Alex Sanders and the fith-fath, Norton Mockridge's column, The News (Paterson), 24 February 1970

The News (Paterson, New Jersey), Tuesday 24 February 1970, page 18. A short item in Norton Mockridge's syndicated column, prompted by June Johns's King of the Witches. Asked whether he is a wicked witch, Sanders says 'Absolutely not. I believe in doing good', and explains that a fith-fath, a doll of wax or plasticine with its lips sewn and limbs bound, is used to silence someone, not harm them: 'We do not wish the mother-in-law harm; we just want her to keep her mouth shut!' The same item ran four days later in The Tribune of Scranton, Pennsylvania, also in the archive. How to cite: Norton Mockridge, column item, The News (Paterson, NJ), 24 February 1970, p. 18. Alexandrian Witchcraft Timeline & Archive.

[From Norton Mockridge’s column] Alex Sanders, who is supposed to be the most powerful hereditary witch in Europe, is written about in a book by June Johns called “King of the Witches,” and she tells how he rules over some 4,000 British witches. Sanders was asked by some people who've read the book whether he is a wicked witch, and he said: “Absolutely not. I believe in doing good.” “But,” persisted one of his questioners, “don't you use a fith-fath - a sort of charmed doll - to harm your enemies.” “Oh, I use a fith-fath,” said Sanders, “but not to harm anyone. It’s simply a means of silencing or restraining someone. Suppose you want to restrain a meddlesome mother-in-law. Well, you simply fashion a doll in wax or plasticine. “You then sew its lips together, or fasten them with a pin, and you bind its limbs together. Then you have a high priestess breathe life into it as the rest of us recite the correct incantations. We do not wish the mother-in-law harm; we just want her to keep her mouth shut!” Dolls, anyone?