Vanessa Richardson

It was a sort of preemptive strike, and it preyed on her customers' paranoia and gullibility. If anyone ever did question her, Mary had an answer ready. She told skeptics that much of her power and the knowledge she had came from a mysterious woman known only as Mrs. Moore.

It was a sort of preemptive strike, and it preyed on her customers' paranoia and gullibility. If anyone ever did question her, Mary had an answer ready. She told skeptics that much of her power and the knowledge she had came from a mysterious woman known only as Mrs. Moore.

According to Mary, Mrs. Moore was the seventh child of a seventh child who possessed the gift of second sight, or divine intuition. She was the one advising Mary from the shadows. She saw all. She knew all. She... didn't exist. Most ate up the lie, believing that Mary's source was as powerful as she claimed.

According to Mary, Mrs. Moore was the seventh child of a seventh child who possessed the gift of second sight, or divine intuition. She was the one advising Mary from the shadows. She saw all. She knew all. She... didn't exist. Most ate up the lie, believing that Mary's source was as powerful as she claimed.

Eventually, young maids whispered to their mistresses and friends, spreading the word about Mary's services once again, now with an added element of mystery. In short, Mrs. Moore was Mary's masterstroke. She manipulated her clients, playing them for fools, watching as they danced to her tune. And as she pulled in more and more believers, it occurred to Mary just how powerful she was becoming.

Eventually, young maids whispered to their mistresses and friends, spreading the word about Mary's services once again, now with an added element of mystery. In short, Mrs. Moore was Mary's masterstroke. She manipulated her clients, playing them for fools, watching as they danced to her tune. And as she pulled in more and more believers, it occurred to Mary just how powerful she was becoming.

She could make people do anything she wanted. And who was there to stop her? No one. After returning to Leeds with her family in 1799, 31-year-old Mary Bateman began practicing witchcraft again, or so she claimed. Just like she had when she worked as a seamstress, Mary found that people were easy to dupe with the well-told lie.

She could make people do anything she wanted. And who was there to stop her? No one. After returning to Leeds with her family in 1799, 31-year-old Mary Bateman began practicing witchcraft again, or so she claimed. Just like she had when she worked as a seamstress, Mary found that people were easy to dupe with the well-told lie.

When fearful customers came to her for advice, she eagerly answered, citing the mysterious and fictitious Mrs. Moore as her source. and some fell helplessly under Mary's spell, with disastrous consequences. Around 1800, a woman by the name of Mrs. Greenwood came to Mary with grave marital concerns. She told Mary she'd been worried for her husband's safety since he'd left for a trip.

When fearful customers came to her for advice, she eagerly answered, citing the mysterious and fictitious Mrs. Moore as her source. and some fell helplessly under Mary's spell, with disastrous consequences. Around 1800, a woman by the name of Mrs. Greenwood came to Mary with grave marital concerns. She told Mary she'd been worried for her husband's safety since he'd left for a trip.

Playing on Mrs. Greenwood's fears, Mary announced that Mr. Greenwood had in fact been imprisoned during his travels. According to Mary, his only hope was Mrs. Moore. Only she could secure his release. And her help, well, it didn't come cheap.

Playing on Mrs. Greenwood's fears, Mary announced that Mr. Greenwood had in fact been imprisoned during his travels. According to Mary, his only hope was Mrs. Moore. Only she could secure his release. And her help, well, it didn't come cheap.

In order for Mrs. Moore to properly screw down the jail guards, Mary requested four pieces of leather, four pieces of blotting paper, four brass screws and four pieces of gold. It's likely that Mary only cared about the gold, but she had to convince Mrs. Greenwood there was a recipe that would save her spouse.

In order for Mrs. Moore to properly screw down the jail guards, Mary requested four pieces of leather, four pieces of blotting paper, four brass screws and four pieces of gold. It's likely that Mary only cared about the gold, but she had to convince Mrs. Greenwood there was a recipe that would save her spouse.

But providing a specific recipe for success likely instilled in her victim a temporary sense of power over her fate as well. Dr. Ellen J. Langer termed this very phenomenon the illusion of control. Published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Langer's research explains how people are able to expect a higher likelihood of a positive outcome than logic would allow.

But providing a specific recipe for success likely instilled in her victim a temporary sense of power over her fate as well. Dr. Ellen J. Langer termed this very phenomenon the illusion of control. Published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Langer's research explains how people are able to expect a higher likelihood of a positive outcome than logic would allow.

In other words, during situations where the outcome is unknown, illusions of control grant people a greater sense that they have influence over what happens to them. Though Mrs. Greenwood couldn't personally control what happened to her husband, she could fulfill Mary's request, thinking it might help him. So with her instructions clear, Mrs. Greenwood leapt into action.

In other words, during situations where the outcome is unknown, illusions of control grant people a greater sense that they have influence over what happens to them. Though Mrs. Greenwood couldn't personally control what happened to her husband, she could fulfill Mary's request, thinking it might help him. So with her instructions clear, Mrs. Greenwood leapt into action.

But she wasn't fast enough, and Mary was eager for her payday. So she announced that Mrs. Greenwood would take her own life if she didn't save her husband. Now terrified for her own life as well as her husband's, Mrs. Greenwood secured most of the ingredients for Mary's spell, but she couldn't get her hands on the gold. That's when Mary encouraged her to simply steal it.

But she wasn't fast enough, and Mary was eager for her payday. So she announced that Mrs. Greenwood would take her own life if she didn't save her husband. Now terrified for her own life as well as her husband's, Mrs. Greenwood secured most of the ingredients for Mary's spell, but she couldn't get her hands on the gold. That's when Mary encouraged her to simply steal it.