Strange Country Ep. 103: Hex Hollow Murder

Make sure to grab some five-finger grass (whatever that might be) for this episode because you are in for a primer on powwow healing. Strange Country co-hosts Beth and Kelly discuss the hex murder of 1928--yes, you read that right--when one powwow healer killed another powwow healer he thought was cursing him. So add some dust to your coffee and find that pig's bladder and get ready for some magical thinking.

Theme music: Resting Place by A Cast of Thousands.

Cite Your Sources:

“Boy Denies Joining In 'Witch Killing'.” The New York Times, 11 Jan. 1929, pp. 28–28. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1929/01/11/95707956.html?pageNumber=28

“Death of 5 Babies Laid to Witch Cult.” The New York Times, 4 Dec. 1928, pp. 14–14, timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1928/12/04/95856757.html?pageNumber=14.

Dugan, Patrick James. “The Origin and Practition of Pow-Wow.” Berks History Center, www.berkshistory.org/multimedia/articles/pow-wow/.

Editors, History.com. “Thirty Years' War.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 9 Nov. 2009, www.history.com/topics/reformation/thirty-years-war.

Ehrenreich, Barbara. Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America. Metropolitan Books, 2009.

Hohmann, John George. Pow-Wows, or Long Lost Friend: A Collection of Mysterious and Invaluable Arts and Remedies, for Man as Well as Animals. Wildside Press, 2010.

“Fear of Witchcraft Led to Murder.” The New York Times, 1 Dec. 1928, pp. 3–3, timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1928/12/01/95853462.html?pageNumber=3.

Frank, Megan. “Tales of Witchcraft, Spells, Murder Surround Rehmeyer's Hollow.” WGAL, WGAL, 8 Oct. 2017, www.wgal.com/article/tales-of-witchcraft-spells-murder-surround-rehmeyer-s-hollow/6239526.

Free, Shane, director. Hex Hollow: Witchcraft and Murder in Pennsylvania. 2015, www.amazon.com/Hex-Hollow-Witchcraft-Murder-Pennsylvania/dp/B01HBYJ3TG/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=hex hollow&qid=1562165992&s=instant-video&sr=1-1

Glenn, Joralyn. “‘Powwowing in Pennsylvania: Healing Rituals of the Dutch Country.’” Glencairn Museum, 9 Mar. 2017, glencairnmuseum.org/newsletter/2017/3/2/powwowing-in-pennsylvania.

Kriebel, David. Powwowing Among the Pennsylvania Dutch: A Traditional Medical Practice In Pennsylvania. Penn State University Press, 2016.

McClure, Jim. “Murder and Witchcraft: The Incredible Story of York County's Hex Murder.” York Daily Record, 14 Oct. 2017, www.ydr.com/story/news/history/blogs/york-town-square/2017/10/14/murder-and-witchcraft-incredible-story-york-countys-hex-murder/764018001/.

“The Nine Years' War, 1689-1697.” Heritage, www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/exploration/9-years-war.php.

“Prisoner Told Him, 'I Got the Witch'.” The New York Times, 8 Jan. 1929, pp. 3–3, timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1929/01/08/95704835.html?pageNumber=3.

“'Witch' Killer Guilty, Sentenced for Life.” The New York Times, 10 Jan. 1929, pp. 1 & 20, timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1929/01/10/95706636.html?pageNumber=1.