In the 1850s a New Orleans businessman named J.B. Langrast publicly accused a local hairdresser and reputed "voodoo queen" named Marie Laveau of everything from robbery to murder. Shortly after, gris—gris (a voodoo term referring to fetishes or charms) began appearing on his doorstep in the form of roosters' heads, Langrast became progressively upset and finally fled New Orleans.

In the opinion of Raymond J. Martinez, Langrast was driven insane by the magical properties of the gris—gris and hexes placed on him by Laveau, whom he credits with telepathy in his book Mysterious Marie Laveau. Marie Laveau could only have flourished as she did, Martinez suggests, with the help of powerful voodoo spirits who held her in special favor.

Journalist Joe Nickell also researched the life of Marie Laveau and concluded that such deeds were explainable by...