Vanessa Richardson

It was only once she told her husband all about the scheme that they realized Mary had raided their luggage. They were outraged and confronted her, but Mary had no interest in righting her wrongs. Instead, she sought to get her latest victims out of her hair for good. She went to the town magistrate and told them her brother was a deserter.

It was only once she told her husband all about the scheme that they realized Mary had raided their luggage. They were outraged and confronted her, but Mary had no interest in righting her wrongs. Instead, she sought to get her latest victims out of her hair for good. She went to the town magistrate and told them her brother was a deserter.

She did so, likely knowing full well that his crime could be punishable by death. Luckily for him, it seems he didn't face the noose. Even then, Mary wasn't done exploiting her brother. She wrote to their mother, claiming he'd been jailed and she'd need 10 pounds to get him out. Her mother obliged, and Mary pocketed the cash. And after that, she went right back to planning her next scheme.

She did so, likely knowing full well that his crime could be punishable by death. Luckily for him, it seems he didn't face the noose. Even then, Mary wasn't done exploiting her brother. She wrote to their mother, claiming he'd been jailed and she'd need 10 pounds to get him out. Her mother obliged, and Mary pocketed the cash. And after that, she went right back to planning her next scheme.

Thinking back to her older tactics, Mary decided that for her next con, she would bring back her imaginary advisor, Miss Blythe. She just had to find a willing target. It was the spring of 1806 when 38-year-old Mary met the Perigos. For some reason, Rebecca, wife to William, suspected that someone had cast an evil charm upon her. She heard about Mary's skills as a witch and reached out to ask her.

Thinking back to her older tactics, Mary decided that for her next con, she would bring back her imaginary advisor, Miss Blythe. She just had to find a willing target. It was the spring of 1806 when 38-year-old Mary met the Perigos. For some reason, Rebecca, wife to William, suspected that someone had cast an evil charm upon her. She heard about Mary's skills as a witch and reached out to ask her.

Of course, Mary was all too eager to help the distressed woman. As a first order of business, Mary requested one of Rebecca's belongings, namely a garment worn next to the skin. Mary assured her this would help break the curse. So William delivered one of his wife's petticoats to the witch. According to Mary, Ms. Blythe would perform magic on the clothing and prescribe other remedies for Rebecca.

Of course, Mary was all too eager to help the distressed woman. As a first order of business, Mary requested one of Rebecca's belongings, namely a garment worn next to the skin. Mary assured her this would help break the curse. So William delivered one of his wife's petticoats to the witch. According to Mary, Ms. Blythe would perform magic on the clothing and prescribe other remedies for Rebecca.

Sure enough, a few days later, Mary produced a letter from Ms. Blythe with special instructions. The document said that Mary was to place four guineas into the corners of Rebecca's bed, where they should be left for 18 months. There was also one other condition. The Perigos were to tell no one about the magical assistance they were receiving.

Sure enough, a few days later, Mary produced a letter from Ms. Blythe with special instructions. The document said that Mary was to place four guineas into the corners of Rebecca's bed, where they should be left for 18 months. There was also one other condition. The Perigos were to tell no one about the magical assistance they were receiving.

Though it was an odd request, Rebecca was desperate to relieve herself of the dark charm. She gladly gave Mary the guinea notes to complete the ritual. Per the letter, Mary had sewn each guinea into a silk bag first. Once the job was done, Mary went on her way. Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of her business with the Perigos.

Though it was an odd request, Rebecca was desperate to relieve herself of the dark charm. She gladly gave Mary the guinea notes to complete the ritual. Per the letter, Mary had sewn each guinea into a silk bag first. Once the job was done, Mary went on her way. Unfortunately, that wasn't the end of her business with the Perigos.

She soon brought them another letter from Miss Blythe, claiming that more items were needed in order to reverse the evil spell that had been cast on her. Rebecca told her husband to fulfill any request Mary made. Over the next year, Mary requested a large variety of goods from William Perigo, insisting that having them was the only way he could save his wife.

She soon brought them another letter from Miss Blythe, claiming that more items were needed in order to reverse the evil spell that had been cast on her. Rebecca told her husband to fulfill any request Mary made. Over the next year, Mary requested a large variety of goods from William Perigo, insisting that having them was the only way he could save his wife.

They included various food items, silk clothing, linens, spirits, and even a bed frame. It's not clear what the Perigos believed Miss Blythe would do with the things they gave to her, but it seems they never questioned her requests. And the items were keeping Mary well-fed. She had found her golden goose.

They included various food items, silk clothing, linens, spirits, and even a bed frame. It's not clear what the Perigos believed Miss Blythe would do with the things they gave to her, but it seems they never questioned her requests. And the items were keeping Mary well-fed. She had found her golden goose.

To ensure that the details of the arrangement didn't make their way to nosy neighbors who might have better judgment than her victims, Mary always insisted that the letters from Miss Blythe must be burned. The Perigos were being taken for all they were worth, and there was no paper trail to prove it. But like every con Mary committed, enough was never enough.

To ensure that the details of the arrangement didn't make their way to nosy neighbors who might have better judgment than her victims, Mary always insisted that the letters from Miss Blythe must be burned. The Perigos were being taken for all they were worth, and there was no paper trail to prove it. But like every con Mary committed, enough was never enough.

It's possible she felt she was running out of ways to convince Rebecca she could remove her evil charm. To extort more money from the family, she decided to up the ante. So in April of 1807, one year after the Perigos first came to Mary seeking magical guidance, the scammer hatched her darkest scheme yet. She was about to inflict a world of suffering the poor Perigos couldn't foresee.

It's possible she felt she was running out of ways to convince Rebecca she could remove her evil charm. To extort more money from the family, she decided to up the ante. So in April of 1807, one year after the Perigos first came to Mary seeking magical guidance, the scammer hatched her darkest scheme yet. She was about to inflict a world of suffering the poor Perigos couldn't foresee.