Crimes and Witch-Demeanors By cover art

Crimes and Witch-Demeanors

By: Joshua Spellman
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  • Summary

  • The podcast that puts the “ahh!” in bibliography. Join your host, Joshua Spellman (an archivist and witch), every Wednesday to discuss ghost stories, historic true crime, legends, and tales of the paranormal through a critical lens. Each episode begins with a story as it’s typically told, and then we have a ghoulish gossip sesh where we examine historic and archival resources to learn what really happened and read first hand encounters of ghosts, goblins, and ghouls.
    © 2020 Joshua Coty
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Episodes
  • Sophie's Voice

    Sophie's Voice
    Oct 6 2021
    Built in 1990, the Harvey Public Library is sitting on a secret.  But shh!  What is it?  Before the library was erected, the gruesome murder of Sophia Schmidt Eberlein took place on its grounds.  Now her spirit haunts the library causing mischief and mayhem. Buy some merch and support the podcast! https://www.crimesandwitchdemeanors.com/shop  Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimesandwitchdemeanors Submit your feedback or personal stories to contact@crimesandwitchdemeanors.com  Like The Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crimesandwitchdemeanors  Visit the website: https://www.crimesandwitchdemeanors.com  Episode Transcript: Available below the sources in the show notes   SOURCES: Admits Burning to Death His Wife in Family Auto. (1931, October 6). The Brainerd Daily Dispatch, 6.     Admits Killing Wife. (1931, October 6). The Nebraska State Journal, 16.     Confesses to Wife Murder. (1931, October 5). The Bismarck Tribune, 1.     Confession Text Given to Public. (1931, October 6). The Bismarck Tribune, 1.     Front Page Sophia (Eberlein) Bentz Slaying 1931. No. 2. (1931, October 6). The Bismarck Tribune, 1.     Harvey Man Sent to Prison After Confessing. (1931, October 6). The Bismarck Tribune, 3.     Harvey Man Sent to Prison After Confessing Crime: Pleads Guilty to First-Degree Murder in District Court Here. (1931, October 6). The Bismarck Tribune, 1.     Harvey, N.D., library haunted? Library workers wonder | Grand Forks Herald. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2021, from https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/2111894-harvey-nd-library-haunted-library-workers-wonder     Jacob Bentz | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. (n.d.). Retrieved September 23, 2021, from https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/bentz-jacob.htm     Schlichenmayer, J. (n.d.). Harvey Public Library. Haunted Places. Retrieved September 23, 2021, from https://www.hauntedplaces.org/item/harvey-public-library/     Sophia Eberlein. (2021). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sophia_Eberlein&oldid=1002744630     Sophia Schmidt Eberlein (1889-1931)—Find A Grave Memorial. (n.d.). Retrieved October 5, 2021, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/176609079/sophia-eberlein     Three Persons are Victims of Fatal Mishaps in State. (1931, October 2). The Bismarck Tribune, 1.     Void, T. V. before the. (2016, October 18). Sophie, the Ghost of Harvey, North Dakota: Interview with Carolyn Feickert at the Harvey Public Library, and “Sophie’s Legend Lingers in Harvey Library” from Dakota Mysteries and Oddities by William Jackson. The Voice before the Void: Arcana, Story, Poetry. https://www.thevoicebeforethevoid.net/sophie-the-ghost-of-harvey-north-dakota-interview-with-carolyn-feickert-at-the-harvey-public-library-and-sophies-legend-lingers-in-harvey-library-from-dakota-mysteries-and-oddities-by-willia/
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    23 mins
  • The Lady in Glass

    The Lady in Glass
    Sep 22 2021
    In Jamestown, New York lies a mysterious stone statue of a woman encased in glass...some say it's not only a statue, but her corpse lies within it.  Who was she? Why is she trapped in a prison of glass?  Her name was Grace Galloway but how she got there is not so easy to answer.   Buy some merch and support the podcast! https://www.crimesandwitchdemeanors.com/shop  Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimesandwitchdemeanors Submit your feedback or personal stories to contact@crimesandwitchdemeanors.com  Like The Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crimesandwitchdemeanors  Visit the website: https://www.crimesandwitchdemeanors.com  Episode Transcript: Available below the sources in the show notes   SOURCES: 3 Nov 1898, Page 10—The Pittsburgh Press at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Newspapers.Com. Retrieved September 20, 2021, from http://www.newspapers.com/image/141841055/?terms=Grace%20Galloway&match=1     11 Nov 1898, 9—Telegraph-Forum at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Newspapers.Com. Retrieved September 20, 2021, from http://www.newspapers.com/image/600943251/?terms=Grace%20AND%20Galloway&match=1     Ancestry.com—New York, U.S., State Censuses, 1880, 1892, 1905. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2021, from https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8940/images/NYV14_274-0434?usePUB=true&_phsrc=eBA441&usePUBJs=true&pId=259566     Grace Galloway. (n.d.-a). Fenton History Center. Retrieved September 19, 2021, from https://fentonhistorycenter.org/grace-galloway/     Grace Galloway – Prendergast Library. (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2021, from https://www.prendergastlibrary.org/grace-galloway/     Grace Galloway: The Lady In The Glass Case. (n.d.-b). Planet Today News. Retrieved September 20, 2021, from https://www.planet-today.com/2020/05/grace-galloway-lady-in-glass-case.html     Grace Lavern Galloway—LifeStory. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2021, from https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/74694345/person/272207806195/story     Grace Laverne Galloway (1871-1898)—Find A Grave... (n.d.). Retrieved September 19, 2021, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7717018/grace-laverne-galloway     Kirst, S. (n.d.). Sean Kirst: Legend of “Lady in the glass case” begins with singer who died too young. The Buffalo News. Retrieved September 19, 2021, from https://buffalonews.com/opinion/columnists/sean-kirst-legend-of-lady-in-the-glass-case-begins-with-singer-who-died-too/article_12f4ddca-0927-5f88-b9ba-aea2c4b11353.html\     Pennsylvaniarambler. (2020, March 15). Grace Galloway: The Lady in Glass. The Pennsylvania Rambler. https://thepennsylvaniarambler.com/2020/03/15/grace-galloway-the-lady-in-glass/     Snapshot. (n.d.). Retrieved September 20, 2021, from https://www.newspapers.com/image/600943251/?terms=Grace%20AND%20Galloway&match=1 The true story behind Jamestown’s haunting Lady in Glass. (n.d.).   The Buffalo News. Retrieved September 19, 2021, from https://buffalonews.com/multimedia/the-true-story-behind-jamestowns-haunting-lady-in-glass/collection_45149d71-cf6f-560b-976a-31be975c071f.html   Transcript:   Hello, and welcome to Crimes and Witch Demeanors, the paranormal podcast where we go beyond the Wikipedia page and delve into historic and primary sources to find the truth behind your favorite ghostly tales.  I’m your host and loveable librarian – Joshua Spellman.   Welcome back, by the time this is airing it’s officially fall and I couldn’t be more excited to break out my layers!  But if I’m being honest – I think I’m a little bit more excited for today’s episode.  There are so many versions of this story it’s hard to find out which is the definitive one and the thing that’s crazy is that they’re all so different!  Like…so…different.  I did my best to include them all but I think you’re going to love today’s ghost story.  It’s the quintessential thing that local legends are made of but unique in such an oddly beautiful way.   Today we’re not straying far from where I am now and venturing down to the quaint hometown of Lucille Ball…Jamestown and no, we’re not talking Lucy’s ghost here, we’re talking about one she would have heard legends of growing up and one that she is buried with…the Lady in Glass.       Five young kids drove in the dark.  Their fear and anticipation had left them silent; unsure of what the night would bring.  They bumped and bounced along the ill maintained roads until the headlights of the old Chevy Malibu pierced the hazy night, highlighting the large stone sign declaring their destination: “Lakeview Cemetery”   “We’re here” Cyndi, the oldest, and the driver said in an almost whisper, parking the car a little down the road as to not raise suspicion.    Jack, the youngest at only 8 years old, and Cyndi’s brother, let out a small whimper that he hoped the others didn’t hear.    “Oh shut up, twerp” Cyndi ...
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    21 mins
  • Gilded Murder

    Gilded Murder
    Sep 15 2021
    Filled to the brim with scandal, murder, and historic characters ranging from Queen Victoria to Thomas Edison to Wyatt Earp, the history behind the Golden Gate Villa is nothing to scoff at.  In 1907 Santa Cruz was served a salacious historic scandal resulting in a horrific tragedy...leaving the house rumored to be haunted in its wake. Buy some merch and support the podcast! https://www.crimesandwitchdemeanors.com/shop  Follow the Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimesandwitchdemeanors Submit your feedback or personal stories to contact@crimesandwitchdemeanors.com  Like The Podcast on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crimesandwitchdemeanors  Visit the website: https://www.crimesandwitchdemeanors.com  Episode Transcript: Available below the sources in the show notes   SOURCES:   7 Dec 1907, Page 1—Santa Cruz Evening News at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). Newspapers.Com. Retrieved September 14, 2021, from http://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=4203848&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjU1Mzc5MDMzLCJpYXQiOjE2MzE2MjAzMTAsImV4cCI6MTYzMTcwNjcxMH0.RvcF17nCqc3CPgInOgE9pYOuOODX01oAtIjpmA0sC0A     Clipped From Oroville Daily Register. (1907, November 18). Oroville Daily Register, 1.     Dormanen, S. (n.d.). The Golden Gate Villa. Santa Cruz Public Libraries. Retrieved September 10, 2021, from https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/files/original/dac12ae750afce922632b1d9a1f17930.pdf     Frank McLaughlin Kills Daughter and Himself at Santa Cruz: Bullet and Poison Used. (1907, November 17). The San Francisco Call, 17–18.     Golden Gate Villa. (2021). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Golden_Gate_Villa&oldid=1023021509     Metroactive Features | The Haunting of Santa Cruz. (n.d.). Retrieved September 12, 2021, from http://www.metroactive.com/papers/cruz/10.29.03/haunting-0344.html     Poverty Pitiful at the End. (1907, November 19). Santa Cruz Sentinel, 2.     Sweet House Dreams: Golden Gate Villa, 1891 Queen Anne Victorian in Santa Cruz, California. (n.d.). Sweet House Dreams. Retrieved September 10, 2021, from http://sweethousedreams.blogspot.com/2018/06/golden-gate-villa-1891-queen-anne.html     Tom Brezsny. (2012, October 18). Golden Gate Villa—924 Third Street Santa Cruz California—Lavishly ornamented victorian. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jd72cnY_6E   Transcript: Hello, and welcome to Crimes and Witch Demeanors, the paranormal podcast where we go beyond the Wikipedia page and delve into historic sources to find the truth behind your favorite ghostly tales.  I’m your host and loveable librarian – Joshua Spellman.   Today we have a very exciting ghost story filled to the brim with scandal, murder, and historic characters ranging from Thomas Edison to Wyatt Earp the outlaw but even these prominent figure are obscured by today’s ghostly tale.  Trust me, it’s juicy, and we have all the gossipy progressive-era tabloids to prove it.  And boy, are some of these newspapers gorgeous, so make sure to check them out on the podcast Instagram.    Also thank you to everyone who purchased some merch from the shop!  You are true bibli-ahh-graphers!  If you want to support the podcast please go ahead and grab something for youself, crimesandwitchdemeanors.com link in the description!   So, anyway, you’re here for the salacious historic scandal and the modern haunts that resulted from it.  So put on your sunnies, grab a parasol, we’re headed to Santa Cruz and learning the legend behind the Golden Gate Villa and the tragedy that transpired there…       Considered one of the most historically significant homes in all of California, Golden Gate villa is perched atop Santa Cruz’s historic Beach Hill neighborhood.  It’s face is painted a buttery gold with a bright orchid trim; cheerful colors that belie it’s dark and twisted past.   Major Frank McLaughlin was born sometime around 1840.  During his early career he served on the police force in Newark, New Jersey and developed a life-long friendship with esteemed inventor Thomas Edison.  He fought with Union forces briefly during the Civil War, but his stint was brief and it’s unlikely this is where he earned his military title.  Instead, it is thought he achieved it from his later activity with the California state militia.   McLaughlin became an engineer on the Pacific Railroad, helping to lay tracks across the plains and the Wild West.  In the Wild West he earned quite the reputation, known as “one of the quickest men on the frontier” and was one of only a handful of men to ever challenge Wyatt Earp and live to tell the tale.   In 1877, McLaughlin returned to the East coast where he began to court a New Jersey widow by the name of ­­­­Margaret Loomis.  During this period Thomas Edison was developing the incandescent light bulb but ran into trouble finding a dependable source of platinum to use as filaments.  ...
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    26 mins
World Social Sciences
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Profile Image for Stevielynn

amazing podcast

I found this a few days ago. I leave reviews on all the podcasts I like, but I truly love this one!! Josh really delves deep into the actual history of these stories and its great to hear the the horror stories then the truth behind it. listening to Josh talk about thr story "queer ghosts" with such emotion made me tear up. my favorite episode is thr lady in the glass!! thank you Josh, keep up the good work!

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I really enjoyed the Kate Morgan episode!

This podcast is so good! Just like listening to a friend talk, which I thoroughly enjoy. I'm following!

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