Hi, it's Shannon Ballard. I want to say thanks to my new patrons who are helping make this episode of Southern Mysteries possible. in Ohio, Blair from Savannah, Georgia, and Donna, Gail, and Taylor, listening from a mysterious location.

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you've missed so far. French author Charles Perot published Blue Beard, a tale of a wealthy man who had a habit of murdering his

wives and his present wife's attempt to avoid the fate of women who would come

before her.

The story goes that his Bluebeard leaves home.

He hands his wife the keys to all the doors in his castle,

but forbids her to open one of them. Curiosity drives her to that locked door where she

discovers the bodies of his former wives. When Bluebeard returns, he knows what she's done and threatens to cut off her head.

The wife is saved by her brothers, just as Bluebeard is about to strike the final blow.

This folk tale inspired future generations to refer to people who murder their spouse

as blue beard killers. Killers like West Virginia's Harry Powers. By the time

...