Vanessa Richardson

She used a vinegar solution to etch the words, Christ is coming, onto an egg that her hen had laid. Then she ran it to the first person she could find, eager to show off a supposedly miraculous inscription. It was a neat parlor trick, but one that drew an outsized reaction. Upon seeing the egg, people grew hysterical.

She used a vinegar solution to etch the words, Christ is coming, onto an egg that her hen had laid. Then she ran it to the first person she could find, eager to show off a supposedly miraculous inscription. It was a neat parlor trick, but one that drew an outsized reaction. Upon seeing the egg, people grew hysterical.

As word spread of the message from God, Mary decided she'd make a spectacle of her magic hen. She hosted daily viewings around town, promising visitors that for just a penny, they too could be saved when Christ returned. The swindle worked like a charm for a while, but Mary certainly had her skeptics. Several people questioned why Christ was spelled C-R-I-S-T without an H.

As word spread of the message from God, Mary decided she'd make a spectacle of her magic hen. She hosted daily viewings around town, promising visitors that for just a penny, they too could be saved when Christ returned. The swindle worked like a charm for a while, but Mary certainly had her skeptics. Several people questioned why Christ was spelled C-R-I-S-T without an H.

Mary might have been more educated than some women of the time, but the simple spelling error was a big mistake to make. But what really shattered public illusion was when one man set out to prove Mary was a fraud. He spied on her early in the morning, watching until the magic hen laid its egg.

Mary might have been more educated than some women of the time, but the simple spelling error was a big mistake to make. But what really shattered public illusion was when one man set out to prove Mary was a fraud. He spied on her early in the morning, watching until the magic hen laid its egg.

Then he watched as Mary picked up the clean egg, added the message, and then forced the thing back into the bird. He was disgusted, but not surprised. He promptly exposed the scam to the public, who scorned Mary for her trickery. While they were relieved to learn that the second coming wasn't as near as they thought, they hated Mary for deceiving them.

Then he watched as Mary picked up the clean egg, added the message, and then forced the thing back into the bird. He was disgusted, but not surprised. He promptly exposed the scam to the public, who scorned Mary for her trickery. While they were relieved to learn that the second coming wasn't as near as they thought, they hated Mary for deceiving them.

Following her exposure, Mary sold the hen for a meager profit, no doubt still insisting that it was divine. But of course, the hen never laid another doomsday egg again. Having disgraced her family's name once again, Mary moved with her husband and children to a different area of the city. But even a new neighborhood wouldn't be enough for a completely fresh start.

Following her exposure, Mary sold the hen for a meager profit, no doubt still insisting that it was divine. But of course, the hen never laid another doomsday egg again. Having disgraced her family's name once again, Mary moved with her husband and children to a different area of the city. But even a new neighborhood wouldn't be enough for a completely fresh start.

For a while, it was important that Mary keep a low profile. Public skepticism from her prophetic hen scheme made it harder for her to get away with her regular soothsaying plots. But that didn't mean she couldn't target other victims. Sometime after the hen incident, Mary's brother deserted the Royal Navy and rushed to the Bateman residence with his wife. His departure was a significant crime.

For a while, it was important that Mary keep a low profile. Public skepticism from her prophetic hen scheme made it harder for her to get away with her regular soothsaying plots. But that didn't mean she couldn't target other victims. Sometime after the hen incident, Mary's brother deserted the Royal Navy and rushed to the Bateman residence with his wife. His departure was a significant crime.

In fact, if caught, he could face the death penalty. So he was happy to have somewhere to stay while he decided on his next move. Mary didn't care about her brother's legal woes, however. She was more concerned with how she could profit off him. So she got to plotting. One day, Mary pulled a repeat of a trick she'd used on her husband about a decade prior.

In fact, if caught, he could face the death penalty. So he was happy to have somewhere to stay while he decided on his next move. Mary didn't care about her brother's legal woes, however. She was more concerned with how she could profit off him. So she got to plotting. One day, Mary pulled a repeat of a trick she'd used on her husband about a decade prior.

She told her sister-in-law that she'd received word that the woman's father was on his deathbed. Of course, this was a complete lie, but Mary feigned sorrow before rushing her brother's wife out of the house. Alone with her brother, Mary was able to carry out the next part of her con. She told him that his wife had been disloyal to him and was spending his money recklessly.

She told her sister-in-law that she'd received word that the woman's father was on his deathbed. Of course, this was a complete lie, but Mary feigned sorrow before rushing her brother's wife out of the house. Alone with her brother, Mary was able to carry out the next part of her con. She told him that his wife had been disloyal to him and was spending his money recklessly.

Shoving a pen and paper into his hands, she urged him to write to his wife, explaining that their marriage was finished. So he did. Then, as he set out to send the letter, Mary zeroed in on what had motivated her from the start, the couple's traveling trunks. She pulled out anything of value and likely pawned it off. As far as plans go, it wasn't foolproof.

Shoving a pen and paper into his hands, she urged him to write to his wife, explaining that their marriage was finished. So he did. Then, as he set out to send the letter, Mary zeroed in on what had motivated her from the start, the couple's traveling trunks. She pulled out anything of value and likely pawned it off. As far as plans go, it wasn't foolproof.

Mary's brother was sure to ask questions when he saw the ransacked trunks. As for her sister-in-law, well, Mary suspected that woman would be gone for good once she received the letter. Unfortunately for Mary, that wasn't the case. The besmirched wife returned to the Bateman house, now fully aware that Mary had tricked them both.

Mary's brother was sure to ask questions when he saw the ransacked trunks. As for her sister-in-law, well, Mary suspected that woman would be gone for good once she received the letter. Unfortunately for Mary, that wasn't the case. The besmirched wife returned to the Bateman house, now fully aware that Mary had tricked them both.