On this episode of Common Mystics, we uncover the untold story of a woman whose enigmatic life and startling demise remain cloaked in secrecy.* It was in September 1894, in Providence, RI, that Mrs. Emily Chambers, after resigning from her position as a live-in maid, adorned herself in her finest clothes, hired a carriage with a substantial amount of money, and vanished without a trace. Her body was later discovered in a secluded wooded area miles away in North Scituate. As detectives embarked on a quest to find her murderer, they eventually apprehended a suspect. But the question remains: Was justice truly served? Support Common Mystics on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/commonmystics and sign up for exclusive bonus content like the Detours from each episode.

* This episode includes discussion of violent acts and may not be suitable for sensitive audiences. Listener discretion is recommended.

On this episode of Common Mystics Jen and Jill delve into the enigmatic circumstances surrounding the death of a Puritan woman in 1673. Rebecca Cornell tragically perished in a fire at her Portsmouth home, a death authorities initially deemed an accident. However, the narrative took a chilling turn days later when her brother reported a ghostly visitation from Rebecca, seemingly seeking vengeance for her murder. The alleged perpetrator? Her own son, Thomas Cornell, Jr. This accusation led to Thomas’ murder trial, establishing a perilous precedent for future legal proceedings in New England, notably influencing the Salem Witch Trials. Support Common Mystics on Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/commonmystics and sign up for exclusive bonus content like the Detours from each episode.

On this episode of Common Mystics, Jen and Jill explore the mysterious murder of Benjamin J. Burton, once Rhode Island’s most affluent Black businessman. A self-made man, Burton began his career loading cargo at the docks of Newport, RI, eventually founding an express company and establishing the city’s first mass transit system. Admired and respected, his tragic death from gunshot wounds on October 6, 1885, sent shockwaves through Newport society. Initially ruled a suicide by the coroner, community outcry prompted a reexamination, leading to the uncovering of a sinister truth.