The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

TO KILL A WITCH

WHILE FLIPPING TELEVISION CHANNELS LAST NIGHT, I PAUSED A MOMENT
IN MY INDECISION TO SEE HOW TO KILL A WITCH. A WOMAN FROM THE
PIONEER SOUTHWEST BELIEVED THAT BY MAKING AN IMAGE OF THE WITCH
IN QUESTION AND "MURDERING" THAT IMAGE, THE WITCH WOULD DIE. IN
THIS INSTANCE A DRESS THAT THE WITCH HAD WORN WAS HUNG UP TO
CREATE THE IMPRESSION OF THE WITCH'S PRESENCE. THEN THE KILLER
PLUNGED A HATPIN INTO "HER."

Where learned: HIGHLAND PARK ; ILLINOIS