A man murdered a woman in rural Pennsylvania after claiming she had cursed him with black magic. How did this region become known as the Hex Belt? And how could such a tragedy occur as recently as 1934?

Sources:

“A Look Back in History: Practice of witchcraft among PA Dutch rarely accurately portrayed to public.” Reading Eagle. 22 August, 2021. https://www.readingeagle.com/2018/08/01/a-look-back-in-history-practice-of-witchcraft-among-pa-dutch-rarely-accurately-portrayed-to-public/

Karlsen, Carol. The Devil in the Shape of a Woman: Witchcraft in Colonial New England (New York: W. W, Norton & Company, 1998).

Magruder, Taj. In the Day of Trouble (Mechanicsville: Milford House, 2024).

Taylor, Troy. “The ‘Hex House’ Murder: Strange Tales of Pennsylvania Folk Magic & Murder.” American Hauntings. https://www.americanhauntingsink.com/hexhouse

Undine. “The Witch of Ringtown; a Medieval 20th Century Murder.” Strange Company. 28 September, 2015. https://strangeco.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-witch-of-ringtown-medieval-20th.html

Whipple, Madison. “Who Are the Pennsylvania Dutch? A Brief History of this Rural Community.” The Collector. 22 April, 2023. https://www.thecollector.com/history-of-the-pennsylvania-dutch/

White, Thomas. Witches of Pennsylvania: Occult History & Lore (Charleston: The History Press, 2013).

Newspapers:

La Opinion (Los Angeles)

Republican and Herald (Pottsville)

The Evening Star (D.C.)

The Indianapolis Times

The New York Times

The Washington Times

Music: Credits to Holizna, Fesilyan Studios & Virginia Liston

For more information, visit www.oldbloodpodcast.com

Edith Thompson faces the death penalty for her lover’s crime. How many deaths will there be before this affair ends?

Sources:

Blackburn, Jack. “Edith Thompson: posthumous pardon over husband’s murder a step closer.” The Times. 7 March, 2023. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/edith-thompson-posthumous-pardon-over-husband-s-murder-a-step-closer-s729dpg0q

Lusher, Adam. “Laid to rest at last: Edith Thompson, victim of a ‘barborous, misogynistic’ death penalty.” 22 November, 2018. Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/edith-thompson-death-penalty-capital-punishment-hanging-miscarriage-justice-buried-mother-murder-bywaters-younger-lover-husband-grave-a8647636.html

Stokes, Tim. “Edith Thompson: The wife who was executed for her lover’s crime.” BBC. 8 January 2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-63561245

Thompson, Laura. A Tale of Two Murders: Guilt, Innocence, and the Execution of Edith Thompson. (London: Pegasus Crime, 2018).

Weis, Rene. Criminal Justice: The True Story of Edith Thompson (Leicester: Charnwood, 1992). And “Edith Jessie Thompson: A True Story of Injustice.” https://edithjessiethompson.org/

Documentaries:

Murder, Mystery and My Family and Murder, Mystery and My Family: Case Closed, BBC.

Murder Maps “Terror in the Roaring Twenties” Season 2, Episode 1.

Music: Credits to Holizna, Fesilyan Studios & Virginia Liston

For more information, visit www.oldbloodpodcast.com

A night out on the town turns deadly after a love triangle unravels in 1920s London.

Sources:

Blackburn, Jack. “Edith Thompson: posthumous pardon over husband’s murder a step closer.” The Times. 7 March, 2023. https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/edith-thompson-posthumous-pardon-over-husband-s-murder-a-step-closer-s729dpg0q

Lusher, Adam. “Laid to rest at last: Edith Thompson, victim of a ‘barborous, misogynistic’ death penalty.” 22 November, 2018. Independent. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/edith-thompson-death-penalty-capital-punishment-hanging-miscarriage-justice-buried-mother-murder-bywaters-younger-lover-husband-grave-a8647636.html

Stokes, Tim. “Edith Thompson: The wife who was executed for her lover’s crime.” BBC. 8 January 2023. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-63561245

Thompson, Laura. A Tale of Two Murders: Guilt, Innocence, and the Execution of Edith Thompson. (London: Pegasus Crime, 2018).

Weis, Rene. Criminal Justice: The True Story of Edith Thompson (Leicester: Charnwood, 1992). And “Edith Jessie Thompson: A True Story of Injustice.” https://edithjessiethompson.org/

Documentaries:

Murder, Mystery and My Family and Murder, Mystery and My Family: Case Closed, BBC.

Murder Maps “Terror in the Roaring Twenties” Season 2, Episode 1.

Music: Credits to Holizna, Fesilyan Studios & Virginia Liston

For more information, visit www.oldbloodpodcast.com