In early 1900's, there was a practice known as Hex in the
boondocks of York County
called Hex. It's a form of witchcraft, and was mainly used for cursing something.
However, Hexes could be used for
healing purposes.
In 1928, a man my the name of John Blymyre got sick.
Really sick. And he was convinced
that this was because a hex was put on him. Blymyre went to a hexer (the proper terminology
for a Penna. Dutch witch is a Hex, but that gets confusing.) This hexer told him that
this hex was put on him by this hexers rival, Nelson Rehmayre, and that the only
way the hex could be undone was to get Rehmayre's
spellbook. When Blymyre went to get the
book, Rehmayre naturally refused. Blymyre got mad, grabbed Rehmayre's axe, and split
Rehmayre's
skull. Blymyre was convicted of second-degree
murder.
The whole incident caused a big, nationwide
hooplah about superstition.
Every Halloween, a local fire company gives "Hex Hollow Haunted Hay-Rides", the hay rides
start as a tour of Rehmayre's Hallow, where Rehmayre lived and practiced, with
re-enactments of the murder and trial.
The "Hex Murder" is a pretty big part of area folklore, and it spawned a
book by Arthur Lewis titled Hex. Check it out if you get a chance.