Scammed By Spirits: The Case of Hermameyer v. Burchill

Our case begins on the rocky landscape of post-World War 1 America. The year is 1919, a time of societal and economic recovery. Soldiers returned from war ready to build a new life for themselves: find a career, start a family, etc… But to do so, they needed that cold hard cash.

Oil was (and still is) a hot commodity, and striking it meant instant riches. In this world of change and rebuilding, everyone wanted a piece of that black gold. Enter Mr. Hermameyer, a man with dreams of wealth in his eyes, and apparently, a low concept of risk.

A Spirited Offer

Hermameyer was approached by one Mrs. Burchill, who brought him a story that could only be described as out of this world. Mrs. Burchill claimed that her property was sitting on a fortune of oil, and she wasn’t just guessing. No, she had a divine confirmation. Mrs. Burchill was a firm believer in the paranormal and frequently met with a medium that connected with spirits from beyond the grave. During one of her visits, a ghostly figure had news for Mrs. Burchill: oil was waiting to be tapped beneath her land. All she needed was an investor, and Mr. Hermameyer was more than willing to take the plunge.

The issue, however, was that Hermameyer didn’t just toss a few dollars into this ethereal investment. He handed over $10,000—a whopping $185,907 today. You may be thinking, “Why would anyone invest their entire life savings on the advice of a ghost?” Because, according to him, he wasn’t in his “right mind” when he made this decision.

But, as you may have guessed, no oil gushed forth from Mrs. Burchill’s land. Disappointed and quite a bit lighter in the wallet, Hermameyer did what anyone would do when they’ve felt scammed by a supernatural investment— he sued Burchill to get his money back.

Hermameyer’s argument was that his mind had been clouded by irrational beliefs, and thus, the investment wasn’t valid. It wasn’t his fault; who wouldn’t trust a ghost with insider oil knowledge? He claimed that because of this mental state, the money should be returned.

Where things get even more intriguing—the court didn’t completely dismiss the supernatural element of the lawsuit. Instead of immediately denying the case for the ludicrosity of it all, they left the door slightly ajar. The court noted that while it might be possible for spirits to communicate with the living, this was not the sort of “evidence” that would hold up in court. In other words, they couldn’t rule out the existence of ghostly financial advisors, but they weren’t going to rewrite the legal system to accommodate them either.

A Grave Consequence

The court ultimately ruled against Hermameyer, stating that while his belief in ghosts may have been sincere, it was his choice to act on that belief. In the eyes of the law, this wasn’t fraud—it was just a risky investment from a very unconventional source. The verdict? If you’re willing to bet on the other side, you better be ready to deal with grave consequences. Hermameyer left the courtroom without his $10,000 or his ghostly fortune.

To this day, the case of Burchill v. Hermameyer remains one of the most bizarre intersections of law and the paranormal. It’s a reminder that when it comes to investments, you might want to stick with a financial advisor that’s a little more…human. Believing in the supernatural can be fun—especially in spooky stories—but when it comes to your finances, maybe leave the ghosts out of it.

Next Time on Trial and Terror

We’ve all heard tales of the outstanding, death-defying, and bizarre things that others have done for fame. But channeling the spirit of a dead writer and using his talent to make a name for yourself in the literary world? That’s a strategy not many would think of— except, of course, for the man that did it. Tune in next Friday for our upcoming Trial and Terror case: the Dead Man’s Writer.

 

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