In the Day of Trouble
On March 17, 1934, Susan Mummey, “Old Suze,” was shot to death in her home. The so-called Witch of Ringtown Valley, Pennsylvania, was killed by a shotgun blast that propelled a pumpkin ball into her chest and through her heart, a form of ammunition normally used to kill deer or bear or to drive away evil. Author Magruder tells the stories of her death, and her life, the detective who investigated the incident, and the perpetrator who feared for most of his life that the Lithuanian evil spirit Baubas was coming to get him.
In the Day of Trouble is meticulously researched, using news reports and legal documents to describe Suze’s long-standing legal battles over ownership of the house where she was born and her expertise in powwow—folk magic, incantations, curses and cures. Police records show how detective Louis Buono evaluated the scene of the crime, identified likely suspects who harbored grudges or feuds, and followed a chance lead—a blue Ford sedan parked near the murder house—to track down the killer. Court and other records reveal the tortured dreams, hallucinations, and unanswered requests for exorcism by killer Albert Shinsky.
This work is narrative nonfiction that employs elements of fiction, such as invented dialogues that add flesh and nuance. It relies predominantly, however, on factual details. These details embed readers in the lives of the people and the places where events occurred. But they also sometimes interfere with a dramatic storyline, slowing the pace of the narrative, dampening tension, and in the process diluting the power of individual stories. The result by apparently first-time author Magruder is impressive, nonetheless.
