Ross McGinnis and the Trials of Hex

This tragic tale begins with John Blymire. He was born in York County in 1895, at the time, this was an area of Pennsylvania steeped in the superstition and lore of the Pennsylvania Dutch folk. As late as the early 1900s, this part of the state held strong beliefs in witches, witchcraft, and folk magic. Many people could make a living as witches or “powwowers.” They would cure illness through faith healing using magical powders, potions, and charms. In addition, they could hex and remove hexes as the situation demanded. Every good witch needs a spellbook; for the Powwower, that was the Long Lost Friend, a book by John George Hohman.

Murder is the last thing that comes to mind on Thanksgiving. But that’s precisely what happened in 1928 when three men broke into the home of Nelson Rehmeyer in a misguided attempt to lift an evil curse. Through a series of unfortunate events, Rehmeyer was brutally murdered, and his body set ablaze. Details of the horrific event spread like wildfire, quickly becoming national news.

Ross McGinnis author of "The Trials of Hex" takes you through the story and gets the facts straight. The interview was conducted by a local author and historian Jim McClure.