♪ >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> THOSE POSSESSED WITH READING LOVECRAFT HAVE TO COME TO GRIPS ITH SOMETHING MORE N HIS IMAGININGS, THE AUTHOR HAD A CHILLING MONSTER INSIDE.

BIGOTRY IT WAS NO SECRET IN HIS WRITINGS.

>> HIS LITERARY WORK IS OFTEN INFUSED WITH HIS OWN PARANOIA AS AND XENOPHOBIA AND RACISM.

>> EVEN -- SUGGEST A WHOLE LOT OF HATRED, IT IS NOT COMFORTING US NIGHT FALLS IN THE EVENING GLUTEN -- GLOOM SETS AND.

-- IN.

>> I AM SLEEPY TONIGHT WHAT USED TO BE LIZZIE BORDEN'S BEDROOM.

>> WE NEED TO LEARN FROM HISTORY COME IT IS REPEATING RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUND, THEY FOLLOW THE SAME ENERGY AND PATTERN OF THE WITCHHUNTS BACK IN THE 1600S.

[CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY CARDI'S FURNITURE AND MATTRESSES] >> GOOD EVENING WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY I AM PAMELA.

IN THE SEASON OF HALLOWEEN THE SPIRIT OF RHODE ISLAND AUTHOR H.P.

LOVECRAFT STILL LINGERS.

FOR SOME THE MEMORY OF THIS LITERARY ICON WRITINGS IS BOTH PAINFUL AND FILLED IT WITH DISDAIN.

AS WE FIRST REPORTED BACK IN OCTOBER, -- LAST OCTOBER, HE HAD A DARKER PERSONAL SIDE.

>> HE HAS HIS FAMOUS QUOTE, THE OLDEST AND STRONGEST EMOTION IN MANKIND IS BE A.

THE ULTIMATE -- IS FAEAR.

THE ULTIMATE FEAR IS THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN.

>>'S SUPERNATURAL TALES PUBLISHED IN PULP MAGAZINES OF THE 1920'S EARNED THE AUTHOR THE TITLE, FATHER OF COSMIC HORROR, A POTION OF WEIRD THE DIRECTOR, SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY.

>> IS A LARGE REASON WHY I ENDED UP GOING INTO THE ACADEMIC FIELD IN BIOLOGY.

STUDYING MARINE ORGANISMS, EVERY BIT AS STRANGE AS A STUCKEY DESCRIBES.

>> MARINE BIOLOGY PROFESSOR DR. NEIL HOBBS IS KEEPING THE AUTHOR'S LEGACY ALIVE INSIDE THE HISTORIC BUILDING DOWNTOWN.

HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NONPROFIT LOVECRAFT ARTS AND -- PARTS BOOKSTORE AND CURIOSITY SHOP.

THIS IS HEADQUARTERS FOR LOVECRAFT FANS WORLDWIDE.

>> EVERY DAY WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY, GENERALLY AROUND THE WORLD, WHO OFTEN READ IN THEIR OWN LEG WHICH, IN CHINESE, PORTUGUESE, GERMAN, ITALIAN, RED LOVECRAFT AND MEALY FOUND THE LOVE PEOPLE -- IMMEDIATELY FOUND THE SAME LOVE PEOPLE IN THE U.S. DID.

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

THE AUTHOR HAD A CHILLING MONSTER INSIDE, BIGOTRY, DOES IS NO SECRET IN HIS WRITINGS.

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

PAMELA: THE AUTHOR NOT WELL KNOWN IN HIS OWN LIFETIME IS REINCARNATED AS A MAJOR INFLUENCER TODAY.

SOCIAL MEDIA HAS INSPIRED TV SHOWS LIKE STRANGER THINGS AND LOVECRAFT COUNTRY.

>> A NUMBER OF ARTIST, STEPHEN KING RIGHT FICTION AND CLEARLY CREDITS LOVECRAFT IS THE FIRST MAJOR INFLUENCE.

ROLE-PLAYING GAMES, TABLETOP ROLE-PLAYING GAMES, MORE RECENTLY TO GAMES.

-- VIDEO GAMES.

MANY ARE DIRECTLY DRAWN FROM LOVECRAFT'S FICTION.

>> WHAT IS IT YOU DESIRE?

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

>> THERE IS THIS SENSE OF HOPELESSNESS AND HELPLESSNESS.

UNLIKE SO MANY OTHER STORIES WHERE IT IS A MATTER, THERE IS A MURDER IN THE HOUSE FOR A SLASHER FILM FOR SOME LIKE THAT WHERE THERE IS AN IDENTIFIABLE HUMAN VILLAIN.

IN LOVECRAFT FISSION -- FICTION THE VILLAIN IS THE CALLOUSNESS OF THE COSMOS.

>> WHILE HE WROTE ABOUT THE COSMOS, LOVECRAFT'S OWN LIFE IS DEEPLY ROOTED IN THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE.

HOWARD PHILLIPS LOVECRAFT IS BORN THERE IN 1890, AN ONLY CHILD, HIS GRANDFATHER'S LIBRARY BECAME HIS -- GREAT COMPANION.

>> HE HAD KIND OF A ROUGH CHILDHOOD, BOTH OF HIS PARENTS HAD ISSUES WITH MENTAL ILLNESS.

IT ALMOST CERTAINLY, HE PROBABLY BORE SOME OF THAT.

LIVING VERY POOR, I THINK HE FELT TO SOME EXTENT ON THE FRINGES OF EXACT SOCIETY.

-- OF SOCIETY.

PAMELA: HE DROPPED OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND FOUND HIS PASSION AND PROSE, STARTING OFF AS A GHOSTWRITER FOR THE FAMED MAGICIAN HARRY HOUDINI.

>> THE MOST FAMOUS CHARACTER CONJURED UP AS A CITY OF PROVIDENCE ITS OUTCOME THE EAST SIDE IS EIGHT IS EM OF LOVECRAFT ON THE HOMES HE LIVED IN THE PLACES HE DESCRIBED IN DEVILISH DETAIL.

THE FLEUR-DE-LIS BUILDING IS WHERE THE FAMOUS MONSTER CTHULHU WAS BORN, THIS HOME ON BENEFIT STREET WAS THE SETTING FOR THE STORY THE SHUNNED HOUSE.

ON THE SAME STREET THIS HOUSE IS WHERE EDGAR ALLAN POE SPENT TIME YEARS BEFORE LOVECRAFT.

POE WAS COURTING AND BRIEFLY ENGAGED TO THE PROVIDENCE POET SARAH WHITMAN.

>> THEY WALK THE SAME PATHS, THEY VISITED THE SAME LIBRARIES.

>> THE LIVES INTERSECT HERE AT THE LIBRARY, SPECIAL COLLECTIONS CURATOR HEATHER COLE SAYS RARE ARTIFACTS INCLUDE A LOCK UPON'S -- POE'S HAIR AND ONE OF THE ONLY KNOWN PHOTOGRAPHS OF POE.

THERE ARE ALSO THOUSANDS OF LOVECRAFT'S LETTERS, SKETCHES, HANDWRITTEN MENU SCRUBS IN THE COLLECTION.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE VISIT THE LIBRARY FROM LITERALLY ALL OVER THE WORLD.

AUSTRALIA, JAPAN, EUROPE, SOUTH AMERICA, ALMOST ON A WEEKLY BASIS.

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

>> YOU CANNOT TAKE THEM APART, YOU CANNOT JOIN -- ENJOY THE STORY AND NOT CONTENT WITH THE RACISM.

MY STUDENTS INTRODUCED ME TO THE TERM PROBLEMATIC FAVE.

THERE IS SOMETHING WITHIN THEIR WORK YOU CAN STILL ENJOY AS LONG AS YOU ARE ACKNOWLEDGING THE PROBLEMATIC NATURE OF THE WORK.

PAMELA: THE PROBLEMATIC NATURE OF THE AUTHOR'S WORK HAS COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM, HAS CAUSED A NIGHTMARE FOR THE LOVECRAFT ARTS AND SCIENCES COUNSEL THAT RAISE THE FUNDS TO COMMISSION THIS STATUE.

>> ONE OF THE REASONS FOR MAKE ART IN THE FIRST PLACE, I LIKE TO CREATE A PRESENCE.

I WANT YOU, EVEN IF YOU ARE IN A DARK ROOM TO FEEL THAT SOMEONE IS THERE.

PAMELA: THIS LIFE-SIZE PRESENCE, A 600 POUND BRONZE WAS SCULPTED BY A LOCAL ARTIST.

THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE APPROVED ITS PLACEMENT DOWNTOWN, THE LOVECRAFT ARTS AND SCIENCES COUNSEL SCRAPPED ITS UNVEILING UNTIL THE COMPEX CONTROVERSIAL FIGURE COULD FIND A HOME ELSEWHERE.

>> CURRENTLY HE IS A HOUSEGUEST.

THIS IS A NICE SAFE PLACE FOR HIM TO STAY UNTIL HE FINDS A PERMANENT HOME ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.

WE'RE GONNA HAVE 2 PLAQUES FOR THE STATUE.

ONE DISCUSSING HIS CONTRIBUTION TO ARTS, MEDIA, THE WORLD, THE OTHER DISCUSSING HIS HISTORIC FOOTPRINT AND IMPACT INCLUDING HIS RACISM.

>> IT DOES NOT BELONG IN A PUBLIC SPACE.

YOU ARE BEING HONORED WHEN YOU ARE PUT, PARTICULARLY ON GOVERNMENT PROPERTY.

HE DESERVES NO HONOR IN ANYONE'S LIFETIME.

YOU CANNOT OUTRUN HIS LEVEL OF HOMOPHOBIA AND RACISM AND SEXISM.

[LAUGHTER] JUST UNBELIEVABLE BELIEF PATTERNS.

PAMELA: PROVIDENCE OF CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATES RAY, LECTURES TO VOTERS OF LOVECRAFT ON THE FLAWS OF THE AUTHOR, HE HAS READ ALL LIMBS OF LOVECRAFT -- VOLUMES OF LOVECRAFT LEVERS.

>> HE HATES WOMEN, ITALIAN AMERICANS, PEOPLE FROM INDIA, AFRICAN AMERICANS, NEXT GUNS, HAVE I -- MEXICANS, HAVE I GOT EVERYONE?

>> IN HIS LETTERS HE LIBERALLY USES THE N-WORD, HE DESCRIBES JEWISH PEOPLE AS HOOK NOSED AND SWARTHY AND CAUSE -- CALLS CHINATOWN A MESS OF FLESH.

THREE YEARS AGO RICKMAN WAS INVITED TO SPEAK AT THE BIANNUAL LOVECRAFT CONVENTION CALLED FOR NAMIGATA -- NECRONOMBICON.

>> I WAS NERVOUS, I SENT A LOT OF TIME WRITING THAT SPEECH, I THOUGHT THEY WOULD THROW EXAM HE, IT WAS THE OPPOSITE THEY GAVE ME A STANDING OVATION.

THEY WERE SO GLAD SOMEONE SET THE RECORDS STRAIGHT.

I LIVE ACROSS THE STREET FROM LOVECRAFT'S HOUSE.

THE TOURISTS COME TO SEE THE HOUSE, WHEN I SEE THEM, I GIVE THEM A TIRADE.

PAMELA: HE SAYS READERS KNOW THEY MUST LOOK AT AUTHORS FROM WILLIAM FAULKNER TO DR. SCHUSTER DIFFERENT LENSES -- SEUSS ON DIFFERENT LENSES, HE GIVES A COPY FOR FANS THAT COME TO TOWN.

PAMELA: WHAT IS WITH SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW WHEN WE LOOK AT THE STORY OF THIS MAN?

>> I THINK APPRECIATE THE LITERATURE IF YOU WANT.

DESPISE ALL OF HIS POLITICAL BELIEFS.

I DO NOT THINK HE HAD -- AND THEY WERE DEFINED -- AND I DO NOT THINK HE HAD A SINGLE POLITICAL BELIEF THAT YOU WOULD SAY THAT IS GOOD.

THEN YOU CAN READ THE LITERATURE.

IF YOU START HAVING TROUBLE, WITHOUT A JUST SET GO READ THE LETTERS.

PAMELA: THAT IS A LEGACY LOVECRAFT HAS TAKEN TO THE GRAVE AT SWAN POINT CEMETERY.

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

PAMELA: NOW WE TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT ONE OF THE MOST NOTORIOUS MURDERS IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

THE VICTIMS, AND ABBY BORDEN WERE FOUND HACKED TO DEATH IN THEIR HOME OVER THE BORDER.

THE SUSPICION FELL TO THE DAUGHTER, LIZZIE BORDEN.

IT IS A POPULAR BED-AND-BREAKFAST WERE CONTRIBUTING WRITING -- RIDER DAVID WRIGHT SPENT THE NIGHT AS HE TRIED TO UNLOCK THIS ENDURING MYSTERY.

DAVID: SEVEN BEDROOM 3.5 BATH VICTORIAN, LOADED WITH STREET -- HISTORY?

>> IT IS AN UNUSUAL PIECE OF REAL ESTATE IS VERY MUCH A NICHE.

DAVID: THE MOST FAMOUS HOUSE, ASKING PRICE $2 MILLION, THEY ARE THE LISTING AGENT.

DAVID: IS IT HARD TO SELL A CRIME SCENE?

>> IT IS INTERESTING TO SELL A CRIME SCENE, EVERYONE KNOWS LIZZIE BORDEN.

YOU WILL NOT KNOW UNTIL YOU TAKE THE TOUR, I WOULD SAY IT IS WELL-KNOWN.

IT IS FAIRLY EASY TO SELL IT, WE PUT ON THE MARKET ON A MONDAY AND WE HAVE FOUR OFFERS ON FRIDAY.

DAVID: EVEN AT 2 MILLION.

>> YES.

DAVID: THAT IS BECAUSE THE LIZZIE BORDEN HOUSE HAS A UNIQUE DRAWING MAY BE THE ONLY BED-AND-BREAKFAST IN NEW ENGLAND THAT IS ALSO A CRIME SCENE.

DAVID: DO PEOPLE GET A DISCOUNT FOR STAYING IN THE MURDER ROOM FOR DO THEY PAY EXTRA -- OR DO THEY PAY EXTRA?

>> IS THE MOST REQUESTED ROOM.

DAVID: IS IT HAUNTED?

>> YOU CAN BE THE JUDGE OF THAT.

DAVID: WE SPENT THE NIGHT AT THE LIZZIE BORDEN B&B ALONG WITH THE AMATEUR HISTORIAN.

>> THIS IS THE DOOR SHE CAME THROUGH -- DAVID: SHE PUBLISHED A NUMBER OF LIZZIE BORDEN BOOKS, RUNS A POPULAR WEBSITE, FOR 20 YEARS SHE WAS A TOUR GUIDE HERE SHE IS NO SHRINKING VIOLET.

>> AND CONTACT, PROBABLY FIRST OR SECOND STROKE YOU WORK ON.

-- GONE.

DAVID: 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 HAD LAID DOWN FOR A NAP JUST 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, I DISCOVERED FATHER.

THIS CLEARLY HAD JUST HAPPENED, THE BLOOD WAS FLOWING AND IT WAS BRIGHT RED AND SHE WAS ALONE.

MY REACTION WOULD BE TO RUN TO THE FRONT DOOR, OPEN IT, SCREAM LOU MURDER.

DAVID: AND NEVER COME BACK TO THE HOUSE.

>> SHE DID NOT, MOST PEOPLE WANT TO GET OUT.

DAVID: ONLY AFTER POLICE AND NEIGHBORS ARRIVED WAS A SECOND BODY DISCOVERED, ABBY BORDEN, THE STEPMOTHER FOUND UPSTAIRS.

>> AS FAR AS WE CAN DETERMINE THERE IS ONE WAY IN AND OUT OF THIS ROOM, BUT SHE SAW HER ASSAILANT PRESSURE.

DAVID: KILLED HOURS EARLYER WHILE MAKING THE BED.

>> THE ASSAILANT, KILLER MAY HAVE STRUGGLED THE BODY, GRABBED THE HEAD BY THE HAIR AND WAILED AWAY AT THAT.

THE MAJORITY OF THE BLOWS ARE WHEN SHE IS ON THE FLOOR.

DAVID: HOW MAY TIMES WHAT SHE STRUCK?

>> 19.

DAVID: NOT 40, BUT PLENTY.

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

>> GAVE HER MOTHER 40 WACKS.

>> IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT SHE GOT ABOUT US TWICE AS MANY WACKS AS MR. BORDEN, 11 WAS THE FINAL VERDICT ON HIM AND 19 FOR HER.

THIS WAS A DOUBLE EMMY.

-- WAMMY.

DAVID: EVEN 19 SUGGEST A WHOLE LOT OF HATRED, THAT IS NOT COMFORTING AS NIGHT FALLS AND THE EVENING BLOOM SETS AND.

-- IN.

>> I AM SITTING TONIGHT WHAT USED TO BE LIZZIE BORDEN'S BEDROOM, ABBY, WHERE THE STEPMOTHER WAS KILLED IS A FEW FEET THAT WAY.

ANDREW WAS KILLED JUST DOWNSTAIRS.

I LEARNED, WHAT IS APPARENTLY AN OLD SAYING TODAY, WHICH I FIRMLY BELIEVE NOW.

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN GHOSTS, BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN I AM NOT SCARED OF THEM.

SWEET DREAMS.

DAVID: THIS B&B GIVES NEW MEANING TO RIP, REST IN PEACE.

>> I DID HEAR SOME VOICES IN THE NIGHT.

I AM PRETTY SURE WAS JUST THE OTHER GUESTS.

DAVID: LIZZIE BORDEN WAS NOT IMMEDIATELY A SUSPECT, THERE WERE DETAILS OF.

.

HER STORY THAT NOT ADD UP HER ALIBI WAS THIN.

THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF A BREAK IN FOR ROBBERY, LIZZIE WAS LATER OBSERVED BURNING A BLUE DRESSED THAT SHE CLAIMED WAS STAINED WITH PAINT.

>> AND MAKES NO SENSE, IT DOES NOT FIT, IF IT DOES NOT FIT YOU MUST ACQUIT.

DAVID: 100 YEARS BEFORE O.J.

SIMPSON'S, 100 YEARS BEFORE THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS.

>> I AM A NORMAL KID.

>> ERIC, YOU ARE A NORMAL KID WHO KILLED YOUR PARENTS.

>> I KNOW.

DAVID: THE LIZZIE BORDEN CASE WAS THE ORIGINAL TRIAL THE CENTURY.

THE TRIAL TOOK PLACE IN THIS NEW BEDFORD COURTHOUSE ALMOST A FULL YEAR AFTER THE CRIME, THIS WAS A BRUTAL MURDER IN VICTORIAN NEW ENGLAND AND THE SUSPECT WAS A WOMAN.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THE ATTENTION IT DREW FROM THE NEWS MEDIA.

IT WAS HUGE.

IN THE ABSENCE OF MODERN FORENSICS, AND WITH PLENTY OF UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THERE IS NO SHORTAGE OF QUESTIONS OF WHAT TODAY MIGHT BE REFERRED TO AS FATE -- TAKE NEWS.

-- FAKE NEWS.

IT WAS A SENSATIONAL TRIAL AND THE JURY DELIVERED -- DELIBERATED JUST OVER AN HOUR BEFORE RENDERING A VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.

>> IN THE COURT OF LAW SHE WAS ACQUITTED.

IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION IN THE CITY MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT SHE WAS GUILTY.

DAVID: LIZZIE AND HER SISTER INHERITED EVERYTHING, THEY MOVED TO THIS MANSION, IN A FANCIER NEIGHBORHOOD.

MAPLECROFT IS ALSO FOR SALE, FULLY FURNISHED.

>> THIS IS THE ORIGINAL WALLPAPER, OR SAID TO BE THAT LIZZIE HAD PICKED OUT.

APPARENTLY SHE LIKED THE COLOR BLUE.

DAVID: LIZZIE BORDEN HERE LIVED OUT THE REST OF HER DAYS, AND WHAT SEEMS LIKE THE ULTIMATE IRONY.

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

DAVID: LIZZIE BORDEN WILL SPEND AN ATTORNEY RIGHT BESIDE THE TWO PEOPLE SHE IS ACCUSED OF ORDERING.

>> -- MURDERING.

>> THERE SHE IS AT HER FATHER'S FEET.

THIS IS LIZZIE, THIS WOULD BE HER HEAD HERE, AND THE CASKET GOES OUT THIS WAY.

SHE IS INDEED HER FATHER'S FEET.

DAVID: MORE THAN A CENTURY LATER THAT ELEMENT OF UNSOLVED MYSTERIES WHAT MAKES LIZZIE BORDEN FALL RIVER'S BIGGEST TOURIST ATTRITION -- ATTRACTION BARN ON.

>> AND BETWEEN 19 WE HAD OVER 18,000 PEOPLE WALK THROUGH THIS HOUSE, COULD BE PEOPLE ON A TOUR FOR PEOPLE THAT WERE SPENDING A NIGHT.

DAVID: 18,000.

>> FROM ALL OF THE WORLD.

DAVID: FOLKS LIKE LUCAS -- LISA SMITH AND HER FAMILY CAME FROM KNOXVILLE.

>> IS ON MY BUCKET LIST, I DID A PAPER IN COLLEGE ON LIZZIE BORDEN.

I LEARNED A LOT MORE TODAY THAT DID MY PAPER.

DAVID: DID YOU THINK THE JURY DID THE RIGHT THING?

HOW WOULD YOU VOTE?

>> I WOULD VOTE SHE DID IT COME FROM WHAT I HEAR SHE KEPT STATE -- CHANGING THE STORY FREE TIMES.

>> I COULD MAKE THE CASE EITHER WAY.

DAVID: THE EXPERT IS INCLINED TO AGREE, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE SOME RANDOM STRANGER COMMITTED THIS CRIME.

>> WHY WASN'T LIZZIE ORDERED?

IF THIS IS A HOMICIDAL MANIAC OFTEN A SPREE WHY WOULD HE THE FIRST SITTING IN THE KITCHEN, HAVING COOKIES AND COFFEE AND WALK RIGHT BY HER?

DAVID: THEY TALK ABOUT OCCAM'S RAZOR, IN THIS CASE IT IS THE HATCHET, THE SIMPLER NEXT -- EXCAVATION IS -- >> IS PEOPLE THAT MAKE IT COMPLICATED.

IT IS AGATHA CHRISTIE WHO SAID WHO HAD THE MOTIVE, MET -- WEAPON, OPPORTUNITY?

DAVID: SHE HAD ALL THREE.

>> SHE HAD ALL THREE.

PAMELA: FINALLY TONIGHT WHILE PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS OF THE LATE 17 CENTURY WERE 19 NEW ENGLANDERS WERE EXITED TO COME IF YOU KNEW THE JUST AREA STARTED 45 YEARS EARLIER IN CONNECTICUT IN THE CONTINUING MIGHT TAKE SERIOUS, HISTORIAN AND AUTHOR BETH CARUSO GIVES HER TAKE ON THE ALLEGED WITCHES AND THE FAMILIES WORKING TO EXONERATE LOVE ONES CENTURIES LATER.

>> CONNECTICUT WAS THE FIRST COLONY TO HAVE WHICH EXECUTIONS, HOWEVER MANY PEOPLE IN CONNECTICUT DO NOT KNOW ABOUT THEM.

MY NAME IS BETH CARUSO AND THIS IS MY TAKE ON WITCHES.

IN NEW ENGLAND THERE WERE MOSTLY -- THEY WERE MOSTLY WOMEN WHO WERE TARGETED AS WITCHES.

BACK IN THOSE DAYS THE WOMEN, THESE ALLEGED WITCHES, MANY WERE HEALERS.

MANY WERE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE UP FOR THEMSELVES.

WHO DID NOT TAKE FLAK.

WHO DID NOT IT INTO THE PURITAN BOX OF WHAT IT WAS TO BE A GOOD WOMAN.

IT ALSO HAD TO DO WITH WOMEN'S ROLES WITH FERTILITY.

THOSE WOMEN WHO DID NOT HAVE AS MANY CHILDREN WERE VIEWED WITH SUSPICION.

THAT THEY WOULD BE JEALOUS OF THE OTHER WOMEN.

THERE WERE MEN WHO WERE SOMETIMES ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT AS WELL.

THEY WERE OFTEN ASSOCIATED WITH WOMEN.

IT WAS LARGELY DUE TO MISOGYNY OF THE TIME, OR IT WAS DUE TO SOME TYPE OF COMMUNITY PANIC.

AN EPIDEMIC, ANIMALS DYING, AND THE COMMUNITY DID NOT UNDERSTAND IT.

THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO BLAME.

THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MASSACHUSETTS AND CONNECTICUT.

THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS ARE WELL DOCUMENTED AND WELL STUDIED.

ARTHUR MILLER, IN HIS PLAY THE CRUCIBLE, REALLY BROUGHT ATTENTION TO THE SALEM TRIALS.

THERE HAS BEEN NO SUCH PLAY FOR ANY TYPE OF MOVIE LIKE THAT IN CONNECTICUT.

THE HISTORY OF THOSE TRIALS HAS NOT BEEN AS WELL KNOWN AMONG THE POPULACE ITSELF.

IT HAS NOT BEEN TAUGHT IN SCHOOLS AS MUCH.

BETH: IN CONNECTICUT THERE WAS A TOTAL OF 35 PEOPLE INDICTED FOR WITCHCRAFT.

13 CONVICTIONS.

11 PEOPLE ACTUALLY HANG.

NINE WOMEN AND TWO MEN.

ALICE YOUNG IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE SHE IS THE VERY FIRST PERSON TO DIE FROM WITCHCRAFT CRIMES IN NEW ENGLAND.

ACTUALLY IN ALL OF THE COLONIES.

IT HAPPENED DURING A TIME OF THE INFLUENZA EPIDEMIC.

DURING THAT EPIDEMIC JUST SO HAPPENED THAT THERE WERE 4 CHILDREN LIVING NEXT DOOR TO ALICE YOUNG WHO DIED THAT YEAR.

WHILE ALICE YOUNG'S ONLY DAUGHTER LIVED.

ONCE THAT EXECUTION HAPPENED, THE WITCH ASKED USE -- ACCUSATIONS FLEW UP AND DOWN THE CONNECTICUT RIVER VALLEY.

CONNECTICUT, THE FIRST SEVEN PEOPLE ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT WERE ALSO INDICTED AND LATER HANGED.

7 FOR 7 IT WAS PRETTY BRUTAL.

WE NEED TO LEARN FROM OUR HISTORY, UNFORTUNATELY JUST REPEATING RIGHT NOW.

THERE ARE CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUND, PIZZA GATE, QANON, THAT TALK ABOUT CERTAIN TARGETED GROUPS DRINKING THE BLOOD OF CHILDREN.

SATANIC CONNECTIONS, THEY ARE LIES, THEY ARE UNTRUE, THEY FOLLOW THE SAME ENERGY, THE SAME PATTERN OF THE WITCHHUNTS BACK IN THE SITTING HUNDREDS.

-- BACK IN THE 1600S.

THE CONNECTICUT WITCH TRIAL EXONERATION PROJECT IS PROOF OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO FIGHT THE UNJUST REPUTATIONS OF THE PEOPLE WHO WORK ALLEGED WITCHES -- WHO WERE ALLEGED WITCHES.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE ARE DESCENDANTS OF PEOPLE WHO DIED OF WITCHCRAFT CRIMES.

THEIR ANCESTORS HAVE HAD TO DEAL WITH THE STIGMA FOR MANY DECADES, MANY CENTURIES.

THEY WANT THE HISTORICAL RECORD CORRECTED THROUGH EXONERATION IN CONNECTICUT.

IN THE COURSE OF WRITING MY BOOK, I FOUND OUT MY HUSBAND IS ACTUALLY RELATED TO LYDIA GILBERT, THE SECOND WITCH TRIAL VICTIM.

FOR MY SONS AND FOR MY HUSBAND, IT IS IN -- IMPORTANT FOR ME THAT HER STORY GETS OUT.

THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND SHE WAS NOT A WITCH.

BETH CARUSO MY NAME ISBETH CARUSO -- MY NAME IS BETH CARUSO AND THAT IS MY TAKE ON WITCHES.

PAMELA: THANKS TO BETH CARUSO AND THE CONNECTICUT WITCH TRIAL EXONERATION PROJECT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES.

OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

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