Press photo about modern witch Irene Ray, Rochester, Indiana, 1938

Description:	This Central Press Association photo of a woman has a press release on the back stating that Irene Ray, age 60, was driven out of Rochester for being a witch with the powers of hexing.Contemporary newspaper articles state that in 1932 or 1933 Irene (Tedrow) Ray (1876-1938), her husband, ex-husband, and daughter moved to Rochester. She told people that she descended from a Miami Indian with special powers. Eight families, who likely disapproved of her lifestyle and the condition of her home, claimed that she cast spells with stares from her dark, beady eyes and hexes with vinegar and cat hair that caused heart attacks and gardens to turn to rock. In the spring of 1938, officials told the family to leave because people were afraid of her powers. The state attorney ruled that Indiana had no statute covering sorcery and she returned (or remained?) to the community. On November 4, 1938 she was instantly killed by a car as she and her husband walked along SR 14 near their house east of Rochester.
Origin:	1938-05-12
Source:	http://indianaalbum.pastperfectonline.com/photo/836FB4E4-8C72-416A-A585-803109538518
Collection:	Indiana Album
Rights:	http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/
Geography:	Rochester, Fulton County, Indiana, United States
Subjects:	Joan Hostetler Collection Witchcraft Witches Fur coats Rochester (Ind.) Fulton County (Ind.)

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