As Halloween approaches, our thoughts often turn to ghostly matters. I’ve long been fascinated by the forgotten phenomenon of ‘playing the ghost’ – dressing as a ghost and hanging out in spooky locations to scare the wits out of passersby. Sometimes the pranksters wore just a white sheet over their heads, though some would useContinue reading “Stoned Spooks and Other Ghosts That Time Forgot…”
Category Archives: Hysterias and mass panics
Croydon Cat Killer: Mystery Solved!
A maniac is stalking the streets of Croydon, killing and dismembering cats and leaving the remains in a gruesome display to maximise the shock and horror when the corpse is discovered by owners.[i] Over 500 cats have so far fallen victim to the maniac, and the killer is likely a psychopath who will sooner orContinue reading “Croydon Cat Killer: Mystery Solved!”
Playing the Ghost
Imagine walking alone late at night along a lonesome dark avenue with a church yard full of teetering gravestones on one side of you and the jagged remains of a crumbling church on the other. Ahead of you in the gloom, you see a white figure glowing eerily, cavorting and striking dramatic poses while emittingContinue reading “Playing the Ghost”
New Book Announcement! “Phantoms of Christmas Past: Festive Ghost Hoaxes, Ghost Hunts and Ghost Panics”
My new book is available for pre-order wherever you get your books from and will be out at the end of August. More details and reviews below… Some advanced reviews: Folklore, spooky legends, weird experiences, ghost hoaxes, and riotous drunken ghost hunts all collide in a unique darkly comic book of true Christmas ghost stories…Continue reading “New Book Announcement! “Phantoms of Christmas Past: Festive Ghost Hoaxes, Ghost Hunts and Ghost Panics””
Bristol Needle Spiking: Getting to the Point
The needle spiking social panic has reared its pointy head again, this time in the nightclubs of Bristol. ITV news reported recently that Bristol University students Ella and Sophie (not their real names) had a ‘drink or two’ in their flat before heading to a nightclub.[i] The practice of having a few drinks before goingContinue reading “Bristol Needle Spiking: Getting to the Point”
Halifax Death Flu Mystery
In 1918, Dr Andrew Garvie arrived at a one room cottage in Halifax to treat a woman suffering from the potentially deadly Spanish flu. The room was stiflingly hot and stuffy as he tended his patient. She had severe bronchial symptoms, and one of her two children was also ill. The room was so stuffyContinue reading “Halifax Death Flu Mystery”
Bleeding-Heart Warmongers: Make Peace You Fools
Towards the end of World War Two Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt realised the Nazis had no path to victory. He knew the war was lost. Asked by his superior what they should do, his reply was as exasperated as it was pithy: Make peace, you fools. They didn’t listen. And who are the foolsContinue reading “Bleeding-Heart Warmongers: Make Peace You Fools”
Ghost Versus Demon!
In late August 1884, two pale and trembling strangers entered the White Lion Inn in the Midlands village of Ivy Church Green. They both sank a pint of ale to steady their clearly frayed nerves, and the landlord and the regulars looked on with interest. What had terrified the two men so? Eventually, one ofContinue reading “Ghost Versus Demon!”
Mystery Christmas Drones: Ghost Riders in the Sky
Sinister mystery drones are haunting American air bases in the UK. Swarms of similar drones have been flitting around military bases in New Jersey and other parts of the USA. Some say the drones are spying on sensitive areas, others say they are testing air defences. Some think it’s preparation for an all out attackContinue reading “Mystery Christmas Drones: Ghost Riders in the Sky”
The London Monster
In 1790, Georgian London was haunted by a Monster. No woman was safe. Typically, he would approach a pretty young lady as she walked home and make lewd comments to her, and then he would attack her with a blade. Sometimes the blade would be attached to his knee and he would kick his victimContinue reading “The London Monster”
Paul Weatherhead 