In May 1633, the legal machinery of Orkney turned its focus toward Marion Layland, a resident of the island of Sanday. The archival record, held within the register of the Privy Council, suggests a woman living in precarious socio-economic circumstances, indicated by her poverty and connections to others through marriage—her son, bearing the surname Fischer, and a son-in-law whose testimony would prove central to the proceedings. The case against Marion was formalised by the procurator fiscal, who brought charges that included participation in a witches’ meeting. Her involvement in such gatherings was not an isolated allegation; she was explicitly named as an accomplice by another accused woman, Katherine Miller, further cementing her position within the legal narrative of the time.
The accusations against Marion extended beyond the metaphysical, as she was held responsible for tangible losses, including damage to dairy production and harm to livestock. Despite the existence of a recorded confession, the gravity of the charges led to a swift verdict of guilty during the trial held on May 29, 1633. Following the judicial process, Marion was sentenced to death. On May 30, 1638, she was taken to Gallow Hill, where she was executed by being strangled and then burned—a procedure consistent with the severe judicial protocols of the period.