The Watseka Wonder - Part 2

Astonishing Legends

Scott Philbrook

History, Society & Culture

4.6 • 9.8K Ratings

🗓️ 11 September 2021

⏱️ 201 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Now that we've covered the story essentials of the strange case of Mary Lurancy Vennum, known as "The Watseka Wonder," it's time to take a look at the possible causes and mechanics of this apparent miracle. Suppose Lurancy's possession was merely the imaginative prank of an attention-seeking impressionable teenager. How then did she know intimate, inscrutable details of her possessor Mary Roff and that of her family, when Mary had died over ten years before she was born and the Roff family were vague acquaintances? It's perhaps possible that this naive fourteen-year-old had mastered the manipulation techniques employed by experienced Mentalists and charlatan psychic mediums to fool desperate parents, but how likely is that? In Part Two of our series, we consider the investigation of a noted psychical researcher at the time, Dr. Richard Hodgson, who interviewed witnesses and studied case notes about thirteen years after the significant events in light of contemporary hypotheses. In a historical line between 1877 and 1908, we then look at the analysis of a psychology journalist, H. Addington Bruce, through the lens of his evolved understanding of that field 30 years later. In the greater context surrounding this case are the history of psychical research and a brief overview of some of the prominent figures involved in the Spiritist movement. We then round out the series with a more modern-day interpretation and our own conclusions. Even saddled with an antiquated title like The Watseka Wonder and recognizing the significant advancements in the field of abnormal psychology, this case remains wonderous indeed.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	So, will it be skiing?
0:03.0	Or Christmas markets on a city break?
0:06.0	Skiing? Or a city break?
0:09.0	Some problems are good problems to have.
0:12.0	Especially with flights this winter from 29.99 one-way
0:17.0	and Package Holidays from £159 per person.
0:21.0	Get the King at EasyJet.com.
0:24.0	Selected dates, Holidays at all protected based on two adults for three nights,
0:28.0	restrictions and season C's apply.
0:30.0	Estonishing Legends is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
0:35.0	Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding the medical condition.
0:40.0	Never disregard professional medical advice or delay and seek in it because of something you have heard on this podcast.
0:50.0	Estonishing Legends would like to thank Purple, Squarespace, Upstart, Mint Mobile, Bespoke Post,
0:56.0	and Wondrium, our contributors at patreon.com and you, our listeners, for making tonight's show possible.
1:02.0	Last week, we brought you the bizarre legend of Mary Lawrence, a young woman seemingly possessed by the spirit of Mary Roth,
1:11.0	who had passed away 12 years prior.
1:14.0	Although the two girls lived in the same town, on their age difference alone, we know that they never crossed paths.
1:21.0	The parents knew who each other were, but beyond that, the families were strangers to one another.
1:27.0	Ransy was so overtaken by the spirit of Mary Roth that when Roth was occupying her body, Ransy could not recognize her own family.
1:36.0	Theoretically, because Mary Roth hadn't known the venom family at all when she was alive.
1:41.0	On top of that, Ransy was quick to interact with people that would have been familiar to Mary Roth,
1:47.0	although she could sometimes be confused by their age or the fact that maybe they were now married,
	...

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