THE GOVERNMENT has made an eve of Hallowe'en decision not to pardon the Pendle witches.

Home Secretary Jack Straw has decided that the convictions of ten women and one of their sons for Satanism in 1612 should stand.

Pendle MP Gordon Prentice and his constituent Jim Skinner who asked for the pardon have expressed bitter disappointment.

Mr Prentice asked Blackburn MP Mr Straw to authorise a free pardon for the witches earlier this year following representations from Barnoldswick resident Mr Skinner.

The witches -- led by Old Demdike and Chattox -- were hanged at Lancaster Castle in front of huge crowds after being accused of casting spells on people.

Magistrates were called in to investigate Demdike's home at Malkin Tower near Pendle Hill because of local rumours and after teeth stolen from graves at Newchurch in Pendle and a clay image was found, chilling accounts of witchcraft led to their trial.

Mr Straw's deputy Alun Michael told Mr Prentice, as one of his last actions before taking over as Welsh Secretary from the disgraced Ron Davies, that there was no case for the pardon. He said: "The Pendle witches were apparently convicted according to the law of the time, harsh though it seems by modern standards. As I have indicated, the Home Secretary would generally consider intervening in a case such as this only if evidence came to light which showed conclusively that the Pendle witches did not commit the crimes with which they were charged. On the basis of the material we have seen, the Pendle witches' case does not appear to be one where it would be appropriate to recommend a posthumus free pardon."

Mr Michael said the exercise of a royal prerogative was extremely rare and only one had been recommended by the Home Secretary in recent years.

He said it was "particularly difficult to obtain conclusive evidence that no offences were committed and to apply modern morality and criteria" to the witches case.

Mr Prentice commented: "I know Jim Skinner will be immensely disappointed." The story of their trial and execution has been the subject of many books, notably Mist Over Pendle by Robert Neill and is a major tourist attraction in the area with Pendle Hill due to be packed with visitors on Hallowe'en night on Saturday to commemorate the event.

Maureen Stopforth, owner of the Witches Galore shop in Newchurch-in-Pendle, said: "I think they should have been pardoned. The general feeling is they were never true witches. They were simple women caught up in political events."

Maureen, who is enjoying brisk trade in the run-up to Hallowe'en, added: "The interest in them will go on whatever happens or anyone says."

Sarah Lee, Pendle Council promotions officer who wrote a book on the witches, added: "Since it happened 400 years ago it's too late for a pardon. There are no grieving relatives to fight to clear their names but I do feel they were victims of rough justice.

"I think we owe it to them to tell their true story and let people make up their own minds about whether they were guilty of being witches or not."

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