The Voodoo Murder of Pennsylvania II, the Crime and Trial
On Wednesday, November 27th, 1928, the night of the full moon and eve before Thanksgiving, Clayton drove the trio to Rehmeyer's Hollow. The three walked to Rehmeyer's house.
They demanded that he give them the book. He threw his wallet at them. Then, the three attacked Rehmeyer. Blymire wrapped a length of rope around Rehmeyer's neck. The trio fought savagely with the old man, then Curry got a block of wood and hit Rehmeyer in the head. The old man was kicked in the head and the stomach and his face was battered. Blymire said he groaned, took a few breaths, then died.
They ransacked the house and found, according to Wilbert, $.97. According to DA Herrmann, later, it was $2.80. The trio decided they had to get rid of the evidence that would tie them into the murder. Curry thought setting fire to the house would achieve this. They lit matches and dropped them in the house to set the fire. The house was smoldering when they left.
The house did not burn as they thought it would. A neighbor, Oscar Glatfelter, passing by Rehmeyer's house on November 30th, heard his mule braying. When the man checked on the animal, he saw it had not been fed. Glatfelter knocked on the door and there was no answer, but the door was unlocked. After the neighbor entered the house, he saw the Rehmeyer's corpse lying on the floor.
It did not take the police long to arrest Blymire, Curry and Wilbert for the murder of Rehmeyer. All three confessed and Blymire said he was at peace now that he had killed the witch. He was glad the witch was dead. The newswire services informed the public that a practicing witch had been killed in York County, Pennsylvania. This was the beginning of the publicity that was to attract Clarence Darrow's attention.
Although Curry was only 14, the age of reason, in Pennsylvania, at the time was 7, so he was tried as an adult. Although Darrow was outraged, he offered no legal assistance to Curry.
The trials began on January 9th, 1929. Judge Sherwood presided. DA Amos W. Herrmann represented the commonwealth. Public defenders Walter W. VanBaman represented Curry and Herbert B. Cohen, Blymire. The Hess family could afford to hire Harvey A. Gross, the best criminal defense attorney in the area.
Judge Sherwood decreed that all mention of hexes and witchcraft in the confessions be
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