More Drama in Salem Psychic Wars
Just when you thought things had calmed down, another police report is filed in the ongoing Salem psychic wars. To briefly recap, two camps of Witches, Pagans, and psychic practitioners in the “Witch City” of Salem, Mass had been in opposition on the issue of licensing psychics. One camp wanted tight regulations that benefited long-time residents and shop-owners, while the other preferred looser restrictions that would allow for non-residents to work at “psychic fairs” (eventually a compromise measure was passed by the city). While this debate was going on in the city, two metaphysical shops had mutilated animal parts left at their doors. Several months later, the perpetrators of this malicious magical intimidation were caught and arrested.
“A woman claiming to be a Salem witch and her housemate have been charged with mutilating a dead raccoon and leaving the remains on the doorsteps of two psychic businesses. Self-proclaimed high-priestess Sharon Graham, 46, and her roommate, Fredrick Purtz, 22, both of Salem, were arrested Monday in connection with the May 27 incident. They both pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning in Salem District Court on littering and malicious destruction of property charges.”
Now the witness who came forward to give information on the two suspects has had his house ransacked.
Richard Watson
“The lead witness in Salem’s raccoon mutilation case returned home yesterday afternoon to find his apartment ransacked, with valuables – including his crystal balls – gone. Salem police are investigating the break-in at the home of Richard Watson and said yesterday they didn’t know if it was linked to the allegations against Watson’s former roommate, Sharon Graham, and an associate, Frederick Purtz … “Of course, it raises your eyebrows because it’s coincidental with the main suspect being released,” he said. “But as far as her being connected right now, I can’t answer that because the incident’s too fresh.” Watson said he doesn’t know who broke into his apartment at 100 Bridge St. “I feel that it is in retaliation, though, of me coming forward,” he said.”
Coincidence? Or revenge for going to the police? If evidence can be found linking the break-in and theft to Sharon Graham or Fredrick Purtz, the charges are going to be a lot more serious than littering. Watson has already claimed that Graham threatened him to keep quiet, and had an order of protection taken out against her. Certainly any friends of Graham who may have been motivated to retaliate aren’t doing her a favor by attacking this witness. At this point we’ll have to see if things escalate from here, or if Salem will finally see a respite from the infighting that has developed.
2 responses so far
On behalf of the Pagans of Massachusetts, I would like to apologize to the Wiccans and Pagans of the world for the embarrassment which is Salem. For the record: some of who share a state with the town do not share a state of mind with some of the more visible of our co-religionists…
Yes, there are certainly plenty of fine, admirable Pagans and Witches who visit, live in, and hail from the town of Salem, Massachusetts. And yes, there are some very nice (and a few moderately or even seriously embarrassing) museums, shops, and public Pagan events in and around Salem. I don’t want to be misunderstood as dissing all things Salem.
But, REALLY. As Doreen Valiente once observed, there are three kinds of Witches in the world: good Witches, bad Witches, and publicity Witches. And the poor behavior of the Publicity Witches of Salem, Massachusetts, so long a cause for mortification to the rest of us, is more than ever a cause for cringing.
Again, on behalf of the not-flamboyantly self-absorbed Pagans of Massachusetts… world Pagans, you have my sincerest, most heart-felt and red-faced apology.
Sigh!
You know–it is crap like this that made me leave the Pagan community behind a few years ago. Between Oberon Zell-Ravenheart’s fictitious “Grey Council of Wizards and Witches” which has existed for all eternity as a means to bilk money out of kids who love Harry Potter, the blatant selfish narcissistic behavior of local Pagans and Wiccans, and the weird case of the Minerwens–I was done.
And just a few days ago, I was thinking that it wasn’t that bad, I had overreacted–and then I read about these bozos in the newspaper.
And I said, “Thank you, Universe for showing me the error of my ways.”