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Hex Hollow Murder
Nelson Rehmeyer was murdered by three men who believed he had hexed them. Pennsylvania Dutch pow-wow magic. They tried to steal his spell book to break the curse. When he resisted, they beat and burned him. The last American witch trial.
1928
York County, Pennsylvania, USA
50+ witnesses
The Hex Hollow Murder was America’s last witch killing.
The Belief
Pennsylvania Dutch:
- Pow-wow tradition
- Folk magic practice
- Hexes believed real
- Healers consulted
- Rural communities
The “Victims”
John Blymire:
- Believed he was hexed
- Business failing
- Health declining
- Consulted pow-wow
- Told Rehmeyer responsible
The Plot
To break the hex:
- Needed Rehmeyer’s book
- Long Lost Friend (spell book)
- Or lock of hair
- Would break curse
- Planned theft
The Murder
November 27, 1928:
- Three men went
- Rehmeyer refused
- Fight ensued
- Beat him to death
- Set fire to hide crime
The Trial
1929:
- National sensation
- Witchcraft defense
- All three convicted
- Blymire: life sentence
- Others: 10-20 years
The House
Rehmeyer’s Hollow:
- Still standing
- Private property
- Reportedly haunted
- Strange occurrences
- Visitors feel presence