106: The Cursed Town of Cairo, IL

Common Mystics

On this episode of Common Mystics Jen and Jill delve into a chilling murder and the horrific actions of an enraged mob in a Mississippi River town in 1909.* When Anna Pelley, a young white woman, was brutally murdered in Cairo, Illinois, bloodhounds quickly led investigators to William James, a black man. This sparked riots in Cairo and nearby communities as angry mobs sought to capture and punish James for the crime. Despite the sheriff's determined efforts to safeguard his prisoner, the overwhelming force of the mob proved too great. Ultimately, James was lynched without a fair trial, and his body was desecrated. Many believe this horrific act heralded a curse upon the town of Cairo. Support Common Mystics on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/commonmystics for exclusive bonus content, including episode Detours, monthly discussions on mystical subjects, and regular Zoom calls with the sisters and the wonderful Tier 4 Mentorship group.

*This episode contains descriptions of violent acts. Listener discretion is advised.