1704 five women of Pittenweem, Fife, were accused of witchcraft by a teenage boy; one died in prison and in January 1705 a mob beat and crushed Janet Cornfoot to death on the beach.
1704 CE · 56.21, -2.73 · status: official
The account
The local minister was accused of encouraging the hunt; no one was punished for Cornfoot's murder. The case shocked Edinburgh opinion.
The sceptical view
The boy later admitted pretending; the case shows how accusations led to mob violence after courts lost interest.