>> RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY IS GENEROUSLY BROUGHT TO YOU BY.

>> YOU AND I WILL PROBABLY NEVER MEET.

>> WHAT I TREE IS SO RARE -- TREAT IS SO RARE.

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>> I'M HERE.

>> I'M HERE.

♪ >> TONIGHT ON "RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY."

>> THE SPELL BOUNDING TALES OF RHODE ISLAND READER BEWITCHED READERS WORLDWIDE, EVEN DECADES AFTER HIS DEATH.

THE FATHER OF WEIRD FICTION HAD AN EVEN DARKER PERSONAL SIDE.

RACISM.

>> HATES WOMEN, HATES ITALIAN AMERICANS, HATES PEOPLE FROM INDIA, HATES AFRICAN-AMERICANS, HATES MEXICANS.

>> MORE THAN 100 YEARS AGO LIZZIE BORDEN WAS SWIFTLY ACQUITTED OF A JOURNEY OF MURDERING HER FATHER AND STEPMOTHER.

FOR MANY, BEING FOUND NOT GUILTY IS NOT PROOF OF INNOCENCE.

>> IT IS PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT COMPLICATED.

AGATHA CHRISTIE SAID WHO HAD THE MOTIVE, WEAPON, OPPORTUNITY?

♪ [CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> MICHELLE: GOOD EVENING.

I MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

PAMELA: I'M PAMELA WATTS.

UP FIRST IN THE SEASON OF HALLOWEEN, THE SPIRITS OF TWO MASTERS LINGER ON THE EAST SIDE OF PROVIDENCE.

EDGAR ALLEN POE SPENT TIME THERE.

AUTHOR H.P.

LOVECRAFT WAS INSPIRED BY HIS IDLE.

LOVECRAFT WROTE OF DARK, OTHERWORLDLY CREATURES HAD AN EVEN DARKER PERSONAL SIDE.

ONE COMING TO LIGHT IN THIS HORROR STORY.

>> HE HAS THIS FAMOUS QUOTE, THE STRONGEST EMOTION OF MANKIND IS FEAR.

PAMELA: FEAR CREEPS THROUGHOUT THE PAGES OF SOME 66 SHORT STORIES WRITTEN BY H.P.

LOVECRAFT.

HIS SUPERNATURAL TALES PUBLISHED IN THE 1920'S AND 1930'S EARNED THE AUTHOR THE TITLE FATHER OF COSMIC HORROR.

>> IT HAS THIS AIR OF BELIEVABILITY.

IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEBODY RECOLLECTING A HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

IT'S OF HISTORY, BITS OF SCIENCE AND BIOLOGY.

MAKES IT MUCH MORE LIKE YOU FOUND THIS IN A LEDGER.

ENDED UP GOING INTO THEACADEMIC FIELD.

STUDYING MARINE ORGANISMS EVERY BIT OF STRANGE -- AS STRANGE AS WHAT HE DESCRIBED.

PAMELA: BIOLOGY PROFESSOR IS KEEPING THE AUTHORS LEGACY ALIVE INSIDE THE HISTORIC ARCADE BUILDING DOWNTOWN.

HOBBS IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT LOVECRAFT ARTS AND SCIENCES COUNCIL.

IT IS PART BOOKSTORE, PART CURIOSITY SHOP.

THIS IS HEADQUARTERS FOR LOVECRAFT FANS WORLDWIDE.

>> EVERY DAY WE HAVE PEOPLE COME FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.

GENERALLY FROM AROUND THE WORLD WHO READ OFTEN IN THEIR OWN LANGUAGE IN PORTUGUESE, GERMAN, ITALIAN THEY READ LOVECRAFT AND IMMEDIATELY FOUND THE LOVE THAT PEOPLE IN THE U.S. HAVE FOUND.

PAMELA: THOSE POSSESSED WITH READING LOVECRAFT ALSO HAVE TO COME TO GRIPS WITH SOMETHING MORE SINISTER THAN HIS IMAGININGS.

THE AUTHOR HAD A CHILLING MONSTER INSIDE, BIGOTRY.

IT IS NO SECRET IN HIS WRITINGS.

>> HIS ARTISTIC GIFT TO WRITE THESE STORIES, HIS LITERARY WORK IS OFTEN INFUSED WITH HIS OWN PARANOIA, XENOPHOBIA, AND RACISM.

PAMELA: WHERE DOES THAT STEM FROM IN HIM?

>> TO SOME EXTENT, THAT IS A PRODUCT OF HIS TIME.

IT WAS A TIME IN AMERICA WHERE RACISM WAS INSTITUTIONALIZED AT THE SUPREME COURT LEVEL.

PAMELA: HOBBS SAYS EVEN THOUGH LOVECRAFT WAS PREJUDICE, HE IS STILL CASTING A SPELL OVER MILLIONS OF READERS.

THE AUTHOR NOT WELL-KNOWN IN HIS LIFETIME HAS BEEN REINCARNATED AS A MAJOR INFLUENCER.

SOCIAL MEDIA HAS INSPIRED TV SHOWS LIKE STRANGER THINGS.

>> STEPHEN KING, HE WRITES FICTION AND VERY CUTE -- CLEARLY CREDITS LOVECRAFT BEING THE FIRST MAJOR INFLUENCE.

AND ROLE-PLAYING GAMES, MORE RECENTLY VIDEO GAMES, THEY ARE DIRECTLY DRAWN FROM LOVECRAFT'S FICTION AND ANY PART OF COSMIC HORROR CONCEPT.

>> WHAT IS IT YOU DESIRE?

PAMELA: IF YOU DIG DOWN DEEP, WHAT IS IT ABOUT HIS WRITING AND HIS STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN SO FRIGHTENING?

>> THERE'S THE SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS AND HELPLESSNESS.

UNLIKE SOME OF THE OTHER STORIES WHERE IT IS A MATTER OF A MERGER -- MURDER OR SLASHER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IN LOVECRAFT'S FICTION THE VILLAINS ARE THE CARELESSNESS OF THE COSMOS.

WHILE HE WROTE ABOUT THE COSMOS, LOVECRAFT ONLY -- LIFE IS DEEP ROOTED IN THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE.

AN ONLY CHILD, HER GRANDFATHER'S LIBRARY BECAME ITS GREAT COMPANION.

>> HE HAD A ROUGH CHILDHOOD.

BOTH OF HIS PARENTS HAD ISSUES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

LIVING VERY POOR I THINK HE FELT ON THE FRINGE OF SOCIETY.

PAMELA: LOVECRAFT FOUND HIS PASSION IN PROSE.

STARTING AS A GHOSTWRITER FOR FAMED MAGICIAN HARRY EUGENIE -- HARRY HOUDINI.

THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE HIMSELF, AND EAST SIDE IS A MUSEUM OF LOVECRAFT FROM THE HOMES HE LIVED INTO THE PLAISANCE -- PLACES HE DESCRIBED.

THE BUILDING IS WHERE THE MONSTER WAS BORN.

THIS HOME WAS THE SETTING FOR THE STORY, THE SEAN HOUSE.

ON THE SAME STREET IN THIS HOUSE IS WHERE ED DROUIN POE SPENT TIME YEARS BEFORE LOVECRAFT.

POE WAS BRIEFLY ENGAGED TO PROVIDENCE POET SARAH WHITMAN.

>> THEY WALK TO SAME PATH.

PAMELA: POE'S LIFE AND LOVECRAFT'S CROSSED PATHS HERE.

CURATOR HEATHER COLE SAYS IT INCLUDES A LOT -- LOCK OF HIS HAIR AND ONE OF THE ONLY KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHS OF POE.

>> THIS WAS TAKEN IN PROVIDENCE.

PAMELA: THERE ARE ALSO THOUSANDS OF LOVECRAFT LETTERS, SKETCHES, AND HANDWRITTEN MANUSCRIPTS IN THE CONNECTION.

>> LITERALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA ALMOST ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

THOSE INTERESTED IN LOVECRAFT OR VISITING PROVIDENCE.

SO MANY OF THEM GET VERY EMOTIONAL.

PAMELA: DO YOU MEAN LIKE CRY?

>> YES.

WE'VE HAD PEOPLE WEEP OVER SOME OF THESE MANUSCRIPTS.

PAMELA: HOW DO READERS CONTEND WITH THE GENIUS VERSUS THE RACIST?

>> YOU CANNOT TAKE THEM APART.

MY STUDENTS INTRODUCED ME TO THE PROBLEMATIC PHASE AND MIGHT BE AN ARTIST OR MUSICIAN.

SOMEBODY WHO HAS DONE SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T CONDONE.

THERE IS SOMETHING WITHIN THEIR WORK.

PAMELA: THE PROBLEMATIC NATURE OF THE AUTHOR'S WORK HAS COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM.

IT HAS CAUSED A NIGHTMARE FOR THE LOVECRAFT ARTS AND SCIENCES COUNCIL.

>> ONE OF MY REASONS FOR MAKING ARE IN THE FIRST PLACE IS I LIKE TO CREATE A PRESENCE.

I WANT YOU, EVEN IF YOU ARE IN A DARK ROOM.

>> PAMELA: THIS LIFE-SIZE PRESENCE WAS SCULPTED BY A LOCAL ARTIST.

THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE APPROVED ITS PLACEMENT DOWNTOWN.

THE LOVECRAFT ARTS AND SCIENCES COUNCIL SCRAPPED ITS UNVEILING.

>> CURRENTLY HE IS A HOUSEGUEST.

THIS IS A NICE, SAFE, PLACE FOR HIM TO STAY.

WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TWO PLAQUES FOR THE STATUE.

ONE DISCUSSING HIS CONTRIBUTION.

THE OTHER DISCUSSING HIS HISTORIC FOOTPRINT AND IMPACT INCLUDING HIS RACISM.

>> IT DOESN'T BELONG IN A PUBLIC SPACE.

YOU ARE BEING HONORED, HE DESERVES NO HONOR.

YOU CAN'T OUTRUN HIS LEVEL OF HOMOPHOBIA AND RACISM AND SEXISM.

JUST UNBELIEVABLE.

PAMELA: PROVIDENCE CIVIL-RIGHTS ACTIVIST RAY RICKMAN OFTEN LECTURES ON THE FLAWS OF THE FAMOUS AUTHOR.

HE HAS READ VOLUMES OF LOVECRAFT.

>> LOVECRAFT HATES WOMEN, FROM INDIA, HATES AFRICAN-AMERICANS, HATES MEXICANS.

HAVE I GOT EVERYBODY?

THAT'S A LOT OF HATRED.

PAMELA: LOVECRAFT LITERALLY USES THE N WORD, BECAUSE NEW YORK'S CHINATOWN A MASSIVE STEWING MONGREL FLESH.

>> HERE IS THE EXAMPLE.

EVERYBODY KNEW ENGLAND WAS GOING TO GIVE INDIA UP.

LOVECRAFT SAID IN TWO SEPARATE LETTERS THEY SHOULD ANNIHILATE THE WHOLE POPULATION BEFORE THEY LEAVE INDIA.

PAMELA: BRINGING THE LETTERS TO LIGHT HAS NOT BEEN EASY.

THREE YEARS AGO HE WAS INVITED TO SPEAK AT THE BIENNIAL LOVECRAFT CONVENTION.

>> I WAS NERVOUS.

I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WRITING THAT SPEECH.

I THOUGHT I WOULD GO INTO THE ROOM AND THEY WOULD BE MAD AT ME.

IT WAS THE OPPOSITE.

THEY GIVE ME A STANDING OVATION.

I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM LOVECRAFT'S HOUSE.

HE USES IT IN HIS BOOKS.

WHEN I SEE THEM I RUN OUT THERE.

PAMELA: RICKMAN SAYS READERS MUST LOOK AT AUTHORS FROM WILLIAM FAULKNER TO DR. SEUSS THROUGH DIFFERENT LENSES.

HE KEEPS A COUPLE OF COPIES OF LOVECRAFT AND HIS BOOKSTORE IN PROVIDENCE, ESPECIALLY FOR FANS WHO COME TO TOWN.

>> WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STORY OF THIS MAN?

>> APPRECIATE THE LITERATURE IF YOU WANT.

DESPISE ALL OF HIS POLITICAL BELIEFS.

THEY WERE DEFINED.

I DON'T THINK HE HAD A SINGLE POLITICAL BELIEF THAT YOU WOULD SAY THAT IS GOOD.

THEN YOU COULD READ THE LITERATURE.

IF YOU'RE STRUGGLING WITH WHAT I JUST SAID GO READ THE LETTERS.

PAMELA: THAT IS A LEGACY LOVECRAFT HAS TAKEN TO THE GRID.

>> I STILL ENJOY HIS FICTION BUT I ALSO -- THAT IS TEMPERED VERY MUCH BY ACKNOWLEDGING THAT AT LEAST THIS ONE REALLY LARGE ASPECT OF HIS PERSONAL LIFE IS COMPLETELY UNFORGIVABLE.

PAMELA: THE NEXT LOVECRAFT LITERARY CONVENTION IS BEING HELD IN PROVIDENCE IN AUGUST OF 2022.

WE NOW LOOK BACK AT ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS MURDERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

ANDREW AND ABBY BORDEN WERE FOUND DEAD IN THEIR MASSACHUSETTS HOME.

SUSPICION FELL ON ANDREW'S DAUGHTER LIZZIE BORDEN, WHO STOOD TRIAL.

THE CRIME SCENE, NOW A POPULAR BED-AND-BREAKFAST RECENTLY SOLD.

LAST MAY, CONTRIBUTE IN REPORTER WENT TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS ENDURING MYSTERY.

>> SEVEN BEDROOMS, 3.5 BATHROOM VICTORIAN LOADED WITH HISTORY.

>> IT IS AN UNUSUAL PIECE OF REAL ESTATE.

>> EASILY THE MOST FAMOUS HOUSE IN FALL RIVER.

ASKING PRICE?

$2 MILLION.

>> ISN'T HARD TO SELL A CRIME SCENE?

>> IT IS INTERESTING TO SELL A CRIME SCENE.

EVERYBODY KNOWS LIZZIE BORDEN.

IT IS WORLD KNOWN.

IT IS FAIRLY EASY TO SELL IT.

WE PUT IT ON THE MARKET ON A MONDAY AND WE PROBABLY HAD FOUR OFFERS ON FRIDAY.

>> EVEN AT $2 MILLION?

>> YES.

>> THE LIZZIE BORDEN HOUSE HAS A UNIQUE DRAW.

IT MAY BE THE ONLY BED-AND-BREAKFAST THAT IS ALSO A CRIME SCENE.

>> DO PEOPLE GET A DISCOUNT FOR STAYING IN THE MURDER ROOM OR DO YOU PAY EXTRA?

>> THAT'S THE MOST REQUESTED ROOM.

I WOULD NOT SLEEP THERE.

>> IS IT HAUNTED?

>> YOU COULD BE THE JUDGE.

>> WE SPENT THE NIGHT ALONG WITH AMATEUR HISTORIAN SHELLEY.

>> THIS OF THE DOOR HE CAME THROUGH.

>> SHE HAS PUBLISHED A NUMBER OF BOOKS, RUNS A WEBSITE AND FOR 25 YEARS SHE WAS A TOUR GUIDE.

>> CONTACT.

>> THE YEAR WAS 1892.

LIZZIE BORDEN WAS 32 YEARS OLD LIVING AT HOME.

IT WAS SHE WHO DISCOVERED HER DAD'S BODY AROUND LUNCHTIME ON THIS COUCH WHERE ANDREW BORDEN LAID DOWN FOR A NAP A SHORT WHILE BEFORE.

>> SHE SAID I CAME BACK FROM THE BARN.

I WAS OUT THERE FOR A WHILE.

SHE CAME IN, I PUT MY HAT ON THE TABLE.

THE BLOOD WAS STILL FLOWING.

IT WAS BRIGHT RED.

SHE SCREAMED BLUE MURDER.

MOST PEOPLE WOULD WANT TO GET OUT.

>> ONLY AFTER POLICE AND NEIGHBORS ARRIVED WAS THE SECOND BODY DISCOVERED.

ABBY BORDEN WAS FOUND UPSTAIRS.

>> ONLY ONE WAY IN AND OUT OF THIS ROOM.

>> KILLED HOURS EARLIER APPARENTLY WHILE MAKING THE BED.

>> THE KILLER STRADDLED THE BODY.

PERHAPS GRAB THE HEAD BY THE HAIR AND WAILED AWAY.

THE MAJORITY OF THE BLOWS.

>> HOW MANY TIMES WERE SHE STRUCK?

>> PLENTY.

>> THE BRUTALITY OF THE CRIME ONLY SLIGHTLY EXAGGERATED BY THE OLD JUMP ROPE SONG.

♪ >> IF YOU THINK OF IT, SHE GOT ABOUT TWICE AS MANY AS MR. BORDEN.

11 WAS THE FINAL VERDICT ON HIM.

THIS WAS A DOUBLE WHAMMY.

>> EVEN 19 WHACKS SUGGEST HATRED.

WHICH IS NOT SO COMFORTING AS NIGHT FALLS IN THE EVENING GLOOM SETS IN.

>> I'M SLEEPING TONIGHT IN WHAT USED TO BE LIZZIE BORDEN'S BEDROOM.

ABBY BORDEN'S BEDROOM WHERE SHE WAS KILLED, THE STEPMOTHER IS JUST A FEW FEET THAT WAY.

ANDREW BORDEN WAS KILLED JUST DOWNSTAIRS.

I LEARNED WHAT IS APPARENTLY AN OLD SAYING TODAY.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT SCARED OF THEM.

>> THIS BED-AND-BREAKFAST GIVES NEW MEANING TO REST IN PEACE.

I DID HEAR SOME VOICES IN THE NIGHT.

>> LIZZIE BORDEN WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY A SUSPECT BUT THERE WERE DETAILS OF HER STORY THAT DID NOT ADD UP.

HER ALIBI WAS THIN.

THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF A BREAK OR ROBBERY.

LIZZIE WAS LATER OBSERVED BURNING A BLUE DRESS SHE CLAIMED WITH -- WAS STAINED WITH PAINT.

>> IT MAKES NO SENSE, IT DOESN'T FIT, IF IT DOESN'T FIT, YOU MUST ACQUIT.

>> 100 YEARS BEFORE O.J.

SIMPSON AND THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS.

>> YOU'RE A NORMAL KID WHO KILLED YOUR PARENTS.

>> THE LIZZIE BORDEN CASE WAS THE ORIGINAL TRIAL OF THE CENTURY.

THE TRIAL TOOK PLACE IN THIS COURTHOUSE ALMOST A FULL YEAR AFTER THE CRIME.

THIS WAS A BRUTAL MURDER IN VICTORIAN NEW ENGLAND.

THE SUSPECT WAS A WOMAN.

YOU COULD IMAGINE THE ATTENTION IT TRUE.

IN THE ABSENCE OF MODERN FORENSICS AND WITH PLENTY OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THERE'S NO QUESTION FOR WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN KNOWN AS FANGED NEWS -- FAKE NEWS.

THE JURY DELIBERATED FOR OVER AN HOUR BEFORE RENDERING A VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.

MICHELLE: IN THE COURT OF LAW SHE WAS ACQUITTED AND IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION, MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT SHE WAS GUILTY.

♪ >> LIZZIE AND HER SISTER INHERITED EVERYTHING.

THEY MOVED TO THIS MANSION IN A FANCIER NEIGHBORHOOD.

MAPLECROFT IS ALSO FOR SALE, FULLY FURNISHED.

>> THIS IS SAID TO BE THE ORIGINAL WALLPAPER LIZZIE PICKED OUT.

APPARENTLY SHE LIKED THE COLOR BLUE.

>> HERE SHE LIVED OUT THE REST OF HER DAYS.

HOW MUCH DID SHE END UP INHERITING?

>> THE ESTIMATE WAS ABOUT $500,000.

>> THAT WOULD BE WORTH WHAT TODAY?

>> YOU CAN MULTIPLY THAT BY ABOUT SIX.

>> YOU COULD PICTURE HER LIVING COMFORTABLY HERE.

ALSO AWKWARDLY CLOSE TO THE MURDER SCENE.

>> NO ONE EVER LET LIZZIE FORGET.

>> CHILDREN WOULD COME TO TAUNT HER.

>> CHILDREN WOULD COME IN THE YARD.

THEY WOULD SING THAT SONG.

LIZZIE BORDEN TOOK AN AXE.

>> IT WAS SUNG TO THE TUNE.

LIZZIE BORDEN TOOK AN AXE, GAVE HER MOTHER 40 WHACKS.

WHEN SHE WAS THERE THE END OF HER LIFE SOMEONE SAID WHY DID YOU NEVER LEAVE PAUL'S RIVER -- FALLS RIVER?

SHE FELT THAT IF SHE HAD LEFT THE CITY IT WOULD BE LIKE AN ADMISSION OF GUILT.

THIS WAS HER HOME.

>> WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE ULTIMATE IRONY.

>> LIZZIE LEFT A NOTE IN HER ROOM, I WISH TO BE BURIED AT MY FATHER'S FEET.

>> SHE WILL SPEND ETERNITY RIGHT BESIDE THE TWO PEOPLE SHE'S ACCUSED OF MURDERING.

>> THERE SHE IS.

>> THIS IS DAD.

THIS IS LIZZIE BORDEN.

THE CASKET GOES OUT THIS WAY.

>> MORE THAN A CENTURY LATER, THAT ELEMENT OF UNSOLVED MYSTERY IS WHAT MAKES LIZZIE BORDEN FALLS RIVERS BIGGEST ATTRACTION.

>> IN 2019 WE HAD OVER 18,000 PEOPLE THROUGH THIS HOUSE.

THAT COULD BE PEOPLE ON THE TOUR OR SPENDING THE NIGHT.

18,000 PEOPLE THROUGH THE STORE.

>> FOLKS LIKE LISA SMITH AND HER FAMILY WHO CAME ALL THE WAY FROM KNOXVILLE.

>> WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE?

>> IT'S ON MY BUCKET LIST BECAUSE I DID A PAPER IN COLLEGE ON.

>> DO YOU THINK THE JURY DID THE RIGHT THING?

>> I WOULD VOTE THAT SHE DID IT.

FROM WHAT I HEAR, SHE KEPT CHANGING THE STORY.

>> I COULD MAKE A CASE EITHER WAY.

>> OUR EXPERT IS INCLINED TO AGREE.

IT IS JUST NOT PLAUSIBLE THAT SOME RANDOM STRANGER COMMITTED THIS CRIME.

>> IF THIS WAS A HOMICIDAL MANIAC JUST OFF ON A SPREE, WHY WOULD HE LEAVE HER SITTING IN THE KITCHEN HAVING COOKIES AND COFFEE?

>> THE SIMPLEST EXPLANATION IS GENERALLY THE TRUTH.

>> MURDER IS GENERALLY A PRETTY SIMPLE THING.

IT IS PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT COMPLICATED.

AGATHA CHRISTIE SAID WHO HAD THE MOTIVE, THE WEAPON, THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> OUR THANKS TO DAVID WRIGHT FOR THAT REPORT.

TONIGHT WE TURN TO THE INFAMOUS SALEM WITCH TRIALS.

THE TRIALS BEGAN IN THE SPRING OF 1692 AFTER A GROUP OF YOUNG GIRLS SAID TO BE POSSESSED BY THE DEVIL ACCUSED SEVERAL LOCAL WOMEN OF WITCHCRAFT.

A DOCUMENTARY WHICH WILL AIR RIGHT HERE ON RHODE ISLAND PBS ON A TOVAR 28TH EXPLORES ALL THINGS -- OCTOBER 28 EXPLORES ALL THINGS.

WE HEAR ABOUT A TIME WHEN SUPERSTITION TURNED DEADLY.

>> 1692, BRUTAL WINTER IS FOLLOWED BY AN EPIDEMIC.

SMALLPOX RAVAGES PILGRIMS AND PURITANS ALIKE.

THE STAGE IS NOW SET FOR A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES.

THIS EVENT PROVIDED PROOF THAT WHICH IS ALIGNED WITH SATAN SET OUT TO DESTROY THE CHURCH AND ITS PLACE FROM THE KINGDOM AND THE DEVIL.

THE WITCHCRAFT AND RESULTING LEGAL ACTION IS NOT NEW TO NEW ENGLAND.

PREVIOUSLY, SOME 70 CASES HAVE BEEN TRIED IN MASSACHUSETTS.

IN CONNECTICUT, 18 ACCUSED WERE CONVICTED.

A PRESIDENT IS SET -- PRECEDENT IS SET.

WITH THE EPIDEMIC IN FULL FORCE, THE VILLAGES SAY IT TAKES CURATIVE ACTION.

HISTORY WILL NOT FORGET.

ACCUSATIONS BASED SOLELY ON IMAGINATION HOLD SWAY.

CREATING A WHITE TOP FORGE OF HATE.

CONCLUDING IN 19 EXECUTIONS.

INCREDIBLY, THEY HAD A NEIGHBORING VILLAGE A FEW MILES AWAY.

A LOCAL WARLOCK WHOSE POWERS PROTECT THE FISHING CREEK.

HE IS GRANTED A LICENSE.

SALEM WAS NOT ALONE IN MAGICAL PRACTICE.

IT IS COMMON THROUGHOUT THE LAND.

MAGIC IS EVERYWHERE.

>> YOU COULD SEE THE FULL DOCUMENTARY ON RHODE ISLAND PBS ON OCTOBER 28.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST FOR THIS EVENING.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

PAMELA: WE WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

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