Haunted Electric Chair: Ted Bundy

Theodore Robert “Ted” Bundy was one of the most notorious murderers in United States history. In fact, the term “serial killer” was first coined to describe his crimes. 

Bundy murdered and raped scores of young women across the United States between 1974 and 1978.

It is not known exactly how many murders Bundy committed but before he was executed he confessed to more than 30. 

Most believe Bundy was a sociopath who most likely killed his first victim when he was just 15 years old. 

Bundy was well-educated, the people who knew him described him as being very likable and charming.

He was able to hide his true nature, for the crimes he committed were very brutal.  

Typically he raped and murdered or murdered then raped (necrophilia) his victims. He killed his young female victims--young woman and girls-- by bludgeoning them or sometimes by strangulation.

FBI Ten Most
Wanted

After a prison escape and a nationwide manhunt Bundy was finally tried and then executed in the electric chair in January of 1989 for his crimes.

In April of 2001, a guard who was retired from the Florida State prison in Raiford, Florida, where Ted Bundy was executed, told a Tampa newspaper the following very disturbing and chilling story, under the condition they not publish his name. *

This guard told a reporter that after Bundy was put to death that he and several other prison guards saw Ted Bundy as they entered the room where the electric chair is located. 

He stated that Ted Bundy was just sitting in the electric chair casually—that he was not strapped in. The guard described how Bundy would smile a “very knowing smile” as a greeting when they entered the room.

This guard told the reporter that when he or his fellow guards tried to speak to Bundy he would vanish. 

He also stated that at one point there were so many sightings of Bundy in this room that prison officials couldn’t find any guards willing to enter the room.

Bundy has also been seen by guards near the holding cell, where he was kept for the last few hours of his life. 

All the guards that reported seeing him here stated that Bundy spoke to them. He said the same thing to each of them, “Well, I beat all of you didn’t I?”

The reporter was told that because so many guards saw Bundy and reported it, that the warden and his staff pulled each of them aside individually and warned them they were not to talk about what they had seen, or they would be fired. 

Several guards didn’t stay around long enough to hear the warden’s warning because after seeing Bundy more than once, they quit.

* I find this story very morbid but fascinating--so I place it here. Since the one witness willing to talk has remained anonymous it leaves the reader with a question as to whether anyone actually saw Ted Bundy as reported.

Update: Just this week, May 22, 2013 inmates at the Florida State Prison, now known as Union Correctional Institution have reported sightings of Ted Bundy's ghost.

Here is a 2-minute recording of Art Bell on Coast to Coast talking about Bundy's ghost.

Edisto Island: Buried Alive

The South has many dark tales of hauntings. For years it has been stated the following tale is true. 

In the mid 19^th century Edisto Island located an hour south of Charleston, South Carolina was dotted with cotton plantations. It was said this island produced the best cotton in the South.

Unfortunately, the island also was a breeding ground for what at the time was one of the most feared diseases in America, Diphtheria. This disease was particularly deadly because most of its victims were children. 

Edisto Island is mostly wetlands and its dense, hot, muggy weather in combination with stagnant water helped spread this disease.

One wealthy cotton planter and his family, a wife, daughter, and son lived near the northern coast on the island. There was a breeze in this area, but his daughter one summer became ill. 

The slaves that cared for her panicked for her symptoms, a sore throat, and a high fever meant one thing to them-Diphtheria.

Over the next several days the father watched, helplessly as his daughter’s condition worsened. 

Diphtheria is an insidious disease that causes a person’s throat to swell—known as bull neck—it literally kills its victims by strangulation. Feeling helpless, the planter watched his daughter slowly die from suffocation.

On the island when a person died, it was imperative they were buried right away for the heat sped up the decomposition of the body. 

An important note in this story is the family waited several days for a close family relative to arrive before placing the daughter’s body in the family crypt. 

The stench from bodies during this period was so unbearable that people took “nosegays” with them to funerals, not to honor the deceased but instead to help them bear the smell.

Because of the delay, the father could not find anyone to help with his daughter's body, so he carried her body himself to the family crypt. 

The family was so grief-stricken they did not take note of the fact that the young girl’s body appeared as fresh as it was while she was alive. The planter placed her on a slab within the crypt and shut and locked the door.  

Ten years passed and the son, now a young man, went off with his regiment to fight in the Civil War. His parents were very proud, but tragically like so many other soldiers, he was sent back to them in a pine box. 

The family once again gathered at the crypt to say farewell to their son. But as they opened the crypt door, another nightmare awaited them.

To their horror the family found the bones of their daughter on the floor near the door. The bones of her fingers were shattered and frayed. The father discovered deep scratch marks on the door. 

Finally, remembering the state of his daughter’s body as he placed her on the slab, he now understood she was still alive, but he had sealed her fate when he locked the crypt door.

It appeared she had woken out of an apparent coma and crawled across the floor in the dark tomb attracted by the only light—which passed through the door’s keyhole. She had dug small holes in the door in her attempts to get out. 

People came forward and mentioned they had heard screams the day after the girl was placed in the crypt, but since they seemed a far way off, they ignored them.

Even today the crypt
has no door. 

This story doesn’t end here for several days after the family placed the son’s coffin in the crypt, the door, which had once more been locked, was discovered open ajar. Not thinking anything about it the family re-locked it. 

But the door was found standing open a few days later. This time the family sealed the door tightly. Within a few days, the door was wide open again. 

A friend of the family was enlisted to help seal and lock the door permanently; afterward, he assured the family that the door would now remain closed.

But the family was told a week later that the door was off its hinges and lying on the ground. At this point, the family had the door embedded into the floor of the crypt and then they had the remains of their family members buried.

This crypt is still near the woods behind the Edisto Presbyterian Church, which was established in the 1830s. Recent witnesses state that the scratch marks are still on the embedded door.

Willard Library: The Grey Lady

Willard Library located in Evansville, Indiana is the oldest library in the state—as of this month it has been a continuous running library for 127 years. 

Willard Carpenter founded the library in 1885. The portrait of Willard’s daughter, Louise Carpenter, hangs in the library. It is her ghost some state, known as ‘The Grey Lady’, which haunts this old Victorian Gothic style building.

The first sighting of this ghost was recorded in the late 1930s. A custodian who worked in the building went to the basement around 3:00 a.m. to stoke the coal furnace. What he saw there startled him so that he dropped his flashlight. 

He stated he saw a lady dressed all in grey—from her shoes to her veil—as he entered the basement. Shocked, he saw her just “dissolve into the shadows.” Shortly after this, he quit.

Since this initial encounter, there have been numerous sightings of the Grey Lady. She is seen in the Children’s Room, and hallway in the basement, and on the second floor in the Special Collections/Archive department.

As well as witness accounts of this apparition, there are countless unexplained occurrences that have happened in the library. 

Many employees and patrons, over the years, have seen books fly off the shelves without cause. The Grey Lady announces her presence with cold spots, and with a distinct perfume aroma. She is known to be a prankster.

She likes to pull chairs out from under tables. An elevator either doesn’t move for passengers or moves up and down when no one is using it. Water taps in the basement restroom turn on and off, and footsteps are heard when no one is around. 

On many occasions visitors or staff, have felt their hair and earrings touched by an unseen hand. Items are moved around overnight, and other items appear the next morning that shouldn’t be in the library.

One newly hired employee sat in a chair during one packed staff meeting on the second floor, the area was so cold she had to get up and leave the room to warm up. 

When she returned she wondered why no one had taken her seat—only to discover later that day the chair was no longer in the room. She asked the director where the chair was and described it, he told her a chair of that description had never been in the library.

A group of visiting lecturers from the University of Southern Indiana State, saw the ghost as she “peered into the water.” 

A local news meteorologist while waiting for his camera crew to set up saw several books fly off the shelves near him on the second floor. 

A ghost investigator upon seeing the portrait of Louise commented that she wasn’t very attractive. This investigator felt so uncomfortable after this she had to leave the building.

One late night two police officers responded to a call that the library alarm was sounding. When they arrived one officer went into the building with the male director of the library, that had responded as well. As these two went inside, the younger cop stayed outside to inspect the grounds. When he looked up at a second-floor window he saw a woman standing inside, with a man standing behind her. 

When his partner and the director came back outside this officer asked if they had caught them. The two replied that no one was in the building. At which point they told the young officer that he must have seen the ghost. This officer admitted he had never heard of The Grey Lady.

When the Children’s Library was being renovated the librarian, Miss Margaret as she was affectionately known,* stated that the ghost of The Grey Lady followed her home on several occasions during this period. 

Because of all this activity the Willard Library has even set up 24/7 ghost cameras in several hot spots. The public can view the Children’s Room, basement hallway, and the Research Room. Just click on the links below.

* Miss Margaret has passed away. You can see a photo of Miss Margaret in an oval frame on the wall when you view the Children's Room.

The library has a new set up for their ghost cameras. Here is the link to where there are three different spots in the library that can be viewed. If you see something click on the video and you will capture a picture that you can then submit to have it shown on their web site.

This short video captured the "The Grey Lady". Look straight back between stacks on right, where the lady in grey standing--then as library visitor in front moves this tall lady bends down. The figure is bending down to the lower book shelf--as if looking for a book...

Penn State’s “Old Coaly”

Penn State's oldest known ghost story is about, believe it or not, a little ghost mule. 

Coaly was a pack mule that came to Pennsylvania from Kentucky in 1857 with his owner, Piersol Lythe. The university hired the mule on a day-to-day basis to help build the original five-story Old Main building—Coaly’s job was to bring limestone from a nearby quarry located near what is now the intersection of College Avenue and Pugh Street.

After the job was completed in 1863 the university purchased the mule for $190, which was a considerable amount of money for the time. At first, the mule was kept on the lawn at Old Main and later at the farm. Coaly’s service to the university spanned 30 years.

He helped with the landscaping and construction of various buildings at Penn State. In the 1800s, students were required to work on the university farm as a class requirement. Many of these students formed a bond of affection for the little mule.

One favorite prank perpetrated by Penn’s students was to take Coaly up to the top of Old Main’s bell tower and leave him up there for a few hours before bringing him down. To some, this seems unduly cruel, but these same students made Coaly the “unofficial mascot” of Penn State. *

Coaly died of natural causes on January 1, 1893. The students at the time decided to preserve his skeleton. 

This skeleton remained on display in the original Old Main building until it burned down in the 1900s. Among the items saved from the flames was Coaly’s skeleton. 

His bones were temporarily moved to the basement of Watts Hall and put in storage. Then they were moved to the attic of the old Penn State veterinary hospital, where they were used as a teaching tool in Zoology classes in the 1900s. From here, they were moved to the Agriculture Building.  **

Soon after the bones were moved to the basement in Watts Hall, students started to report seeing the mule standing outside the storage room door. 

Some saw him wandering the halls while other students reported hearing braying sounds and the sound of hoofbeats around the building. 

At first, the staff felt this must be a student prank, but several staff members saw the mule and heard the sounds as well. 

It appeared the ghost of “Old Coaly,” as the students and staff started to call him, was not happy with the move—some state the reason for this was he missed all the attention he had received in Old Main before it burnt down. ***

As his remains were moved over the years from place to place, the ghost of the little mule was still seen and heard. 

Even when his bones were given a more “visible.” location in the Agricultural Building, it seems Old Coaly was still not happy with this new location. Today from time to time, startled students and staff still come forward to report they have seen the spirit of Old Coaly. 

People at one point claimed that these sightings were a result of student pranks. But the idea that students from one generation to the next would keep this prank going was improbable. In fact, many Penn State students today do not know the Old Coaly story.

* It wasn’t until 1906 that the Penn State student body chose the Nittany Lion (a mountain lion) as the school's official mascot.

** When Penn State celebrated its 150^th anniversary—university officials had Old Coaly’s skeleton placed in a glass case and moved to the HUB, Robeson Center--the student union building and campus auditorium. 

*** Penn State rebuilt Old Main in 1930 on almost the exact location of the original building that burnt down. 

Sag Harbor’s Armed Ghost

I love browsing through old newspaper accounts about ghosts, especially those written over a hundred years ago. 

One such article entitled “An Armed Ghost in Sag Harbor,” published in The New York Times in December of 1895 is one of my favorites. It has the distinction of being about a ghost that would hide behind bushes and jump out at people as they passed by.

The PDF archive of this article is free at the New York Times web site if you don’t have an account to view the link below just sign up by putting an email and password in.

New York Times Article

“The apparition usually jumps out from behind a bush…”

According to this 1865 article the women residents of Sag Harbor, New York were staying at home because they were scared and the men instead of walking home alone were opting to walk in groups. The article states that this ghost was often seen along the side streets of the village where there was less traffic.

The ghost was described as over six feet tall and wearing a distinct tall hat. The victims of the spirit were all men walking through the village at night. From their accounts, not many stayed around long enough to get a good look at the ghost.

According to this article, the sale of firearms increased significantly in the village for protection. 

The first citizen to shoot at the ghost was Bruce Sweezy who had bragged to all his friends that he would. So when he was confronted with the real spirit, he had no choice but to fire. Unfortunately, when he fired, his hand was close to the muzzle, so the bullet hit his hand instead, shattering the bone.

Another sighting occurred on Union Street. As John Tabor was walking home, a ghost jumped out from behind a group of bushes located in Charles W. Payne’s yard. Tabor reported he “did not stay around long enough to shake hands” but turned and ran reaching home quickly “out of breath and courage.”  

Tabor was the first witness to report that the ghost carried an army musket—he also stated the spirit was “big enough to whip half a dozen able-bodied men.”

The article states that the only witness brave enough to confront the ghost was Tom Sellors. Sellors said at first the ghost startled him (I imagine because it jumped out at him), but he was “determined to stand his ground.” 

He readied his fists and challenged the ghost “to come on.” Sellors stated the spirit then “turned around and left…” 

Despite the ghost backing down Sellors and his friends were “determined to capture the ghost.” It was stated they were giving up their Sunday visits to their girlfriends to pursue this spirit. 

There was even “a wager” made. But if Sellors and his group succeeded the village candy shop admitted they would not be able to supply the number of “boxes of candy” that were bet. 

The name of the writer of this article is not given, but it is obvious it was written tongue-in-cheek. What is interesting is that the prevailing view back then among the villagers was they could shoot a ghost, fight it, or even capture it.

Traditional Japanese Ghost Story: Oiwa

四谷怪談

One of Japan’s most well known ghost stories is Yotsuya Kaidan or Oiwa. This story was first told in the form of a Kabuki play in 1825. The story that is told today bears little resemblance to the original story. However the basic elements have remained the same. This story is about a female ghost who seeks revenge.

This version of the story is faithful to the original.

This story begins with a murder. Tamiya Iemon (iemon), an unemployed ronin—a samarai who has lost his masters favor—is married to a loving, devoted wife, Oiwa. 

He kills his father-in-law because this man has found out about Iemon’s evil past deeds. Oiwa trusts her husband so she believes him when he comforts her and tells her he will help find her father’s murderer.

No longer a samarai Iemon is forced to make a living as an oilpaper umbrella maker in order to support his young wife and baby. His lowered circumstances and the fact he is becoming bored with his marriage cause him to resent his young wife who he had at one time loved.

At this point, Iemon’s wealthy neighbor lures him into an evil scheme. The neighbor knows his granddaughter loves Iemon so he mentions to Iemon that if he were not married he could marry his beautiful granddaughter and have all her wealth. 

Iemon wanting the granddaughter and her wealth devises a plan to murder Oiwa. Once again devoted to her husband Oiwa is blind to her husband’s evil nature.

Iemon gives Oiwa a medicine he states will strengthen her but it is actually poison. Iemon watches coldly as the poison disfigures his wife—her eye droops and big chunks of her hair start to fall out. He is disappointed that she does not die. When Oiwa sees herself in a mirror for the first time she is completely undone by her disfigurement. 

This combined with the fact that she now knows her husband has tried to murder her is more then she can bear—her knowledge of his betrayal causes her to die of a broken heart.

When Iemon discovers Oiwa’s faithful servant, Kobote Kohei knows what he has done he accuses him of theft and arranges for someone to kill him. He then has Kohei and Oiwa’s bodies strapped to two sides of a wooden door and thrown into a river.

Without a care for what he has done Iemon plans for his new marriage. To his horror on his wedding day as Iemon lifts his new brides veil he sees Oiwa’s disfigured face. He instantly beheads her with his sword only to discover he has killed his new young bride. 

Terrified, he flees to the neighbors’ house to tell him what he has done but before he can confess Kohei’s ghost confronts him. Iemon slashes at this ghost with his sword only to find he has killed his new father-in-law.

From then on everywhere that Iemon goes Oiwa’s vengeful spirit pursues him. He even sees her disfigured face reflected in the lanterns that light his way. 

Seeking escape he travels to the mountains where he goes fishing but instead of catching fish he hooks the door that holds Kohei and Oiwa’s corpses. He then runs to a cabin where the vines turn into snakes and the smoke from the fire turns into Oiwa’s hair.

At his wit’s end Iemon flees the cabin only to run into Oiwa’s brother who kills him--finally all his evil deeds are avenged.

In Japan, a female ghost that seeks revenge is known as an “onryo.” Oiwa just like Okiku, another Japanese ghost story I wrote about here, wears the white burial kimono and has long ragged hair. But what sets Oiwa’s ghost apart from all the rest of the onryos is she has a drooping right eye and she is partially bald-- both caused by the poison.

Yotsuya Kaidan when first staged in the Bunsei era was popular because it was a time when women in Japanese society were severely repressed. 

Oiwa’s character went from a sweet trusting victim to a powerful avenger and the evil Iemon transformed from the tormentor to the tormented which the female audiences appreciated.

Bloody Fingers

One of my favorites ghost stories, "The Ghost with the Bloody Fingers," is one that I shared with students of all ages over the years. 

This story is more fun than scary. Despite the title the story is not gory. My students always loved it. I never used it as a read aloud since it is short enough to just tell. It is not a jump story but it does have a surprise ending.

Stephen Gammell
Illustrated
Schwartz's Books

I first heard it as a young girl scout and then years later I read a version of it in Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. 

I love this story because the main character is a free-spirit 1960’s hippie who just like the family in Oscar Wilde’s The Carterville Ghost is unfazed by the presence of a ghost. I also love it because you can act it out as you tell it.

Another reason I always liked this story is it conveys a useful message—which is that often fears can be conquered by just not taking them too seriously. This message I feel is a great one to impart especially to children.

“The Ghost with the Bloody Fingers” story fits into a classic ghost category—that of a person who is brave enough to stay in a haunted house overnight. 

Many ghost stories from around the world focus upon this theme. Another example of this kind of story is entitled “Wait Until Emmett Comes” a traditional African ghost tale.

The following is my version, which I call “Bloody Fingers.”

There is an old Victorian House in the Eastern part of my state that was converted to an inn several years back. It is off the beaten path, but it gets quite a few guests as it is the last lodging for eighty miles in any direction. 

Because of this many a weary traveler has stayed there for the night. This fact in itself is not unusual but what I am about to tell is.

Because it was a small inn with only six rooms, the house would fill up quickly especially in the summer months. On one such summer evening a weary businessman entered the Inn looking for a room. 
The bored clerk at the welcome desk stared at him.
 "I have no more rooms available."

The businessman not accepting no for an answer persisted. 
“Listen son, I am bone tired do you have a couch or something I can use for couple of hours."
The clerk hesitated. 
“I do have one empty room in the attic but the owner doesn’t like me renting it because it is haunted.”

Relieved, the businessman slapped him on the back. 

“I’ll take it. I don’t believe in ghosts.” 
The man paid, the clerk gave him the key and then he pointed the way. 
“I don’t believe in them either.”

The businessman settled in quickly and climbed into bed grateful that he would be able to get a good night’s sleep. A few minutes later he heard the closet door open with a loud creaking sound. Annoyed he turned toward the closet. To his horror a wispy figure floated out of the closet, it was holding it’s hands outstretched and it was moaning,

“Bloody Fingers, …Bloody Fingers.”

In a panic the man grabbed his car keys and ran.

Several weeks past and then late one night a young women entered the inn. The clerk informed her, “Sorry, lady we don’t have any vacancies.” 
The woman sighed, “I can’t drive another mile.” 
The clerk taking pity on the pretty young woman stated, “Well, I do have one room available but some say it is haunted.”

The woman shrugged her shoulders. 

“I am just too tired to care; I will take it.” 

Finding the room neat and tidy the woman forgot about the clerk’s warning. She changed into her pajamas and switched on an old TV set in the corner. She lay down on the bed watching an old black and white movie. She fell asleep leaving the set on.

Awakened moments later she noticed the TV was now off. Hearing a loud creaking sound she came fully awake. She glanced over and noticed the closet door was slowly opening. A transparent figure floated out moaning softly,

“Bloody Fingers, …Bloody Fingers.”

She froze in terror. As the ghost came closer she saw that blood was dripping from its outstretched fingers onto the carpet. It moaned louder,

“Bloody Fingers, …BLOODY FINGERS!”

Gathering her wits she ran from the room. She awakened the clerk and insisted he retrieve her belongings and then she quickly left the inn.

Later that month a violent summer storm hit the area. Rain poured from the sky relentlessly. A young hippie with a long beard, his hair tied back in a ponytail, holding a motorcycle helmet with a peace symbol attached and a guitar case rushed into the inn’s lobby. Water dripped from him as he approached the clerk.

“Man I haven’t seen a storm like this in the desert in years. I need a room so I can dry off.” 
The clerk shook his head. 
“I don’t have one.” 

The young man glanced over at the lobby couch. 
“How about that?” 
The clerk again shook his head in the negative. 
“The owner wouldn’t like that.” 
The young hippie set down his helmet and guitar and spread his arms. 
“Come on man,” he indicted the storm outside, "You are not going to send me back out into that?”

The clerk reached for a key. 

“There is one room at the top of the stairs but most folks say it is haunted, and none of them stay long.” 
“Cool!” The young man grabbed the key, saluted the other man and went upstairs.

Grabbing towels from the bathroom the young man dried himself off. He then removed his boots and took his guitar out of its case. He propped the pillows up on the bed and stretched out. As he started to play his guitar the closet door opened with a loud bang.

The young hippie glanced over briefly as a ghost floated out of the closet with its arms outstretched and then turned back to his playing. The ghost moaned,

“Bloody fingers, …Bloody fingers”.

The young man continued to play so the moaning became louder.

“Bloody fingers, …BLOODY FINGERS!”

The young man continued to ignore the ghost. Agitated it floated right above him, and wailed even louder,

“BLOOODY FINGERS!, …BLOOODY FINGERS!”

As blood dripped down upon the guitar from its fingers, the young man stopped playing, looked up and announced,

“Cool it man, …get yourself a Band Aid.”

Ireland’s Beresford Ghost

In the Public Record Office in Belfast, Ireland there is a manuscript that was kept for generations by the Blacker family. In the 17^th century, Lady Betty Cobb told the Blacker family a most extraordinary story she had been told by her father, Lord Tyrone, and aunt, Lady Riverton. 

This story is still told with relish in Ireland today-- it is the story of the Beresford Ghost.

Lord Tyrone (John le Poer) and Lady Beresford (Nicola Sophia Hamilton) was born in Ireland to titled families. Both were orphaned at an early age. John and Sophia were given into the care of the same guardian who took these two under his wing and taught them his belief in Deism. 

When this guardian past away the two teenagers were then placed under the guardianship of a man who believed in the “revealed religion.”

So these two were raised with two very different religious beliefs, which must have been perplexing. Because of this John and Sophia made a solemn promise to each other, they agreed that whoever should die first should appear to the other in order to let them know which religious belief was favored by God.

Several years later Sophia married Lord Tristram and became Lady Beresford in 1687. Soon after, Lord Tyrone (John) married as well. The two families remained close often visiting each other. 

One morning while visiting Lady Beresford’s sister at Gill Hall Lord Beresford having left his wife asleep and gone for a walk noticed his wife appeared at breakfast pale and tired, inquiring about his wife’s health he was informed that she was quite well, she then entreated him not to ask any more questions.

Taken aback he didn’t question her further but then he noticed she wore a black bandage around her wrist so he questioned her again, she again pleaded with him not ask her any more questions. Beresford dropped the matter and followed her wishes. 

Shortly after breakfast he noticed his wife was overly anxious for the post to arrive. He gently inquired if she was all right. To his amazement, she informed him that she was waiting for a letter that would inform her that Lord Tyrone her brother had died the previous week on Tuesday.

Later that day a letter did arrive sealed with black wax. This letter informed them that Lord Tyrone had died the previous week on Tuesday at 4:00 o'clock. His wife accepted the news and told him that now she felt comfortable telling him that she was with child and it was going to be a boy. 

Curious but respecting his wife’s wishes Lord Tristram did not ask her any more questions. Within the year his wife presented him with a son and six years after this Lord Tyrone died.

Lady Beresford after her husbands’ death went into seclusion never intending to marry again. But as fate would have it a much younger man than herself, Richard Gorges, a clergyman’s son and an army officer, persuaded her to change her mind. 

She gave birth to another son and two daughters but their marriage was not a happy one and at one point the pair separated. Later reconciled, Lady Beresford bore him another son. Shortly after she came out of her confinement she sent for her eldest son Marcus Beresford and her married daughter Lady Riverton to join her for a birthday celebration.

She also invited Dr. King the Archbishop of Dublin, the clergyman who had christened her and that she had kept in close contact with. They all found Lady Beresford in the best of spirits. In a conversation with Dr. King, she confided to him that she was forty-eight that day. 

He confidently told her that she was mistaken that years before he had argued with her mother over the date of her birth and that he had then checked the registry and that it was her forty-seventh birthday, not her forty-eighth. At this announcement Lady Beresford turned pale as she turned to leave the room she informed him:

“You have signed my death warrant today, I have not long to live, I must, therefore, entreat you to leave me immediately as I have some things of importance to settle before I die.”

Lady Beresford called her daughter, Lady Riverton and her eldest son Sir Marcus, the son of Lord Beresford to her bedchamber. She told them the truth of her meeting with the ghost of Lord Tyrone. 

She described how she had woken up early one morning while visiting her sister to find her brother's ghost sitting on the edge of her bed. He reminded her of the solemn promise they had made years before and that he had returned to inform her that God preferred the revealed religion.

His ghost also informed her that she would shortly bear Lord Tristram a son but six years later her husband would die. He then told her that this son would grow up to marry his own sweet daughter. He told her that she would remarry after Lord Tristram’s death and that she would die herself at the age of forty-seven as a result of a difficult birth.

Trembling with nerves Lady Beresford admitted to her daughter and son that she had begged the apparition of Lord Tyrone for some proof so she would know in future that it wasn’t just a dream or a trick of her imagination. 

He made the hangings on her bed drawback in an unusual way and he wrote his signature in her pocketbook. But she continued to plead with him to give her some substantial proof. Lord Tyrone then touched her wrist, which caused the sinew to shrink and her nerves to wither, the apparition then admonished her to "not let any human eye see your wrist while you are alive." 

Eyewitness accounts state Lady Beresford always wore a black band around her wrist.

Having finally told her story she requested they both leave her so she could rest. Hours later when they returned they found Lady Beresford dead. Her daughter removed the black band from her wrist and discovered that indeed her wrist was exactly like her mother had described.

After his mother’s death Sir Marcus did marry Lord Tyrone’s daughter, which the ghost had revealed to Lady Beresford even before her son Marcus was born. 

Lady Betty Cobb hearing this story from her father and aunt, Lady Beresford’s two oldest children, told the facts to the Blacker Family who preserved it in their family papers.

Haunted Springer Opera House

Edwin Booth, the older brother of John Wilkes-Booth, who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, is said to be the ghost that haunts Springer Opera House in Columbus, Georgia. 

As legend states he promised that after his death, he would return and haunt the Springer. He stated it must stage a performance of “Hamlet” once again. According to some, he made good on this promise for many claims his ghost has haunted the opera house ever since his death in 1893.

Witnesses state his ghost is sometimes restless, other times helpful, and at other times roguish.

Edwin Booth was a famous Shakespearean actor in the 19^th century who toured throughout America and the major capitals of Europe. *  He performed first with his famous father, who was also an actor, in Richard II, when he was sixteen years old. 

His infamous brother John Wilkes-Booth was also an actor. The three appeared in one play together.

Edwin was a Unionist, so he and his younger brother did not get along. When John shot and killed Abraham Lincoln, in 1865, the entire Booth family had to go into seclusion. 

Edwin in 1869 did petition President Andrew Johnson for his brothers’ remains so they could be buried in the family plot, but for the rest of his life he disowned his brother and would not even speak his name.

It wasn’t until several months after Edwin was forced into seclusion in 1866 that he ventured upon the stage again. When he did, he played “Hamlet” which eventually became his signature role. 

When he appeared at the Springer Opera House, he played his now-famous role as Hamlet. Georgia welcomed him with open arms, which some say is one reason he returned to the opera house after his death.

In an ironic turn of fate Edwin Booth actually saved the life of one of Lincoln’s sons, Robert Todd Lincoln, in early 1864 ** just months before his younger brother shot and killed Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre. 

The incident happened at a train platform in Jersey City, New Jersey. The platform was crowded, and Robert Todd Lincoln was pressed against a rail car. As the train moved without warning, Edwin Booth saw Robert lose his footing and drop down in a space between two train cars where he lost his balance and couldn’t move. 

Booth quickly hauled Robert back up to the platform by his coat collar. If Edwin had not reacted so fast, Robert Lincoln would have been crushed to death.

As the story goes, Robert recognized the famous actor immediately and thanked him by name. Another ironic twist is Edwin Booth didn’t know the identity of the male he saved until months after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln when a friend told him the man was Lincoln’s son Robert. 

This news is said to have given him some comfort but he never came to terms with the fact that his brother had murdered Abraham Lincoln.

The presence of Edwin Booth’s ghost is often felt and sometimes seen at the Springer Opera House. 

One tour guide has reported a phenomenon that many have witnessed. The smaller upper balconies are no longer used because they are considered a fire hazard, so the doors to these seats remain shut, but many have reported seeing all these doors open as they enter the main hall. 

Several workers state that if they are in the opera house alone, they almost always hear strange unexplained noises.

A small group of people one night stood near the portrait of Edwin Booth that hangs near the lobby. As they were talking about his ghost, they were facing the bar that serves refreshments to the theatre’s patrons. Without warning, they saw one of three wine bottles that were sitting on the bar tip over without cause and roll down the flat surface.

One annoying thing that Booth’s ghost does is to tap people on the shoulder—when they turn, no one is there.

A female that works in the costume shop stated that the dress forms they hang the costumes on were found scattered around the room, but when she turned around, these forms were all lined up in a straight row. 

Edwin’s ghost is known to be partial to ladies. They encounter him more often than men. Another female employee went outside to where there is a table and chairs where the workers often unwind and relax after shows. 

She was alone, so she was surprised to see a figure of a man wearing a hat sitting in one of the chairs, she stated, “Oh, is there someone here?” But as she approached, the figure disappeared.

Yet another female employee at the Springer has had many encounters with Booth’s ghost. This witness, for many years, was the costume designer at the Springer. 

One night she was searching the theatre’s costume loft over and over, trying to find a specific coat. Finally, giving up and frustrated, she stated out loud, “Where is that large man’s evening jacket?” 

She walked down the aisle to leave and turned when she heard a noise. To her surprise, a piece of clothing was on the floor in the middle of the corridor she had passed. She picked up the piece and realized it was the jacket she had been looking for.

After this initial incident, she found that all she had to do was announce I need that pair of shoes, or I need that belt, and the exact item would be lying on the floor when she returned to the costume loft. 

Because of this, she is convinced that Edwin Booth was helping her.

* From 1863 until 1867 Booth managed the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City, when this theatre was damaged in a fire he built his own theatre, Booth’s Theatre, in Manhattan. In 1888 Booth founded the Players’ Club for actors and other artists.

** Some historians state the incident at the Jersey City platform happened in late 1863 instead of early 1864. 

The Angel of Mons

Some state this story actually happened others state that it is just an English folktale or legend that has been passed down. Regardless, the following story is an excellent example of how humans use ghost stories to draw comfort. 

The Angel of Mons involves protective spirits that were seen by British troops during World War I in Mons, Belgium.

At the beginning of the war, the first clash between the British and Germans occurred in August of 1914, near the French frontier at a 60-foot- wide canal in Mons. The English had 70,000 troops but the Germans outnumbered them almost 2 to 1. 

In this fight known as the "Battle of the Frontiers," the Belgiums and French were fighting alongside the British, but these allies were all driven back to France.

Despite the Germans superior numbers, the British were able to inflict heavy losses using their rapid-fire rifles. But as the day wore on the commander of the British army realized that their position was untenable, so he ordered his men to withdraw to Paris as soon as possible. 

The British troops hastily retreated with the Germans pursuing them. It was at this point that something quite extraordinary happened according to eyewitness accounts.

Illustration by Alfred Pearse 1915

Many British soldiers reported seeing a “supernatural apparition in the sky.” This apparition was described as “three angel figures” that appeared to ward off the attacks by the Germans. 

These witnesses went on to state that that they would not have been able to successfully retreat if it had not been for the intervention of these angelic figures.

Very quickly the story of the Angel at Mons spread across England. Many articles were published about it, and Harold Begble, an author, published a book about the phenomenon. In his book he quoted a lance corporal that had witnessed these angels:

“I could see quite plainly in mid-air a strange light which seemed to be quite distinctly outlined and was not a reflection of the moon, nor were there any clouds in the neighborhood. The light became brighter and I could see quite distinctly three shapes, one in the centre having what looked like outspread wings, the other two were not so large, but were quite plainly distinct from the centre one. They appeared to have a long loose-hanging garment of a golden tint they were above the German line facing us.”

At the time of these reports, several skeptics came forward despite the numerous eyewitness accounts to disprove what these soldiers had seen. 

One fiction writer, in particular, Arthur Machen wrote a book entitled The Bowmen and Other Legends of the War. In it, Machen claimed that the Angel of Mons story was inspired by his writing. But his claim was debunked because there were references made to the Angel of Mons before his account was even published.

Many soldiers who witnessed the unusual event, responded to Machen’s claim by writing letters stating that they would swear on their honor that they had seen the Angels at Mons with their own eyes. Several of these letters were published at the time, so there is still a record of them.

Brigadier General John Charteris in a letter to his wife in early September of 1914 which was written two weeks before Machen’s book was published, stated:

“…then there is a story of the ‘Angels of Mons’ going strong through the 2^nd Corps, of how an angel of the Lord on the traditional white horse, and clad all in white with flaming sword, faced the advancing Germans at Mons and forbade their further progress.”

Some discount his statement because John Charteris was known to be involved in propaganda activities during the war. As a result, skeptics at the time claimed that the Angel of Mons was a creation of British Intelligence. 

But this does not explain the passionate eyewitness accounts that came out after the retreat that day.

Some historians who have written about the Angel of Mons and World War I state that it is obviously a legend. They say if  these angels really appeared the Germans would have been so shaken up they would not have continued on. 

These historians support this belief by stating that just the opposite happened after the Battle of the Frontiers. 

They point to the fact that the German victory during this battle made them so confident that they swept across the Belgium countryside conquering everything in their path on their way into Northern France. While the British allies scrambled to rally their defenses. 

This is all true, but I am not sure how this proves the Angel of Mons is just a myth. There are still the eyewitnesses accounts that state this divine intervention saved British lives that day. 

What is known for sure is this story did help bolster the British spirit at the time. Eyewitness accounts seem to belie that it was just a legend that was spread. What these historians all leave out is that a group of German soldiers, prisoners at the time, also described seeing:

“a force of phantoms armed with bow and arrows and led by a towering figure on a shining white horse who spurred on the English forces during the assault on German trenches.”

Some skeptics claim that no eyewitnesses to the Angel of Mons were ever found—this is not true because there are many eyewitness accounts written down about what the soldiers saw in August of 1914. 

Many of these accounts were cited in newspapers, magazines, and books. Artists used them to paint their own versions of the Angel of Mons.

Here is just one of the eyewitness accounts I have read--A grandson who told how his grandfather, a veteran of WWI, had been a hard drinker up until that day at Mons when he saw the angel. 

This experience so altered his grandfather that he returned from the war a reformed man. He became a teetotaler and a pillar of his community.

One distinguished historian who believed the Angel of Mons story was A. J. P. Taylor. He believed the story because of the numerous accounts. 

But today, despite these soldier accounts that told how their lives had been saved-- this story is considered just a legend. This is surprising since many people universally believe that a divine power intercedes in their lives--then why not during this battle?

Smugglers and the Ghostly White Dog

Today Alfriston is a charming and very beautiful village in East Sussex England. But this small quaint village has a very interesting and sometimes violent history. During the Napoleonic Wars the village thrived as a result of a friendly invasion. The villagers billeted a large number of troops that were stationed there in case the invaders should try to get past the Martello Towers and cliffs along the Channel coast. At this time the villagers were able to make a good living from the food, drinks, and other services they provided these soldiers.

Once the Napoleonic Wars ended however the villagers finding themselves impoverished turned to smuggling to make a living. Since this activity benefited the whole village most turned a blind eye to the activity and kept it a close-knit secret. The leader, Stanton Collins, of the Alfriston smugglers—know as the “Alfriston gang-- was the owner and proprietor of a local inn then known as the Star Inn. *

Collins’ gang was known for a reckless violence that probably also contributed to the villagers’ silence. Collins and his gang used the Cuckmere River to bring their contraband from Seaford, a Channel coastal town, to Alfriston from which it was distributed inland. Collins was finally caught wrestling sheep in the 1830s and was transported to Australia. At this point his gang of smugglers finally disbanded.

At the height of the Alfriston Gang’s activity in the late 1700s the son and heir of the Crowne family who owned Place House Estate chose the wrong moment to take his little white dog for a walk. It was after dark and as this young man walked along a small narrow path with his dog—known today as The White Way that led from Seaward to Alfriston **--he was set upon by smugglers he disturbed going about their work.

When this path was being widened in the early 1800s the young mans’ skeleton and that of his dog were found in a shallow grave near where they had walked. It was discovered that a blunt object had crushed his skull. Legend states his dog was killed as well because it probably howled after they killed its master.

After dog and master where murdered a most unusual haunting started to occur near the path where they were killed. Seven years after the Crowne family heir disappeared a young couple walking along the path stopped in horror as they watched a small white transparent dog walk right through a solid embankment. Exactly seven years after this yet another witness saw this small white dog disappear into thin air. Yet more villagers saw this ghostly dog every seven years.

Some state that this white dog was no longer seen after the young man was given a proper burial at St. Andrews—known in the area as the Cathedral of the Downs. Others state the dog is still seen, some people even claim that if you see this ghostly dog it will bring you bad luck. This notion started when one witness in more recent years noticed the dog walking along side him, it then just disappeared. He broke his leg right after seeing this transparent dog on the path.

England has many ghost stories connected to smuggling. Often the smugglers themselves created these ghost stories in order to keep people afraid of venturing out at night, which was the time they plied their illicit trade. However, there are a few ghost stories connected to smugglers that seem to have some truth, in future I will share some of them.

* The Star Inn was originally built in 1345 as what was believed to be a hostel. In the 1500’s this building was converted to an inn. Outside this inn stands a red lion that is said to once have been a figurehead on a Dutch ship that wrecked in the 1800s and was then raided by the notorious Alfriston gang. This inn was owned and used by Stanton Collins as his smuggling base. Today it is known as the “Ye Olde Smugglers Inn.”

** The White Way might be named this because of the chalk that cuts through it, just like Dover, Seaford has white chalk cliffs.