Haunted Magazine Issue 27: The Only Way is Ethics by Dead Good Publishing Ltd

C O N T E N T S

EDITORIAL THE MADNESS OF KING GEORGE, HENRY … ME What a few months it has been since our last issue!! Lockdown, Isolation, Home Schooling, Masks, Food Parcels, Bubbles, Quarantine and so many words I did not intend to either a) see so much of in the media and b) use so much of in conversation. Although during home schooling, the kids were learning about King Henry the Eighth and it got me thinking about how many places does he haunt, quite a lot apparently and then my mind led me to thinking about the old, old adage: “if a ghost walks through a haunted location and no one sees it, has it actually happened?” But it’s one of several questions I’ve asked myself over the last few months, have the ghosts been on their very own paranormal lockdown, have they shut up their spooky shop, furloughing their commitment to bang some pipes and creak some floorboards or are they baffled as much as we are as to what is happening. Are they wearing masks when they travel the astral highways, are they washing themselves with ectoplasm? Daft questions I know, and it is purely down to my lockdown lunacy and Isolation Insanity. Enjoy the magazine, I am off to have a chat with King Henry VIII, he just dropped in for a cuppa.

Paul

#DontBeNormal BE PARANORMAL!!

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THE ISOLATED INVESTIGATOR: The musings of a shielding ghost hunter GAME OF THORNS: The spooky, scary haunted hedges of Northern Ireland FINDER’S KEEPERS: Ghost Finder’s Megan Deputy finds her way to Haunted Magazine, where’ve you been? OLD FASHIONED GHOST HUNTING: Barry Frankish states his case for it. FEELING HOT, HOT, HOT: Spontaneous Combustion, what’s that all about? IT’S LIFE GYM BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT: Underground a haunted leisure centre NOT SO ‘ORRIBLE ‘ISTORIES: What is YOUR house built on? SCARES, BEERS, BOOZE, BOOS, FRIGHTS & LIGHT BITES: Amanda Woomer on the trail of spirits, (bottled & ethereal types) IT’S THE PITS: Kate Cherrell & The Shrieking pits of Norfolk THE ONLY WAY IS ETHICS: The good Doctor on why ethics are important in the paranormal ORIGINS OF THE WENDIGO: Morgan Knudsen & the case of the Canadian Cryptid AN INTERVIEW WITH DR Q: A look back at the cases of DR Q. JACK’S STORY: An in depth, heartfelt interview with a supernatural snapper HUBBLE, BOIL, KATIE & TROUBLE: Rummaging through the ruins of a “haunted” castle EVP: AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN? Sarah Chumacero investigates CARRY ON HENRY: Nicky Alan loves Haunts, Hunts and Henrys, Well, she swears blind she does. MORAL DILEMMA: When does a murder scene become a haunted location? HIGGYPOP: How have those clever ghosts adapted to using our modern technology PLAGUES, PANDEMICS & THE PARANORMAL: Mike Covell writes about Yorkshire’s Deadly Diseases of the past. UNEXPLAINED! CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Frights, Camera, Action, a ghost show EXPLAINED!! THE STEP BY ESTEP GUIDE: Richard Estep and the Monroe House, Indiana HORROR NATION STREET: Murder houses, putting the bury into Bloomsbury

Haunted Magazine

THE ISOLATION MEMOIRS OF A

UNTER R GHOST HUNTE with Hubert Hobux

Hubert’s “Supernatural” Shielding

DAY 47: Does Something Dark lurk within an old coaching inn? Sat brooding over my shamefully scant library of well thumbed, paranormally themed tomes (during the melancholy days of enforced isolation) ... I was reminded of a blood curdling Victorian ghost tale I had once read... {and frustratingly have lost.... maybe you know of it} a tale which bore a weirdly similar significance to a recent brush with darkness I may or not have encountered.... The scene of the story, {historic incident?} ... was set in the formal dining room of some grandiose country Mansion in the genteel ownership of noble family... the matriarch, some grand dowager Lady, was sat in all her finery at the head of the table, co-hosting a dinner party for the benefit of a dozen or so army officer class types and their wives, the men had served within the comradeship of her sons regiment and had just returned from some military engagement abroad so the conversation was convivial and colourful... except for one young subaltern who was sat silently most of the evening, his face ashen, staring in disgust at the elegant elderly lady.... His senior officer, given the privilege to sit alongside the hostess had noticed the rude

Hubert’s “Supernatural” Shielding

demeanour of the young man and had tried to engage him in conversation, suddenly the subaltern sprung to his feet, his chair crashing behind him, the hubbub around the table was silenced as he drastically declared... “For the love of God, I can no longer bear this horror...” and in a confused state, fled from the room... His embarrassed senior officer profusely apologised to the lady and stunned assemblage and hastened after the youth... Finding him cowering in a cloakroom he demanded an explanation for his reproachful behaviour... The subaltern could not believe that the officer had not seen the black habited monk... stood behind their lady host... constantly urging her from a dark musty fug to die, to kill herself...the senior office denounced him insane... “there was no ‘monk’...” Suddenly, from the dining room, screams and shouts of alarm drew the officer to race back to the room where he was met with a scene of gore... “upon the act of him following the subaltern out of the room..” he was told, “the good lady had stood up, picked up a carving knife from the sideboard, and had..... in full vision of the unwitting guests. cut her own throat open...” Well just before all this madness started.... (the coronavirus pandemic you understand, not that ghastly

Victorian dinner party) I had started employment at a local-ish licenced hostelry that stood alongside an old 18th century turnpiked road and served as a coaching inn on a busy crossing of the ways. . Established in the 1780s, and rumoured to have been the late mediaeval site of the house of a local Lords ‘strong arm’ bailiff, I was really getting settled into the daily involvement of the place when Boris pulled the rug from out of under me, shutting all the pubs down! To say I was gutted was an understatement, I’d worked darn hard to get my feet through the atmospheric door, with all that {possible though unwritten} history you’d think the old inn was haunted... well...it is..... first morning I started there a spirit energy came up behind me as I was stood inside the old main door... took a quick gander at me and cleared off... (just checking me out I guess)... for two weeks after that I had no other ‘ghost present’ feelings at all and the place had a remarkably amiable atmosphere.... except for when one certain person came in, “chambermaiding” on an occasional basis.... Now I have to say I got on famously with this particular person who is hard working and highly respected by everyone... but every time they enter the premises I sense the malevolence of

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some large dark presence muscle in, and my mind is bombarded with literal suggestions of doing bodily harm, threat and violence toward this innocent party.... yes even to the demand for murder though I’m almost frightened to mention that... I cannot tell if this dark entity is a spirit connected to the inn or one that may be attached to the person... as these vicious thoughts never materialise any other time... Luckily, I am strong enough to realise they are being directed at me by some force extraneous and I am able to laugh them off... whether this entity is projecting these menacing thoughts at anyone more susceptible though is another matter... (I did do a surreptitious spirit box session when that person wasn’t there and a couple of distinctly different spirit voices, including the intonation of a female spirit came straight on saying words of menace, so maybe they are resident in the building and “have it in” for this said person)?? Immediately prior to shut down I was sat talking to the restaurant manageress when I got this irrepressible feeling that someone was stood in the small old side room, staring at us... the room was empty... I hadn’t mentioned anything about the sensation when suddenly unprompted she confided that whilst setting that room up for

Hubert’s “Supernatural” Shielding breakfast one morning, she had been severely creeped out when she had both heard, and felt ‘invisible children’ running around her, as if in play!! The paranormal can be a little dark sometimes and you need to handle psychic coercion with care.... Hopefully, this madness will soon end, and I may be able to delve further into this dark phenomena?

Hubert X

DAY 65: The Dreamscapes of Plagued Persuasion...? Many have reported disturbed sleep pattern and vivid dreams during this period of worldwide disruption... In the belief that I get most of my glimpses of the otherworldly down this route I was not surprised... for the first time in a while I started getting some very lucidly recurring dream portrayals interspersing my sporadic periods of rest... some apocalyptical visions of a strange, pastel light illuminated town scape where I found myself on unrecognised streets, walking amidst Gestapo uniformed thugs whilst I was searching for some mysteriously urbane building where the cynical occupants were expecting me

to visit and investigate a drab olive American world war one tank (no, I don’t know how I knew that) patrolled the streets and I was aware I was being shepherded along by a peculiarly dressed, short, thick set ‘gentleman of the cloth’ {I assumed}, in a broad brimmed black hat... a bit of research may find his particular moment of singular fashion in historical age..**. but I got the dawning dread that this seemingly affable chap may probably be my spirit guide? They reckon that you end up with an ever-changing bunch of spirit guides don’t they...? I did find this urbanely strange house in my dream and met some intense characters within... underwent some extremely emotional moments as well... but that may be a tale for another time.... or a preview of a world to come?? ** a later search turned up quite a match with the original 17th century Quaker, George Fox... but surely can’t be he... can it... I am definitely not a Quaker and have had little to none contact with Quakers... but stranger things have happened in the weirdness of Hubert Hobux... stay tuned for further revelations?

Hubert X

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HUBERT HOBUX, the mild-mannered ghost hunter has been in isolation since MidMarch, confined to his humble abode, shielded away from public life he has started to write his ramblings, his recollections, his musings, his spooky shenanigans and his memories of his paranormal activities from the past and the present. Now that certain restrictions are being eased and relaxed, we asked Hubert to send some of his memories of ghost hunting to us for use in the magazine. He never emails them to us, he has them delivered by a chap on a horse, written in ink (we’d guess via a quill) and rolled up in ageing parchment.

THE DARK

HEDGES By Charlene Hall

The M u s i c a l Me d i u m

he famous Bregagh Road Dark Hedges, in Stranocum, Northern Ireland, attracts tourists from all over the world, after appearing as the Kings Road in series 2 of the popular TV show, Game of Thrones.

Charlene Hall is a musician, medium, writer & Creative. From an early age Charlene could see and hear things that others could not, making her feel different to those around her, receiving messages from beyond by her teens. As a musician, Charlene felt the urge to pursue her passion for music and signed a deal with a major subsidiary label that saw her touring with the likes of The Darkness and The Buzzcocks, later moving into media and promotion contributing to magazines such as Disorder and Terrorizer. Originally from Northern Ireland, Charlene learnt a lot about Celtic mysticism and practice through her cosmic druid and musician dad, Clive Culbertson, (ex Van Morrison). He fuelled her hunger for knowledge and passed his wisdom and ways on to her through his inspiring stories and experiences.

Consisting of an enchanting avenue of heavily entwined Beech trees, the site was originally intended to be a majestic feature to impress guests who were arriving at Gracehill House, a Georgian manor house built by James Stuart and named after his wife Grace, in the 18th century. Around 150 beech trees were planted by the Stuart family, stretching 0.6 miles along both sides of the entrance road, forming a mystical looking arched passageway, that has become one of the most photographed innate locations in Northern Ireland.

The magnificent trees are over 250 years old and created a very scenic road as they matured, about 90 of the 150 planted still remain today and are maintained by the Dark Hedges preservation trust. No apparent explanation has been given as to how the spooky Dark Hedges got its name but it is said to be haunted by a ghost known as ‘The Grey Lady’, who randomly drifts along the road, weaving amongst the trees, quickly fading away upon reaching the final one. People thought she may be the spirit of James Stuarts daughter Margaret, known as ‘Cross Peggy’ or that of a local maid who died mysteriously many years ago. Some suggested she could even be a lost soul from a forsaken graveyard, hidden

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in fields nearby, where it is believed the abandoned graves of those who were buried beside the grey lady, open on Hallows Eve to accompany her on her stroll.

With its ethereal shadow display and spellbinding spectacle of light through the twisted branches, the place oozes curiosity and atmosphere, alluring explorers & artists for inspiration. After my recent daytime visit, I could clearly see why this place attracts so many, it is a stunning natural phenomena, my dusk visit on the other hand was a very different experience. I had heard that the evening view as the light fades, was magical so ventured back to investigate and see if I could catch a glimpse of the infamous grey lady. The view was indeed amazing, but there was an inexplicable surrounding energy and I got the feeling that we were not alone.

I kept looking over my shoulder and turning around, expecting someone to be there, but there was no one.

Random patches of what appeared to be mist, started to gather around us and a strange coloured haze emerged, becoming evident in our photos. A while after visiting, when looking back at the pictures, to my surprise one picture stood out which had a very odd shape to the right-hand side, that could perhaps be mistaken for a hooded figure manifesting. We did not see anything there at the time with our own eyes so cannot explain what it may possibly be, did we capture a Dark Hedges Spectre? The truth remains unknown.

iving and speaking with spirits everyday might seem a bit daunting to most individuals but for a Witch like Megan Deputy, that is simply a part of everyday life. Living in tandem with the spirit world and showing it love and respect is part of what being a Witch is. As a member of The Ghost Finders, Megan showcases what this relationship is like, as well as what it is like being a Witch in this modern world. Using ritual work and formal introductory practices based in eclectic traditional witchcraft, she builds friendships with spirits and entities. This specific skill set makes her a catalyst and instrumental part of her paranormal team. Like many good ghost stories, this one began in a cabin in the woods. As a child, Megan was tucked in the middle of the forest near Harrisonburg, in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Her father was a Mennonite, her mother was Catholic, and so she was subject to a heady mix of influences from an early age. Her Grandparents on her mother’s side though were the ones who raised her in her eclectic ways. This beloved couple was responsible for cultivating an appreciation and understanding of the world around her. They spent their lives traveling, learning all they could from each land they encountered. They embraced every culture and studied the people and listened to their stories. The house they lived in was modelled after the British Museum, filled with mementos from Italy, Greece, China, Africa, and countless others. They taught Megan about the arts, history, and mythology. In her heart, their tales became a seed that blossomed in her heart into a love and respect for the eclectic.

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Besides the artifacts from their travels, her grandparent’s home also hosted several spirits. These beings lived peacefully with the couple, and rather than fear them, Megan learned to respect them. She was taught that she could communicate with these entities, whether it was through leaving offerings in the woods to the Fae or speaking to the human spirits that were drifting about, or even feeling the presence of an Elemental. Megan’s parents worked briefly as paramedics, and they also often told her stories of things they had witnessed that could not be adequately explained through conventional means. Megan learned how to live with these spirits, understanding that everything both positive and negative is a part of nature, and has as much a right to exist in the world as she does. She grew increasingly hungry for a deeper understanding of both sides of the Veil.

Picture Credit: Michael O’Neill

When her Grandparents eventually passed, their teachings helped bring her solace under otherwise tragic circumstances. She heard their whispers and guidance from time to time and, in a way, they became even more present in Megan’s life as spirits than they had when they were living. They often appeared to her in the Dreamscape. Since she had learned the ways of communicating with spirits in her youth, in her perspective, she never really lost them. Her Grandmother has even been made a few appearances and EVP’s on episodes of the Ghost Finders throughout the years.

“Intention is the true spark and heart of magick. That is the root of any magickly workings, it is also the main part of communication with the spirit world because that is how The Others can hear and feel what you are trying to say without words.”

Picture Credit: Michael O’Neill

For years, Megan was a solitary practitioner. A Witch that practices Eclectic Traditional Witchcraft makes their own path and keeps in their heart what feels right to practice. They do not just follow one rulebook; it is more import to listen to their spirit. They use different techniques and influences from around the world to build their own Book of Shadows, grimoire, or journal. This tome collects their own rituals, mixed in with the magicks and the intent that the witch is trying to send out into the world. The witch embraces the power inside themselves and uses that to plug into the spirit world. Most of the grimoires and literature Megan has shown a fondness for outside of what she has built herself come from Troy Books in the UK. Founded by Jane Cox and Gemma Gary it is one of the world’s most respected occult and esoteric publishers. It is based in Cornwall, and along with The Museum of Witchcraft and Magic, serves as an exemplary resource for others to learn the history of witchcraft in Europe. Megan incorporated much of these readings into her own style. She recommends both Gemma Gary and Robin Artlisson, two authors and Witches, for anyone looking into studying traditional witchcraft themselves. While there is never anything inherently wrong or unfulfilling with a solitary path, sometimes it really does take…a Village. Despoina Hedera Bindwood is the founder of Laughingbrook Spellcrafting and Ancestral Arts. She is also the founder of a community called Village Laughingbrook, which is a collection of pagans, witches and like-minded individuals who practice together and look to each other as family. Megan has studied under her since 2014. Megan flourished under her tutelage. She was able to add new techniques to her repertoire, such as the old ways of ritual, relationship with self and spirit and various other tools. With her Village cohorts, she embarked on a journey of formal ritual work, and working with spirits like elementals, deities, and non-human spirits. Hedera showed Megan how to use the key inside her and to unlock magick she already was holding in her hand. Haunted Magazine

Picture Credit: Michael O’Neill

“Putting the work to study and know yourself and how to focus your own emotions is key when trying to reach out across the Veil and speak with spirits of any kind. If you are doing so and you have fear or anxiety in your heart that will translate into your intent and then it will sour the new relationship with the spirit you are trying to commune with and perhaps not be the basis of a good new working relationship.”

The Ghost Finders - Megan, Rob Thompson & Dan Klaes

“The entity might take the fear a person has inside themselves and be offended by it, like a bad first impression. Think about it, if someone walked up to you on the street and acted fearful of you before they even get to know or understand you. It might hurt your feelings and you might also think them judgmental.” After Megan completed her own Rites over the years and made that push forward inside her, it is allowed for an even more beautiful relationship with the spirit world. Hedera also helped with other, more material relationships in Megan’s life, and performed the handfasting ceremony at her quarry wedding in 2015. It was this wedding that helped connect Megan with Rob Thompson in 2016. Rob Thompson was looking for a new way for The Ghost Finders to be able to communicate with spirits and he wanted to do so in a loving and respectful manner. After some reflection he decided to bring a Witch who had this same mindset on as a guest for an episode in season 7. Rob was recommended to speak with Megan Deputy. Impressed by her way of life such as her handfasting, relationship with the others and the connection of family of witches Megan had in her life. Rob brought Megan on the show as a guest. Megan’s first episode on The Ghost Finders was at The John Marshal Estate in Virginia. Rob Thompson and Heather Bordelean welcomed Megan to be her genuine self. Feeling like she was welcomed in such as family, Megan preformed her formal rituals, placed lavender around the house, channelled magicks and energies for the investigation. The results Haunted Magazine

were astonishing. EVP’s, respectful communication and even a spirit thanking the team and saying “Witch.” In awe of the spectacular results from using witchcraft and paranormal equipment in tandem, Rob Thompson immediately asked Megan to be a part of the show permanently and not just as a guest. All these years later the paranormal team and family of The Ghost Finders have been using witchcraft, mediumship, and paranormal equipment to better bridge the worlds of the living and the dead. Their approach sets them apart from many other paranormal teams because of this and is also the reason why they have such beautiful responses and relationships with the spirit world. Megan Deputy continues down her path as a Witch, she shares her witchcraft, magick and love with the spirit world and viewers of the show she demonstrates those skills. She is supported by a Village of Witches and by her paranormal family The Ghost Finders. Megan is passionate about bringing about this new era of using the old techniques of spirit communication married with new technologies. What the Ghost Finders and herself have already uncovered is just the beginning. Inhuman forms appearing on the Kinetic Cam in the middle of Megan’s ritual circle, bone chilling and descriptive EVPs and AVPs from spirits. Chanting manifesting in the woods. All these spectacular and unique findings and without any malice or evil attached to them. This may be due to the fact of the formal and respectful uses of witchcraft. Megan Deputy and The Ghost Finders carry on their journey of discovery looking forward to sharing it with the paranormal world. 9

Old Fashioned

GHOST HUNTING BARRY FRANKISH MAKES HIS CASE FOR IT

s a researcher I have spent most of my adult life searching for the exact same answers as everyone else within this field and like most genuine investigators who have chosen a similar path to myself will find that they are still waiting for that day or night when they get the opportunity to witness and record such occurrences. The lack of evidence at the moment is in favour of proving two possible outcomes: firstly, there is nothing out there to capture and secondly, we are going about things the wrong way with regards to investigating this phenomena. In my opinion the lack of credible evidence is down to our dependence on the technology we use and, in some cases, incorrectly. To witness such phenomena a person needs to connect spiritually and you cannot do that with batteries and flashing lights, for that connection a person needs to be at one with the products of their trade by making them personal to the user by using their own inner energies that many have forgotten they possess because of their dependence of mass produced technologies which they believe will make their lives easier. Do not get me wrong I am not against technology if it is used correctly but from what I have experienced and what I have used within the paranormal field it is better off being used elsewhere.

Ever since early man first stepped out of his cave armed with no more than a bit of flint and a rudimentary sharpened stick he has forever been recognised as the hunter, the one who faced danger on a daily basis, not because he wanted to but because he had to due to his very existence being dependent on his skill to outwit something he feared but along the way learning to respect enough to register his conquests in the form of cave paintings and etchings. As time went by early man’s achievements grew but not only that so did his ability to manipulate his surroundings by integrating what he discovered into how he hunted making him more efficient and the less he hunted the more he could put his energies into other avenues giving rise to other stages of human evolution such as the bronze and iron ages right up to the industrial age jumping to where we are today. The main reason early man got us to where we are today is because of his ability to understand that tools can make his life easier and the better the tool the less effort he has to put into the actual job not only that he understood that by going down this path made his quests less dangerous.

Today we have so much technology at our disposal which isn’t all bad because on the side of safety and medicine we cannot get enough but on the other hand it can make us lazy because as I stated earlier a tool is meant to assist us not do the job for us because if that was the case what is the point of the human element in this equation? Ghost hunting is an area which is a prime example of misused apparatus because it seems many people who partake in paranormal activities are under the pretext that simply buying a piece of equipment such as a ghost box (a device that scans radio frequencies, similar to a radio but is unable to land on stations) will bear fruit immediately but realistically that is not the case because no matter what anyone says there is no equipment on the market that has specifically been created to detect ghosts or spirits just adaptations of devices made for other purposes because how can an individual or company create a piece of equipment designed to detect an entity no one knows the elements of which they consist?

Now we can’t blame our prehistoric ancestors for wanting to make their lives easier because it cannot have been an easy life for them and what they did took a huge amount of effort and skill even with their basic tools and we cannot forget that the tools they had only aided them not did the job for them as in the case of much of today’s technology. Compared to those days we have it so much easier one for being we do not have to go out and hunt down our lunch without the fear of knowing that our dinner might actually eat us. Haunted Magazine

Remember the tools which you use will only assist you not do the job for you and that is where many are failing they are unwittingly falling into the trap because they’ve seen others use similar devices on tv they feel the need to purchase such items, just remember what works for one doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for all . Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying you shouldn’t use technology in your quest just be wary of its original purpose, I’ve been there and done that and realised I’ve spent a lot of time, money and effort on items that for me don’t serve a purpose in fact the only modern technology I now use are a camera and torch (flashlight) because for me I believe that what I use must not be powered by batteries but my own senses for I have turned a corner with regards to investigating and ghost hunting and gone back in time to an era which wasn’t distracted by flashing lights and items that forever need charging and can be manipulated by Wi-Fi signals, in my opinion the true way to pick up on spiritual or ghostly activity is not through mass produced little plastic boxes that flash and bleep but through our own interactions with our senses and the best way to do that in my opinion is by taking a couple of steps back and doing what I believe works best for me.

A small case measuring forty two inches by eleven and a half inches with a depth of five and a half inches and held together by no more than leather and metal studs with a worn leather handle is the Victorian era case that carries all that I use, no need for batteries or charging points everything I need is ready at a moment’s notice. Contents are as follows, one room thermometer because as we all know temperature fluctuations are a sure sign of ghostly activity. One old brass compass, to be used in place of EMF readers such as a K2. One old silver mechanical pocket watch, times and dates are a staple of any investigation. A variation of silver and brass bells attached to ribbons and cord, to be placed in areas of activity once checked 12

for traffic and draughts resulting in ringing once disturbed. One brass pendulum, being brass it’s a perfect conductor for spiritual activity and can aid in divination and dowsing practises as well as being a tool used for locating gold, water and oil due to the belief

that the pendulum works similar to an aerial or antenna picking information from purported energies emanating from objects or even individuals on a subconscious level. One pair of brass and copper dowsing rods, work on a similar principle to the pendulum but these are more widely used and are more mobile as to their use as well as being a popular choice amongst novices due to the success rate amongst all the divination tools. Candle holders and candles, due to health and safety regulations many locations no longer allow the use of candles but there are still many locations that will still allow them under supervision and apart from being a light source they are brilliant in areas such as seances and scrying. Collection of old coins, old pennies from the Edwardian and Victorian eras to be used as trigger objects. Old bible and small wooden cross, the use of a Bible is down to the preference of the user mainly due to their beliefs and can be used for comfort or even as an aid to investigation by the reading of passages, the cross can also be used as a trigger object. Old brass magnifying glass, quite a unique one that can be used in an array of ways if you’re a budding Sherlock Holmes but I use it as a trigger object and also for visual temperate tests by checking the moisture or fog on the lens. Notebook and pencil, the good old notebook and pencil you could use a pen but there is less chance of a pencil leaking. Another little item added is a little bit more modern and that Haunted Magazine

is a triple lens 8mm movie camera that is manually wound and works as good as the day it was made whereas the film used can be purchased and converted by companies found locally or online or if you are into your photography you could have a go yourself. Not forgetting every now and then depending on your audience or client a spirit board session and even though many people frown upon this practice it is actually the same sort of divination as using a pendulum or

Now I’m not saying going old school will work for everyone but for me since building up this small collection I’ve had better results than I have with modern techniques because I am quite old fashioned when it comes down to it and believe a person should be aided by the tools they use and not distracted by them. for that matter dowsing rods.

“If it is worthwhile, surely, it is worth the effort!” Barry R Frankish

Barry R Frankish is a Paranormal Researcher based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England. He has had an interest in the paranormal for the most of his life and has had several unusual and unexplained experiences which have fuelled his interest. He researches the experiences of others, based on accounts passed to him as well as through accounts that he has read about. He classes himself as an “open minded sceptic” never dismissing experiences but always looking for every possible explanation. Recently, he has begun to move away from technology-based investigation methods, preferring to use “oldfashioned” forms of detecting paranormal phenomenon. He also co-hosts the award-winning Pure Paranormal Radio Show. His new book ‘Restless Realm’ is out now.

POLTERGEIST

BOOKS FLYING OFF THE SHELVES? John Fraser delves deeper into a renowned book featuring a (now) well-known case

to contact the premises without getting any response I was suddenly confronted with a strange twitter message from @paranormaltruthUK

This is a strange case indeed – happening, apparently largely unnoticed, in the late 1960’s on a road called East Drive in the small town of Pontefract. It did not take place in a monastery but in an average council house lived in by a family of four called the Pritchard’s. At the time it achieved only regional news– yet it now makes claims to be possibly the most violent poltergeist incident in recent times … except when we look at future editions mention of the Black Monk in the title has actually, like any good paranormal entity, become invisible from view.

I simply could not resist replying!!

part from being an interesting read what makes this book stick out is that Wilson, during the course of writing, changed his whole theory about Poltergeists from something triggered from powers within us to something triggered by an outside (supernatural) agent. This was caused by a particular case, that of the Black Monk of Pontefract. In fact, such was the impact of this poltergeist incident on Wilson that he made the usual step of adding this case in as a subtitle “Including the Black Monk of Pontefract” onto the first edition of the book!

In 1981 Colin Wilson’s book “Poltergeist! A Study in Destructive Haunting” was published. This was possibly one of the last major book on the subject (as opposed to about a particular poltergeist incident), and such was its impact that it has been in print virtually ever since in its numerous editions.

Was this really such a groundbreaking case? Surely what happened in Pontefract needed re-visiting, especially for someone (such as me) in the middle of writing one of those rare books on poltergeist phenomena? My colleague Rosie O’Carroll of the Ghost Club and I were actually to achieve that wish in the strangest of ways. After trying Haunted Magazine

The senders of this strange message were none other than Dale Makin and Justin Powell, formerly of the TV series Paranormal Truth, and seemed keen to get the SPR and Ghost Club involved in their project. Both Dale and Justin were to get incredibly significant phenomena on the second night of their visit to East Drive which has been written up in an earlier edition of ‘Haunted Magazine”. 13

Rosie O’Carroll and I as our (bad) luck would have it, joined them on their first night at East Drive where little or nothing of note happened – paranormal investigating is like fishing where more often than not you leave the river just before the big fish pokes his head above the murky water. My trip however was also about researching the truth behind the original Colin Wilson research and in that at least Pontefract was to become a place of strange and interesting twists. The original 1960’s activity involved an entity who was initially nicknamed ‘Fred’, a rather un-clerical name, and ran its course as a major poltergeist in two stages. The first bout of phenomena started in 1966 and fairly quickly subsided. The second more major burst of phenomena happened in 1968. Towards the end of the main episode a man dressed in a long robe started to appear. During the second period the incidents included traditional poltergeist incidents such as drumming noises and pools of water appearing, drawers flying out of a cabinet. It was a series of less typical events which gave this poltergeist its violent reputation including pinning Diane, the daughter of the Pritchard’s, to the stairs with a heavy oak hall stand... and in a separate incident, knocking over a grandfather clock down the same staircase, The incident that made Wilson’s theory flip involved Diane being dragged up the stairs ... her cardigan stretched out in front of her as if Fred was tugging at it, his other hand was apparently at her throat... which was later found to be covered with red finger marks.

Wilson could not comprehend why someone’s subconscious would possibly want to drag oneself up the stairs and overnight changed his view on poltergeists to the outside forces of spirits and elementals. 14

But how did Fred become a Black Monk? This only happened about ten years later, when a researcher called Tom Cuniff reviewed the case and spurred on by the description of the long robed man, explored the theory that the poltergeist may have been monk -no ordinary monk but an evil 16th century monk who had been hung for raping and killing a child. Cuniff did interview the poltergeist victims, but his theory was based on ‘hearsay’ Information that was given to him by Mrs Pritchard, who had been told by a neighbour of a book in Pontefract public library that mentioned that a Monk had been hanged for the rape and murder of a girl Cuniff’s research also concluded that the Pontefract gallows had stood at that time at the top of the hill where East Drive was, and the house had stood near to a bridge known as Priest’s Bridge. Based on Cuniff’s research Fred was forgotten and the case has since become known as that of the Black Monk of Pontefract. The Black Monk was to be resurrected when, in 2012, Pat Holden, a relative of the Pritchards was to direct a low budget Movie ‘When the Lights Went Out ‘that was based around the incidents. When Bill Bungay, the producer of the movie was looking for ways to publicise it, he simply bought East Drive and held the premiere there. He also experienced phenomena in the house and subsequently put it on overnight lets for investigation to paranormal teams. Good paranormal investigation however takes place as much in dusty archives and libraries as it does in council houses with eclectic furnishings from the 1960’s, so I decided to go to Pontefract a day early to see what I could discover. Haunted Magazine

On arrival I found Pontefract an interesting place, perhaps very slightly run down in places, but still with an impressive historic town centre. The town is famous for Pontefract Cake – and was once surrounded by liquorice fields that gave it its flavour. I also discovered that it had no less than two priories, both now totally destroyed. These were the Cluniac Priory of St John now an open space, and the Dominican Friary of St Richard, now a park.

These were not the only two places that monks could call their home in ancient Pontefract – which also boasted a ‘Hermitage’ - hand dug underground caves used at times by monks who wanted to totally cut themselves off from the world. For a small town of just 28,000 people, Pontefract, with three ancient ecclesiastical centres has in the past been literally overrun by Monks, an interesting point when it comes to people’s expectations of what is likely to haunt them. In the morning before the investigation I visited the archives of the local but very comprehensive library. The first thing I wished to establish was that the poltergeist events in the 1960’s actually happened and this I finally found in the 12th September 1968 edition of the Pontefract and Castleford Express - a front page a headline stated that :

‘Invisible Hand Rocks Family’ It referred to the second and more major poltergeist outbreak, including mention of the grandfather clock falling down the stairs. Whilst the article was on the front page, it was very much a secondary story, eclipsed by a lucky lady who had won £2000 on bingo(!) which to be fair was a lot of money at that time. So, the cases definitely existed but perhaps did not initially set the media alight. What also became clear from old library maps was that the suburb of Pontefract

called Chequerfield where East Drive is based, consisted mainly of just liquorish fields until the mid 20th century, when it became a large housing estate. This was not a place would be logically used for hangings. A Priest’s bridge did exist in the area and it may well have been that the church once owned some of the land nearby, but hardly a strong connection the church used to own so much land prior to the reformation, and let’s face it a Priest isn’t a monk ! The only building that used to stand near East Drive was a leprosy and fever hospital.

visiting it were to seek recollections how seriously the story had been taken at the time. We found no drinkers that went back to that period, but the bar lady was happy to explain that the club itself had a more recent highly active history of poltergeist activity. The activity included strange tapings on the dance floor and movement of empty beer glasses.

When you add to that the whole folder of reports in the library including other poltergeist cases , which include the historic Red Lion Pub in the centre of town we were left wondering if Pontefract and Chequerfield might just be one of those places where strange things happen in clusters.

Though I browsed through a series of old local history texts including the Black Friars of Pontefract by Richard Holmes (1891), I could find no reference to a rape or hanging of a Monk. From the library I went to Pontefract museum where a local historian confirmed some of my doubts, explaining that the traditional hanging spot was in a street called Woolenmarket just outside what is now the Windmill Pub. This was another dent on Cuniff’s story. In addition, I found in the museum archives a very thick folder marked ‘Paranormal’ that gave the impression this small town had more than its fair share of strange events. Later in the afternoon I met with my colleague Rosie O’Carroll and on making enquiries we discovered the Pritchards had been members of the nearby Pontefract Sports and Social Club. Our intentions in Haunted Magazine

The other key things I discovered from the Library and museum were that: •

The Chequerfield area had an awfully bad history of housing subsidence since the houses were built over local mines. There were numerous stories referring to this including Headlines from the 1980s stating that:

‘Mining Damage Claims Pour In ‘(Pontefract and Castleford Gazette 12th Jan 1984) This would be a potential explanation for creaks or noises in a housing structurethough not a full explanation for the stranger occurrences. 15

•

To add to the previous observations that Pontefract had literally been flooded with Monks in the past. I also discovered that a definitive ghostly monk has actually been seen in living memory, except that it was a black monk seen at Pontefract Castle. This was seen amongst others by castle tour guide Michael Holdsworth who stated in the Pontefract and Castleford Express of 3rd Oct 1996 that:

“I saw a man in black near the castle keep. He looked to be wearing old woollen clothing and reading a scroll” •

•

The Chequerfield and Pontefract areas particularly are liable to flooding since numerous ‘riverlets’ run underground in the area. This provokes some interesting speculation along the theory by the dowser and writer T C Letherbridge that energy fields from water could be a factor in triggering clusters of paranormal activity. This speculation is enhanced by a piece of research by SPR member G.W. Lambert from the 1950’s In his paper ‘Poltergeist a Physical Theory’ Lambert researched 54 poltergeist cases and found that nearly half of those had taken place within three miles of tidal water. He also noted that in the cases where the month of the outbreak was stated, in 27 out of these 33 cases began in the wet and wintry half of the year. This was a solid piece of reasoning in favour of a paranormal clustering theory based on the presence of water. Of interest, with regards to the identity of the poltergeist is the fact that there were numerous press cuttings indicating that Tom Cuniff, the main proponent of the Black Monk theory aspired to become a full-time paranormal author. There was also tension between him and Colin Wilson. One article from the Pontefract & Castleford Gazette of 17th December 1981 states that:

“The first edition does not <properly> acknowledge the work he put into it “. This makes me think that Cuniff in his eagerness for fame may have pushed the colourful but flimsy Black Monk theory a little too much 16

The tentative conclusion I made is that if a place in Pontefract was going to have a ghost or poltergeist, it was as liable to be identified as a monk, as one seen in Eastern Europe is liable to be identified as a vampire. (There is substantial evidence that reported vampire incidents are poltergeists’ ones named to suit the regions culture). If one is looking for an outside entity to be involved in the East Drive poltergeist case, it would be far more likely to be an unfortunate leper in his bed robe who at least can be shown to have lived and died in the immediate vicinity. Poltergeists being given a ‘personality’ are not uncommon, a further example likely happened at Cashens Gap in the Isle of Man in the 1930’s where fourteen year old Voirrey Irving decided that poltergeist phenomena in her home, a desolate farm house on the Isle of Man, was in fact caused by a ‘Talking Mongoose’, an exotic creature that had actually recently been introduced to the Island. There seems to be a desire to put a ‘personality’ to poltergeists when they are the ultimate ‘pub bore’. In the case of Pontefract, the so-called monk spent nine months displacing objects and people and making noises but communicating absolutely nothing at all?

Take away the Black Monk facade and that poltergeist, is one without any personality, and a poltergeist without personality does not back up a theory involving the afterlife. So perhaps Wilson was hasty in flipping theories halfway through his book? However, 30 East Drive is and was a fascinating case which does not need a Black Monk persona for it to continue to be. Like most poltergeists the evidence stands by itself stark enough to be either paranormal ‘fact’ or fraud – and surely with discovering more about? “Poltergeist – A new Investigation into Destructive Haunting “by John Fraser is out now published by John Hunt Publishing. Haunted Magazine

John Fraser is a member of the Council of the Society for Psychical Research and has been’ Vice Chair Investigations’ of the Ghost Club – the two oldest groups in the country that study the subject. His topics of study have been as varied as hypnotic regressions and vampire folklore, as well as more conventional paranormal research. His 2010 ‘Ghost Hunting, a Survivors Guide’ was one of the first UK books published about the subject since its re-popularisation by TV. John has appeared in several media discussions of the paranormal including Japanese and Scottish Television, and national BBC radio. He currently believes though that ghosts and apparitions are unlikely to ‘prove’ the paranormal - due to alternative psychological theories - however such issues do not apply to the poltergeist. his new book “Poltergeist – A new Investigation into Destructive Haunting” is OUT NOW published by John Hunt Publishing.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Poltergeist-Investigation-Into-Destructive-Haunting/dp/1789043972/ ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=poltergeist+investigation+into.+destructive+haunting&qid=1594154182&sr=8-1

T H E

L O W D O W N

R E T U R N S

SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION In my library I have a small booklet from 1746. It engaged my interest because it covered the recent “45” Jacobite rebellion, and details from the Crown Courts concerning the trials of the surrendered English Manchester rebels and the justice served to them afterwards. This is all remarkably interesting to me especially the information coming from the prime source of the Courts as it happened.

t’s a very old newspaper called “The Gentleman’s Magazine” of July 1746, it covers the tail end of the rebellion and fills its pages with other highbrow sensational features like “A cure for the bloody flux” and “ A man revived from suffocation. Another feature had the remarkable demonstration in Paris of “Electrical phenomena” but out of the many articles the following tract was the one that is fit for my Fortean interests… it reads “The Account of a lady, consumed by fire kindled in her own body and the same philosophically accounted for!” Here we have in detail a woman from Italy in the year 1731. The Countess of Cornelia Baudi of Cesena, a small northeastern town famed for its farming and good qualities of fruit. This lady was 62 and in good health. She, after supper on the 4th of April retired upstairs to bed and talked to her maid for three hours in her room before falling asleep. The maid made sure everything was as it should be when her mistress awoke, then left the room shutting the door. By morning, the Countess had not made it down to breakfast, so her servant gathered a tray and what she required for a breakfast to be presented in her mistresses’ bedroom. When the girl knocked and then opened the Countesses door a smell of roasted meat was in the air and a scene of absolute

horror and repugnance lay on the floor just four foot from the bed. A heaped pile of ashes in the shape of a woman. The body corrupted into absolute ruin, a charcoaled ashen of a form, but hideously obscene to recognise two completely unburnt legs sticking out on the floor. All that remained to identify it, as being the Countess. Two fingers of the right hand were strangely untouched by the intense heat that had done the damage. The unburnt legs still had woollen stockings on! completely untouched by the heat and the fury of the fire that had consumed the Countess, the heavy pile of ashes had an ungainly moisture to them with small debris of bits of dry ashes floating about in the air to cement a striking scene of confusion to the maid. Her mistress Countess Cornelia had been reduced to a pile of dirty black charcoaled ashes, teeth! bones! the whole body…. every part consumed…. except the legs and two fingers! With some investigation nearby candles, bedclothes furniture and carpet lay completely undamaged only an oily spread of soot was on them. The nearby lamp was set as it should be, no natural reason for the combustion could be found, bread that had on the table was offered to the household dogs who refused to eat it! But the fire had eaten the Countess so wholly, it was reasoned it had started from inside her own entrails! Fermented from her own juices! Officials deemed brandy and strong wines in her stomach may have combined to the heat of the fireplace to combust violently inside her, killing her instantly and then burn away slowly over hours. Her smouldering body acting like a candle, her own body fat supplying the fuel to burn at such a high intensity the actual bones and teeth burnt to ashes!

Scotland has a case a bit later in 1888 that has the same frightening conclusion to the Italian Countess story… 19th February Dr Mackenzie Booth a lecturer at Aberdeen university was called to the loft of a stable in “Constitution Street” where the burnt corpse of a 65 year old man was discovered. The floor had burnt almost through, what was left of the man’s remains rested on a single near burnt beam. But the body and arms had been completely burnt through so the very ashes held the body, in a somewhat human form of what remained of the man. The horror of the find had not taken away the amazement that the intensity of the fire had burnt through the roof and several roof tiles now lay in the perverse black shape of a man. That he was surrounded in dry straw that had not taken light with the intensity of the fire capped a most amazing scene. The man had still his facial features albeit charcoaled and ready to collapse in on itself if provoked. He had died without struggle and over hours burnt to a husk leaving the legs completely unmolested below the pelvis. A photographer was obtained from the University and captured the strange scene on copper film plate.

Sources: Italian Countess, THE GENTLEMAN’S MAGAZINE JUNE 1746, Aberdeen Case, MYSTERIES OF MIND SPACE AND TIME

Haunted Magazine

Leonard Low

TALES FROM THE POOLSIDE :

SWIMMING WITH SPOOKS W R ITTEN BY RUSSELL BEV I N

As busy by night as it is by day, but not with the living, Smethwick Baths lies four miles west of Birmingham city centre in the UK. Smethwick is a small industrial town that was very much a part of the industrial revolution. Its name has the meaning “settlement on the smooth land”.

Opened in 1933 and formerly known as “Thimble mill Swimming Baths”, this Grade II listed building is busy by day with the living and even busier at night with the souls of the dead. The building itself has an imposing Art Deco style frontage; it is set out over three levels. There are two Swimming Pools, a 1933 built main pool and a 1968 built small pool. The levels also hold a mixture of leisure facilities, including a Steam Room, Sauna, Gym and Dance Studio. Each of these areas have their own paranormal incidents and contribute their own part to the Ghost lore and paranormal layers within the building. A plethora of paranormal activity has happened over the years.

WWII BOMBINGS Most of the paranormal happenings are centred in and on the lower levels of the building. This level is known as “The Subway” area to all who have worked, investigated, and researched Haunted Magazine

there. The Subway lies beneath the two pools. The layout of which is set out in a grid like pattern. Three long tunnels run under the length of the pools, and each tunnel has rooms that are adjoined to each. During World War II the Subway was used as an Air Raid Shelter and temporary Morgue. The Morgue area was made to house the unfortunate victims of Hitler’s Luftwaffe assaults. Over Eighty victims fell victim to these raids in the local area.

THE BEATING HEART As mentioned, there are various rooms and areas branching off each of the tunnels. Some of these rooms are notorious for paranormal happenings. These include The Woodshed, The Mortuary, The Air Raid Shelter and The Small Pool Tunnel. For decades unexplained incidents have been reported. From full interactive manifestations to physical assaults and everything you can think of 19

between. There is even a reported sighting of a residual Horse. The Subway system has a strange and powerful energy to it, as if the building was constructed on some kind of energy source or even some kind of inter dimensional portal. The energy is alive down there and spirits can manipulate this source to their hearts content. No wonder the place is so active, the Subway is the heartbeat to it all and this emanates through the whole property. There are multiple spirits that are frequently seen and heard in the Subway system. I have been lucky enough to spend considerable time down there on my own, and with my colleague John Tolladay. Either doing events or research evenings. It is true that spirits do become used to your energy overtime. I have noticed this during the past six months, it is as if they are waiting for your next visit. You can sense the anticipation, Andy Moore who is the Manager of the centre and a Psychic Medium has to block the spirits daily, otherwise they would stop him doing his duties.

THE WOODSHED One of the most active and very dark areas of the Subway area is the Woodshed which has a very dark history to it, anyone who is sensitive can immediately pick up on the lower energies that reside. We believe one of the spirits is not from an earthly plain. I believe this spirit has been conjured from when the land was baron, and was used for dark practices, which some of the immediate area around the building is known for. This Spectre is often seen mimicking shapes of human form as witnessed by my teammate Eddie Fray. The Entity has a violent side and is not afraid to get physical. Females are often warned not to stay alone in this area for any length of time, as it has a particular hatred of Women. There is a table in the middle of the room where vigils are performed. This table has seen an awful lot of spirit board work over the decades. This table is often manipulated by the Spectre. One team had a violent experience at an event. They were doing board work when the table began to jolt and move. Instead of closing the vigil down they continued with the contact, the table 20

Haunted Magazine

began to shake and rise, this is when the less calm of the team broke the circle and left the area. Only the brave remained, the table continued to rise higher and suddenly tilted and with real force was thrown against the side wall. The remaining witnesses were shaking, and their nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s investigations were cut short. The team were all Women and no doubt the Entity was angered by their attempts of contact. The Woodshed was originally used as a storage area during the war. This leads to another disturbing incident that occurred in this for boding room. During one of the long and nightmarish Luftwaffe assaults, a group of men decided to entice a young lady into the room for drinks and chat. However, the men had other motives. The lady was assaulted and attacked by these savages. During this assault of the lady, there was an unwilling guard told to watch over the room while the horrid incident occurred. The man did not want involvement, but he was threatened physically to do this evil task. The spirit of this since passed man is often seen and heard just outside the room, his voice a quivering tone, sounding like a guilt ridden in print on the fabric of the area, yet another reminder of the rooms dark and evil past.

QUICKLIME Immediately next to The Woodshed are the Air Raid Shelters. Still to this day intact with drawings and scribbles on the walls, made by the terrified local folk, who had to endure such savage bombing raids. Again, like all the other areas in the Subway these rooms hold their own energies, these two rooms have an air of apprehension to them. A feeling of dread, anxiety symptoms are often experienced. This also must be a residual imprint, forever held in the walls from such a traumatic time. The Shelter rooms also have a dark layer to them, as beneath the Shelter is a burial pit. A pit that was dug for 300 bodies of poor plague victims from a long-ago era. The bodies covered in quick lime to help contain the spread of the disease, the poor bodies were never exhumed and re buried, they still remain to this day, part of the forgotten foundations of which the centre was built.

Another one of the regularly seen spirits is possibly one of these poor souls from the pit. A young boy with raggedy clothing, his chest almost bare, covered in a White powder. He is seen with a bewildered look on his face as if he is lost. Perhaps being so young he is looking for his parents who more than likely were put to rest in the heavily crowded pit with him.

THE WATCHMAN Going deeper into the Subway is my own favourite area The Mortuary, this room has produced so many paranormal experiences over the years that a night could be spent easily in there for a sole investigation. The Mortuary was only a temporary place to store the victims of the bombing raids. It is a dark and damp room, a room where you would feel the moisture on your clothes after a while in its space. As you walk in you can see a small chute leading up to ground level. This chute was what was used to pass the poor victims down from above to be put into their temporary resting places. So much activity occurs in this room, even during periods of flat energy things are always likely to kick off in there. The resident spirit is that of a tall man with a hat and black beard, he is often seen standing in the far right corner of the room, his head often dipped facing the ground as if in mourning or out of respect for the dead around him. The spirit is nicknamed the Watchman, as his dress resembles some kind of security person. Perhaps he was employed to keep guard of the poor victims until there could be dealt with in the correct manner. The Watchman is a very stubborn spirit, he is always around and lets you know it if you are not treating his area with respect. The room was also used as an interrogation area for any captured Germans. There were a few aircraft shot down during the bombing raids. The captured soldiers would be interrogated out of sight in the Subways. Mediums often pick up on a man with a sack over his head, struggling to breath and not being able to communicate with his captorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. I have many of my own experiences from this room. The experiences will resonate with me forever and a day.

The main one I want to describe is of an incident of possible contact with the mentioned Watchman. It was a public event and I was taking a team around for a spooky experience. Feeling relatively relaxed and knowing the people in the team had been having a great night. I decided that it was time to unleash The Mortuary on them for the last vigil of the evening. We all decided we would conduct a basic run of the mill call and wait vigil, accompanied with various types of meters and trigger objects around the room. We all chose a chair in a large circle and I began the calling. After twenty minutes nothing had happened, not a knock or a bang nothing. The energy was flat, and I thought to myself, what a let-down for the team to end the evening like this. But thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the paranormal for you, they are not around for entertainment purposes. We had minutes left of the vigil, so I thanked the spirits for their time and if they would like to say goodnight to us. With that question the whole dynamic changed, the EMF meters all went off in a line, one by one. The TriField meter has never registered such a natural high reading. The REM pod and the Light motion sensor were also triggered. This went on for around 5 seconds then all went dead again as if the power button had been switched off. I was amazed as were the guests, my immediate response was to say thank you and offer my utmost respect for what spirit had shown us. To prove it was not a fluke and not just some kind of energy spike, I asked for one more final sign that it was spirit that was responsible for the activity. We were not let down. This time the spirit responded with a physical interaction. From the far end of the room where The Watchman resides an object was launched towards us. It brushed past a few seated heads and landed towards the entrance to the room. We heard it hit the door and spin for a few seconds. We immediately illuminated the room to see if anyone was hurt and to see what the object was. Luckily, no one was injured, the object itself was a Yellow end cap from one of the chemical containers for the pool. There was no way any of the guests could have performed this action Haunted Magazine

without being seen. The room is dark, but the meters and the trigger objects gave the room a dim glow. In my opinion this was 100% spirit activity, it was a nudge towards us to end the vigil as spirit were getting fed up. Obviously on that note I ended the vigil with respect. The guests were sent home gob smacked and all of them still visit the baths to this day on various events.

and rest with her parents. Numerous mediums have tried to cross her over through the years, but she will not leave, I presume she is afraid to crossover in case she doesn’t meet her loved ones. My capture was analysed by the centre Manager Andy Moore and he confirmed it was Emily on the recording.

BUT THERE’S MORE

A GIRL CALLED EMILY Emily is a young Girl that has been active in the centre since it was built. Like a few of the hauntings at Smethwick a lot of them are generated from prior to the building’s existence. Emily as far as we know lived on farmland in the area, she is aged at around ten or twelve years old and she wears a torn Grey dress, she has an untidy appearance but has a playful and caring nature. She loves the company of Women, looking for the motherly love that she no doubt craves. Her sightings have been frequent over the years, she is by far the most active spirit in the building, and she has no boundaries. She has been seen just about everywhere in the centre.

I have had my own experience with her too. It was during a research evening deep in the Subways where I caught her sweet little voice on a class a direct EVP. I have this recorded and witnessed by 6 people. It was a chilling but emotional experience. This poor girl lost in the ether looking for peace

The tunnels themselves have seen so much history over the years, from the WWII episodes to when it was frequently used for bare knuckle fighting and illegal partying in the 50s and 60s. There are various other entities seen in the tunnels. A shot down fighter pilot is often spotted looking for his pregnant wife. A former engineer is often around when there is any repair work needed to be undertaken. He wears a Blue boiler suit with a Ginger hair colour. He has often stopped workmen to have a chat. Even Fireman who practice drills in the subways have often seen him. In fact, he has scared various teams of Firemen that they have refused to complete the drills.

IT’S NOT JUST IN THE SUBWAYS By now you will be realising that Smethwick deservedly has a reputation as being a hotbed of paranormal happenings. But the activity does not start and end in the subway system. The whole building has a tale to tell, I will now go into some of the other active areas that have reported paranormal happenings. On the first-floor level you have the pool and changing rooms with some leisure facilities including the Sauna and a small Gym. The reception which is central to these areas has also been an area that young Emily is often spotted. On the second level you will find the spectator area and the main Gym and a toilet block. The female Toilet has a very disturbing story to it and is another area that sensitives need to be aware of the overwhelming emotion they will feel when they enter the facility.

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PHILLIP WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU, SIR! Smethwick has a Sauna and Steam area for you to relax in after a nice swim or Gym session. But before it was a Sauna area was a bathing area, with a dozen or so bathtubs around the room. A frequent visitor to the baths was a gentleman by the name of Phillip. He was a former squaddie and used to spend his hours relaxing away with the centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facilities. Phillip was openly gay and had a roving eye for the more handsome of the male species. Phillip unfortunately met his demise in one of the tubs. He had an underlying health issue which caused him to fit. One day he had such a fit in a filled tub and drowned. Phillip is often heard in the sauna area; he likes to come through on voice recorder. But his main idea of fun is when a human pendulum experiment is performed, and Phillip will often goose any male that takes his fancy. Luckily or unluckily for me this has never occurred. Perhaps I need more time at the centres Gym.

THE TEA LADY

The Baths were often used for discos and music events in the 50s and 60s. Some huge names have performed there over the years. These names include The Beetles, The Kinks, and The Stones. The venue was extremely popular during this period. They would empty the pool and make it a huge dancefloor with tables. The main stage was at the front of the pool. Directly behind the stage are a couple of rooms, these rooms were used as dressing rooms for the acts. So, you can imagine the nervous energy generated prior to the performance. When investigating you can often hear musical instruments being tuned and jamming sessions occurring, as if the nervous energy is being played back for us all to hear again. At the end of the dark corridor you can still see a Green 1940s style old door. Behind this door is the old Kitchen and Tea making area. This room is the residual home of The Tea Lady. A lady who would serve up the refreshments to the acts prior to their performances. Her trolley is often heard squeaking up and down the corridor. She is not afraid to knock on the room doors whilst you are performing a vigil. She is a very prominent spirit and not shy by any means, she has even been recorded on an Austrian Paranormal TV programme.

A DISTURBING TALE By far the most disturbing tale of the centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history is the story of the Female RAF worker. She was stationed at the centre during the war to help with various duties. Close by to the centre was an American Military Office. The lady got into a torrid relationship with one of the American Military men. This all did not end well at all, the lady became pregnant and the American who was already married could not have the child, as his reputation and marriage would be in tatters. They decided that they would abort the pregnancy. The man sought medication to do this procedure. On one disastrous evening in the centres second floor female toilets, the man administered the poor lady the drugs. Unknown to both of them the American had issued the wrong dose. He ended up killing the lady, baby, and all. Such a sad tale, but again this has left an essence of something in the fabric of the room. The lady is often heard sobbing. The male comes through on EVP as clear as day. His American accent is a very deep southern state accent. The male is also aggressive to Women and is known to make visitors violent with temper. Mediums and Empaths often feel overwhelmed in this area and have to leave within a short period. Another team member of mine Karen Fray has had a few experiences with this male entity, often leading her to have temper outbursts that do not fit her normal polite and laid-back nature. Smethwick Swimming Baths is a location that will always hold dear to my heart, not just because of the activity I have encountered here, but because the building itself has such a great energy to it. These type of buildings are so few and far between these days. People all want the brand-new state of the art facility. Not me, neither do the community or the regions paranormal enthusiasts. Smethwick Baths needs to be around until it can no longer stand, so that we can all experience what it has to offer as a leisure centre and a paranormal hub. God bless you Emily.

Russ Bevin

Photos by David Sheppard

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PENNY GRIFFITHS-MORGAN

t was around 2002 when I stayed at a friend’s place in North London, Friern Barnet to be precise, at a complex called Princess Park Manor. As you get older, this is a phrase you tend to say more, that hindsight is a wonderful thing, and if I knew then what I know now about these luxurious apartments (and trust me, they are not your standard two beds and bath affair) I would have made a lot more of the opportunity. Fast forward about fifteen years and I am doing some research on workhouses (no surprise there to anyone who knows me) and saw an entry whereby a resident had been moved to a place called Colney Hatch Lunatic Asylum. I had heard the name mentioned before as it is where one of the Jack the Ripper suspects, Aaron Kosminski was institutionalised. This piece is not a debate as to whether Kosminski was the notorious killer or not, but it is interesting that he was victim to the practice in the Victorian age of placing someone having mental health problems into the Workhouse first before they were moved to an Asylum. There was quite a simple reason for this (other than space), cost. In 1843 it was estimated that it cost 3 shilling and 6 pence to provide for an individual in the workhouse, whereas the same person would

cost 9 shilling and 6 pence in the Asylum, so the local poor boards felt that if care could be given in the local poorhouse, this was the preferred option. The Pole was moved to Colney Hatch on 7th February 1891 having apparently threatened his sister with a knife, he stayed there until the 19th April 1894 when he was moved to another facility. The records indicate that he may have been suffering from some kind of paranoia and hallucinations; he stayed in the system until he died in 1919. We do not have many accounts of life within the walls of this asylum which was opened in 1851 to take some pressure off the smaller Hanwell Asylum nearby. However, there is information available if you go looking for it, partly due to the mandatory admission books that were part of The Lunacy Act 1845. These documents had to show basic demographic data for each admission to “Hospital” including information like diagnosis, cause, age of first attack. We can only surmise the type of treatments that were metered out to the patients within Colney Hatch; they would have been extremely basic and involved little more than trying to keep them warm and fed.

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Things like Rotational Therapy to help with mania had stopped being used, and the more infamous regimen such as Lobotomies, Electro Convulsive Treatment and Insulin Shock therapy were not to make an appearance until the late 1920s and early 1930s. Many patients had to be physically restrained and either strapped to beds or chairs, whether this was for their own safety or to help the staff who were fast being overwhelmed by the number of individuals being admitted is open for debate. That type of mechanised control brings me onto another case that I found whilst researching, that of Elizabeth Field, we know from the admissions book that she was admitted into Colney Hatch on 17th January 1854 and died on the 26th February in the same year. Her initial cause of death was â&#x20AC;&#x153;mania related exhaustionâ&#x20AC;?, but the Doctor conducting the post-mortem thought this was strange and decided to delve a bit deeper. He discovered that all her ribs were fractured, some in more than one place, the hospital authorities denied any wrongdoing and from what I can tell, the case was dropped. What did happen to Elizabeth? We know that she was hospitalised suffering with Mania, people experiencing this condition can think they are invincible, make unwise choices (no sexual inhibitions) and also come across as not the nicest people due to their inability to apply social niceties to what they are saying. Had she been hit by angry staff? There are certainly accounts of patients being beaten into submission at Colney Hatch (and other asylums, it has to be said), Could her ribs have been broken by being placed into a strait jacket? It is certainly possible but would be most likely to have taken place whilst she was being strapped in as opposed to the jacket itself causing the injuries that may have led to her death.

Whatever the case, a 55-year-old woman who had entered a hospital died with injuries that could not be explained. In May 1864, John Vine Phillips was killed by Daniel Hobbs; the deceased was a 52-year-old former legal clerk who was suffering with paralysis of the brain, Hobbs, a cab driver with mania. Hobbs reportedly came out of the water closet with a piece of pipe in his hand, and although he had been assessed as not violent merely destructive to inanimate objects, he hit Phillips over the head. Both men were removed to partially padded rooms without any Doctor being called, and ten hours later Phillips had died, presumably from a head injury. I do not think these sad stories are anything unusual unfortunately, all asylums all over the world seem to have their own, perhaps this was due to the fact that Colney Hatch, like many others, was expected to house the criminally insane as well as the mentally ill. The six miles of corridors that the hospital possessed became even bigger in 1896 when five new dormitories were constructed for female patients. Perhaps foolishly for a place where people were mentally unstable, they were fabricated using wood and only partial steel. On the 27th January 1903 there was a huge fire, which damaged part of the main hospital but incinerated the five wards only built seven years previously. The total number of individuals lost is uncertain, but accounts vary between fifty and fifty-three fatalities.

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during an air raid the hospital took a direct hit and thirty-six patients, and four nurses were killed.

The Illustrated London News 31st January 1903 reports:

It was not until 1993 that the hospital closed its doors – like so many others – and the incredibly expensive and affluent abodes you see there now were constructed. With over one hundred and forty years as a hospital I am sure there are some energies still remaining, whether that be of a patient who had spent their entire life there, one of the poor victims of the 1903 fire, or someone who lost their life during the air raids in 1941 I cannot say.

“Many gallant attempts were made at rescue, but these were rendered extremely difficult by the mental condition of the panic-stricken patients” The rooms themselves held over three hundred people, the nurses and hospital staff managed to save nearly 85%, but it was definitely a dark day for the institution.

As I said at the beginning, had I known the history of the building when I stayed there in 2002, I would definitely have explored the grounds more. Many paranormal investigators have tried to gain entry to this now gated community but with no luck, in fact, the developers are incredibly careful not to mention to prospective tenants the sites background. To give you an idea as to the type of resident that the owners are looking for. A studio flat costs over £250,000.

In 1937, there was a change of name to try and take away the stigma of going to “Colney Hatch”, we always think of Bedlam as being the word associated with the mentally ill in history, but in the Victorian era, Colney Hatch was synonymous with the same field of medicine. Having dropped the word lunatic from the name a few years previously, it was now known as Friern Mental Hospital. That is not to say however that the reputation and fear of an asylum stopped people being admitted, around the time that it was rebranded there were in the region of two thousand seven hundred people living there. During the Second World War some of the wards were requisitioned by the emergency medical services for civilian war casualties, but in 1941

What can I remember from staying there? It was beautiful but cold, such a stunning building and conversion – and I was in a three bed site, it was amazing – but there was no warmth to the place, as much as I enjoyed seeing how the other half lived (words deliberately chosen) it was not somewhere I felt I could curl up with a good book and read for three hours. I am not saying that this hospital was any better or worse than others, it was simply huge and therefore well known in its day – even if more from legend than fact – and as mental health is such a juvenile aspect of medical care, I do not believe we can judge too much of the majority of treatment given. If you have stayed at Princess Park Manor, or know people who have lived there, get in touch with me via my Haunted Histories page and let me know your experiences.

Penny x

*SOME OF THE ‘ISTORY MIGHT INDEED BE ‘ORRIBLE, IT’S JUST A TAG LINE OK?

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BR E A K IN G N EWS THE PARANORMAL ISN’T ALWAYS DOOM AND GLOOM! BY

A MA NDA

R .

WO O M ER

( S P O O K- EATS )

PUTTING THE SOUP INTO SUPERNATUR AL, THE GHOUL INTO GOUL ASH, THE BOOZE INTO BOOS!

hen we think of haunted locations around the world, many times, abandoned asbestos-laden buildings pop into our minds. Paint peeling from the walls, broken windows, floors rotten away after years of neglect.

For many people in the paranormal (both professionals and casual fans alike), we think of jails, orphanages, asylums, and hospitals as some of the most haunted places worldwide. Of course, there is no denying that places like Waverly Hills and the Tower of London are, indeed, haunted by both its history and restless spirits. However, we tend to forget about the places around the world that are just as historic, just as haunted, and (sometimes) far more enjoyable to visit. •

Haunted hotels.

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Haunted restaurants.

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Haunted bars and pubs.

When it feels like the usual haunted locations, we think of are only for the famous ghost hunters we see on TV, it is easy to believe that the paranormal is barred from the general public. Attempting to get into these iconic places is a goliath task, and many times, your average investigator is turned away, or they’re forced to pay a small fortune to spend a single night inside in the hopes of gathering even one shred of evidence. That is the beauty of haunted hospitality—restaurants, cafes, B&I, bars, and hotels. These are places that are already open to the general public and genuinely want you to visit them. And many times, they have just as much history and just as many ghost stories as the infamous places everyone already knows about. And with heat, electricity, bathrooms, appetizers, and alcohol, why wouldn’t you want to spend a night at a haunted pub rather than a haunted jail? Many paranormal researchers believe that hauntings stem from energy. Generally, we hear about the negative energy that causes a haunting. It could be a battle like we see in Gettysburg or fear and confusion at asylums, as we see at Pennhurst. Negative and sad energy runs rampant in the places we see on TV—those orphanages, hospitals, and jails. But negative energy isn’t the only thing that can be absorbed by a site. Positive energy can be just as powerful and lead to just as potent a haunting. 28

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PUTTING THE SOUP INTO SUPERNATUR AL, THE GHOUL INTO GOUL ASH, THE BOOZE INTO BOOS!

Taverns, pubs, bars, saloons, hotels—many times, these places are associated with positive experiences. Perhaps there is an old inn that was where a group of soldiers spent their final night drinking and laughing before heading out to battle. After they died, they chose to return to their last happy memory and, in so doing, have left a positive imprint on the property that patrons can still feel hundreds of years later. Not all hauntings are negative and malicious. You will find that places of revelry such as bars and restaurants, have a vastly different energy from an asylum or a jail—different, but just as powerful. And many times, far more enjoyable. When we find ourselves at these haunted restaurants, bars, and hotels, more often than not (at least in my case), we’re enjoying some liquid refreshments that have taken years to age, brew, distil, and perfect. Why not go right to the source and check out these three haunted breweries, distilleries, and wineries that supply us with our drinks of choice?

BUBE’S BREWERY Libation of Choice: Beer Location: Pennsylvania To start, let us just say that the original pronunciation of the family name was “boo-beh.” However, over the years, it has transformed into “booby.” Now that that is out of the way: Bube’s Brewery is the only intact lager brewery still standing in the United States today. It has a Biergarten, a casual restaurant with pub grub, and a high-end restaurant 43-feet below the ground in The Catacombs (cue The Phantom of the Opera theme here). There is a boutique hotel on-site, as well as copious amounts of craft beer… and a handful of ghosts too. Haunted by founder, Alois Bube, and his granddaughter Pauline, people report seeing the Bube family as well as hearing disembodied voices and watching objects move all on their own. Paranormal activity has run amuck at Bube’s Brewery for over 50 years now, and it has been featured on SyFy’s Ghost Hunters.

BRUSHY MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY Libation of Choice: Moonshine Location: Tennessee What was once Tennessee’s maximum-security prison is now one of the few places in the country where moonshine is being (legally) made behind bars. The distillery is housed inside Brushy Mountain Penitentiary, which only closed 2009, although it looks like a medieval fortress. Even though not a single execution ever took place at Brushy Mountain, there were over 10,000 deaths within its walls. Haunted Magazine

BRUSHY MOUNTAIN DISTILLERY (CONTINUED)

With violence and suicide, sickness, and “accidents,” Brushy Mountain is believed to be haunted by some of its former inmates. Visitors report being touched, shoved, scratched, and even growled at. Shadowy figures have been spotted over the years, and people also claim to hear the sound of pigs. Violent spirits aside, the delicious kind of spirits can also be found here in their End of the Line moonshine collection. Flavours’ include apple pie, peach cobbler, cinnarum, and butterscotch. Moonshine this delicious should be illegal…

THE WINERY AT MARJIM MANOR Libation of Choice: Wine Location: New York The Legend of Appleton Hall does have the habit of steering from historical fact. However, that does not stop the hauntings of the Winery at Marjim Manor. Appleton Hall was built in 1854 by Shubal Scudder Merrit for his wife, Sophia. For the next few years, they lived there happily with their children Phebe Sophia, Cordelia, and Lewis. Sadly, their happiness did not last too long, and nothing but death seemed to lurk in the house. According to the legend, Sophia died in the house as well as Lewis Merrit who was accidentally shot by his father as he stood at a pair of French doors. The owner of the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane moved in with his wife, Hannah. After Hannah died (supposedly in the house), he remarried a shrewd businesswoman named Estelle Morse. The Legend of Appleton Hall goes one step further to claim that every single death on the property happened on a Thursday at 3:00pm. And that is not all: paranormal activity is said to reach its peak on Thursdays at 3 as well. The winery has taken its ghost story and turned it into award-winning wines, including Lady of the Manor, Cordelia’s Desire (my personal favorite that tastes like a big kids’ apple cider), and Thursday at Three. Of course, some believe that the Legend of Appleton Hall comes from Estelle Morse, who wrote about the home’s tragedies after her husband died and left her everything. I wonder what time he died. I am willing to bet it was on a Thursday at 3:00pm. If you’re getting thirsty just thinking about these places, you can learn more about other haunted breweries, distilleries, and wineries scattered throughout America, in Spook-Eats’ latest book THE SPIRIT GUIDE: America’s Haunted Breweries, Distilleries, and Wineries now available on Amazon. Cheers!

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Amanda x

THE SHRIEKING PITS OF NORFOLK “Legend says that the spectral figure of a woman haunts the five pits at Aylmerton, wailing in search of her lost child”

BY K ATE CHERRELL

ylmerton and Northrepps are perfectly pleasant Norfolk villages by day, sitting a short drive away from the seaside resort of Cromer. Framed by poppy fields and gentle rumble of arable farming, these chocolate-box villages conceal ancient legends and melancholic hauntings deep within their soil. Known locally as ‘shrieking pits’, these haunted sites take the form of wide, shallow holes, lying off the beaten path with the exact locations known solely to locals with an interest in niche history. Today, the pits are commonly regarded as having been dug for the purposes of Saxon-medieval Iron-ore mining and smelting. Such pits range from two to eight metres wide and are generally a metre or two deep. In constructing large flat pits outside, workers were able to smelt iron ore, harnessing the windy conditions to increase the temperatures of the charcoal furnaces within. The exact roots of the name ‘shrieking pits’ are lost to history, however, it is Haunted Magazine

generally understood that when strong winds passed over the pits, they would emit a high-pitched shrieking sound; like that produced when blowing over the top of a bottle. While these pits are present in a variety of landscapes, it is the cluster that lie at Aylmerton and Northrepps that are known by the moniker of ‘shrieking pits’, having embedded themselves into centuries of folklore. To the untrained eye, the five pits at Aylmerton look like nondescript overgrown depressions in farmland. One of the larger pits is still visible from behind the local church, however many of the pits that once potted the landscape have been filled in, built over or simply lost to time. Legend says that the spectral figure of a woman haunts the five pits at Aylmerton, wailing in search of her lost child. The common story is that the unnamed woman’s jealous husband murdered her baby believing the child not to be his. After killing and burying the child in a pit, he returned to dispatch his wife. 31

shrieking came from the souls of longdead Viking heroes buried beneath the soil. During my own visit, I found that I was able to access only one pit safely by foot, that being the water-filled pit at Northrepps. Taking a path across country roads, woodland, and a farm track barely a foot wide, the pit is nestled in wild greenery and still retains a strangely powerful visual impact. The sensation of unease was hard to shake, which was invariably heightened by the solitude of the location and the visual contrast of deep, black water against lush summer greenery, forming a canopy above. Although I did not see nor sense any spectres, I made sure to watch my step as one false move on wet grass would quickly lead you into the pit’s depths. With nothing but trees and the occasional rabbit passing by, should you find yourself trapped in the pit, you could still scream for days and not be found. In perpetual mourning for her lost child, the spirit of the grieving woman haunts the pit for eternity, searching for her long-dead baby. She is said to be a tall figure and dressed in white, namely in a shroud or ‘winding sheet’. Her spirit wanders the area around the pit, peering into the hole, wringing her hands, and shrieking or moaning. It is said that she has been seen at all hours of the day and is not confined to the typical spectral hours of dusk and night. There have been no recorded sightings of the wailing woman in recent years, which – beliefs aside - is an inevitable side effect of scattered and shrinking rural communities. The same woman has been seen roaming around the nearby area of Weybourne. However, the story changes here somewhat; there are no clear hauntings interlinked with the exact location. Additionally, it is generally understood that the Weybourne pits were created by Cromwell during the destruction of Weybourne Priory, not through iron smelting or traditional medieval industry. At Northrepps, by the ominously titled Hungry Hill, the pit is deep and filled 32

with dark water and algae, visually appearing far more foreboding than its local counterparts. Here, the shrieking pit bears the legend of another griefstricken woman. Aged 17, a village girl named Esmeralda fell in love with a wealthy and devious young farmer and the two began a secret affair behind his wife’s back. Discovering the relationship, the local vicar reprimanded the pair and ordered them to cease their extramarital contact. The farmer agreed and begrudgingly returned to his wife, leaving Esmeralda heartbroken and deeply depressed. While wandering in despair one frosty night, the desperate girl threw herself into a pit. It was an act which she immediately regretted. It is said she called for help for some time, before slowly succumbing to her icy death. Legend says that her desperate cries for help can still be heard on February 24th, the anniversary of her death. Northrepps not only has the legend of the suicidal teenager, but several other stories of people disappearing into the pits. Aside from a horse and cart, another story recalls that the pits are in fact called ‘grave holes’ and that the Haunted Magazine

While the pits are hidden and shaded from view, the legends prevail, and Norfolk’s shrieking pits continue their wailing and keep their secrets. Ghosts or not, you would do well to mind your step.

Kate x

Kate Cherrell is a PhD candidate, writer, researcher, cemetery historian and morbid cliché. She is the creator of Burials and Beyond, www. burialsandbeyond.com, a website documenting historical tales of the paranormal, miserable Victorians and weird folklore. When not kneedeep in spiritualism, she can be found dressed in widow’s weeds, giving talks and lectures around the UK on the strange realities of Victorian mourning.

Ethics Man - Ciarán O’Keeffe PhD., MSc., PgCLTHE, BA.

A Discussion of Ethics in the Investigation of Haunting Experiences

“Hi, I heard some knocking behind a wall, and since then things have gotten bad. I think…I have a ghost” “No problem, we’ll be right over!”

CASEFILE A couple, who had raised concerns about the erratic behaviour of a loved pet, called a ghost group they had seen in an article in the local paper. The group arranged to visit one evening. On walking into the house, the leader pointed and said, “You have an archangel here and burning corpses coming out of the mirror in the sitting room.” A series of visits which included overnight investigations involving ghost equipment and a Ouija board resolved little for the couple but resulted in darker, sometimes demonic, accounts of supernatural events. The behaviour of the group triggered untreated psychosis in one of the experients.

Terms: The term “experient” refers to the person(s) who has reported an anomalous experience that they ascribe to a haunting, ghost or apparition. The terms “haunting, ghost or apparition” are not differentiated and are broadly based upon Tyrrell’s (1943/1973) taxonomy and Baker’s (2002) definition. The term “investigator” refers to the person(s) who is investigating the case on behalf of the experient.

hilst the above does not necessarily reflect what happens in a paranormal reality show, it is a summary representation of a typical exchange between a ghost investigator and member of the public. It also highlights a fundamental issue related to investigations of private residential homes. The investigation happens because an experient interprets their experience being due to the presence of a ghost. In the example above, the experient hears a knocking behind a wall. If they believe it is caused by a problematic pipe, they will call a plumber. However, if they suspect that the cause may be ghostly, they will call an investigator. An experient may then invite investigators into their homes and give them unparalleled access to their personal lives. You’d think at this point, most investigators would be considering all the ethical issues involved in investigating haunting experiences. Many don’t. For those that do, it would actually be too late. The first point of contact with an experient, an initial phone call or email, should be the trigger to stimulate a discussion of ethics. I’d encourage, however, investigators to constantly have in mind ethical considerations, to research them and learn them, to Haunted Magazine

read everything about ethics and to always be ethical. Why? Because we, as investigators, are in a potential position of power. By this I mean that there is perceived superiority of an investigator in such cases which, when combined with a potentially traumatic or troubling experience, creates a vulnerable experient who is easily influenced or, much worse, exploited. Almost 15 years ago I co-authored a set of ethical guidelines in the hope it would have a positive influence on investigations, guidelines for investigators and for the public. I make many of the same points here as I made in those original guidelines. In those guidelines I noted the overarching ethical philosophy to investigating haunting experiences – “the experient should be left in the same state, if not better (psychological, physical, emotional), than they were at the beginning of the investigation. The investigator should strive to cause no harm.” A similar point was made a few years later by Dave Wood and C. J. Romer (from ASSAP) who stated, “the primary concern of the investigator should be to do no harm”. Years before these guidelines were published, I was horrified to hear of

CASEFILES In 2020, in an episode of a popular American television show, the main protagonists investigated an alleged demonic presence in a small town in California with under 2,000 residents.

private cases with no consideration for the well-being of the resident(s) and no understanding of their state of mind. The only goal was in capturing evidence of ghostly activity by whatever means necessary (audio recorders, Ouija boards, cameras, mediums etc.) or carelessly causing property damage . The harm, and long-term effects, of these evidence-led approaches was substantial. I also found myself working on “mop-up” cases where the client (experient) was left in a significantly worse state due to unethical investigating by local groups. I saw occasional tv shows where film crews and investigators descended on private residential homes for 24 hours with experients none the wiser. Things have not improved 20 years later. It is worse.

Whether it is groups of ghosthunters answering the call to investigate a private household, or a group filming their investigation for the latest TV show (or streaming service), I worry that even if investigators wish to “do no harm”, all actual ethics are ignored. There is no thought of ethical aspects such as informed consent, confidentiality, interviewing, charging, power dynamics, competence etc. In raising this issue, as I have frequently done publically, my intention is only to

highlight these ethical issues and not to dictate specific procedural guideline that different groups might follow. It would be arrogant of me to say there is one way to conduct an investigation. There isn’t and the approach used is often down to group members’ beliefs, experience, education and, more worryingly, what media-based show they are most influenced by. If anything, I simply hope this article will promote a much-needed debate about such issues and also promote a change in the field before we see horrific headlines involving exploited witnesses to the paranormal. The difficulty is in how to present all the multitude of ethical sins I see permeate amateur group investigations or paranormal reality shows. It is not simply about empathy for the experient, though that would be a huge step forward. There are also the common sense overarching ethical principles that should be observed regardless of the individual situation. For example, it should go without saying that investigators or experients should not discriminate or harass others. My observations are that the majority of groups, and even some tv shows, do consider these overarching points, and appear to have the client’s (experient’s) well-being in mind when they enter into an investigation and try to help. It is the “helping” mantra that I hear most frequently nowadays but, unfortunately, without ethical awareness when interacting with experients (whether interviews or overnight investigations) there is more potential harm done than good. Haunted Magazine

An investigation, by a different group, in 2019 of the house of a specific couple resident in the town resulted in a blessing. With the phenomena continuing, the tv-based investigative crew visited. In the broadcast episode an experient was interviewed about the tormenting demon. He was visibly distressed, and it was particularly worrying to hear his insistence that if he didn’t succumb to the sexual interference of the demon he would be killed. In the same episode there was an inference made that a recent suicide had been due to the woman being possessed. The investigation resulted in several emotional and significant subjective experiences in addition to malfunctioning equipment. The concluding “exorcism”, where the experient went through physical and psychological turmoil whilst observed by the increasingly emotional partner, mirrored the distinct lack of ParaEthics throughout the episode. Even IF you used “it’s for entertainment purposes” to excuse the unethical approaches throughout (for the experients and investigators who also became experients), or the thought it was all set-up and no-one was harmed, there is still the fact that such a show has a huge influence on real private investigations being conducted weekly. There is still the fact it has a huge influence on other shows. There is still the fact it has a huge influence on members of the public who may be misinterpreting environmental influences or their own mental health. There is still the fact it has a huge impact on those who may believe they have a genuine haunting experience. There is still the fact everyone referred to and everyone involved were real vulnerable people.

I mentioned earlier about ‘the perceived superiority of investigator(s)’. This is not aided when conversations with the experient involve confusing terminology, scientific jargon, or legalese.

This might sound obvious, but there is an assumption members of public know what the term ‘poltergeist’ means or what EMF stands for when you start to explain the reason why you are waving a K2 around! When arranging an investigation ensure that the experient fully understands your intention, the investigation’s progress, and the outcome. This transparency is incredibly valuable, but it also may be helpful to ask yourself what model of ghost investigation might the experient be aware of? Are they a Most Haunted or Ghost Adventurers fan and think this is the only way to investigate? So, once the experient has been fully informed, in plain English, of the investigative process etc., does the experient now have a choice to continue? This is called Informed consent - a process whereby information must be presented to enable individuals to voluntarily decide whether or not to participate in an investigation. True informed consent can be quite extensive as you would need to also outline, where possible, of any reasonably foreseeable harm, discomforts, inconveniences, and risks (physical, psychological, or emotional) that are associated with the investigation. Have you also discussed the outcome of the investigation? That the findings may, or may not, differ radically from the interpretation that the experient places upon their experience? Think about the impact this could have on the experient’s worldview and beliefs and, therefore, the potential psychological and/or emotional concerns. It is debatable this fully informed consent is sought in tv shows. Certainly, producers would provide an outline of the investigative process (and filming), and maybe even a discussion of potential outcomes, but it would be a completely different discussion around key ethical issues like confidentiality and withdrawal. I noted back in 2007 that “Ensuring confidentiality at every stage of the investigation ultimately provides the experient with ownership and control. A level of comfort and trust is then inherent between the two parties.” Confidentiality can be easily achieved in private investigations but not with tv shows and not if your group decides to stream live the investigation or provide a highlights package on a streaming service or social media platform. 36

Withdrawal is also easier with non-televised private investigations, though investigators have to ensure the perceived superiority has been erased, that the power is with the experient and they are comfortable in refusing to participate. They should be free to ask the investigator to stop at any time and for all records concerning them to be destroyed. Just think, for a moment, how difficult it would be for an experient to call a halt to proceedings in the middle of filming a televised investigation of their own house. Where does the power lie in such a situation? Part of the investigative process may, and should, involve an interview with the eyewitness, the experient. This is where I put on my ‘Investigative Psychology’ hat (a sub-discipline of Psychology concerned with psychological assistance to criminal investigations). Two renowned researchers in the forensic field made some key points about interviewing witnesses within a criminal justice context that are highly applicable here. Read this whilst constantly thinking about haunting experients. All interviewees are vulnerable. Adults do report erroneous information, primarily due to external influences, such as inappropriate questioning. It is our view that while certain groups do have greater vulnerability to particular forms of poor questioning, the onus is still on the interviewer to obtain valid information. In fact, all interviewees are vulnerable to a certain extent, be they adults, children, or people with a learning disability, and it is the interviewer’s responsibility to use appropriate information-gathering procedures. It has been documented that not only can adults’ memories for details be altered, distorted and added to, but that whole memories about a non-existent event can be implanted into memory…Too little is known on the topic of investigative interviewing of vulnerable witnesses. It is clear that the skills and procedures required for the interviewing of ordinary interviewees are even more important for vulnerable witnesses… Milne & Bull, 1999, p. 189-190 The same ethical issues highlighted in this quote apply to interviewing in the investigation of haunting experiences. In an interviewing situation, the interviewer has the power. This represents a specific point that in many ways reflects the entire issue of power in the investigation as a whole. Given the potential psychological state of haunting experients there is a critical need to approach all interviews as if dealing with vulnerable witnesses. Notably, Wood and Romer (2011) advise “only those with specific training should interview clients”.

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I have only touched the surface of ethics in investigating haunting experiences. I haven’t had time or space to discuss countless other ethical aspects, for example: multiple relationships (conflict of interest); competence (only engaging in investigative activity based on your education, training etc); advisory role (issues around providing counselling or emotional support); referral to other parties (especially where responsibility of care becomes a consideration and the need to refer to local support due to distress etc.). There are additional ethical points that investigators will find useful to consider and that have been raised, almost a decade ago, by key members of the UK-based organisation, ASSAP (Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena), mentioned previously (Wood & Romer, 2011). These include whether it is appropriate to take on a case, whether different et0hical principles apply to different types of cases, recruitment methods for investigators and accountability. There are also investigative guidelines published by the SPR (Society for Psychical Research) that I equally encourage readers to absorb in depth. But if you absorb anything, please let it be the overarching principle regarding the experient that you “cause no harm”. Let us debate this, let us better the field, and let us always be thinking, #ParaEthics.

References Baker, I. S. (2002). “Do Ghosts Exist?” – A summary of parapsychological research into apparitional experiences. In J. Newton (Ed.). Early modern ghosts. Durham, UK: University of Durham. Baker, I. S. & O‘Keeffe, C. (2007). Ethical Guidelines for the Investigation of Haunting Experiences‘ Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 71, 216-229 Barrington, M. R. (1996). Society for Psychical Research: Guide to the investigation of apparitions, hauntings, poltergeists, and kindred phenomena. London: Society for Psychical Research. Milne, R. & Bull, R. (1999). Investigative interviewing: Psychology and practice. London: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Parsons, S. (2018). Society for Psychical Research: Guidance notes for investigators of spontaneous cases. London: Society for Psychical Research. Tyrrell, G. N. M. (1973). Apparitions. London: Society for Psychical Research. (Original work published 1943). Wood, D. & Romer, C. J. (2011). Ethical issues in spontaneous phenomena investigations. Anomaly: Journal of Research into the Paranormal, Vol 45, November, pp45-62.

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have told of many cases in my lectures and workshops over the years, but the one that brought me together with one of the dearest people in my life began its unfolding over 100 years ago.

By Morgan Knudsen, Entityseeker (Research & Teachings)

t began to the west in a village in Alberta, Canada, the like of which you will not find in the world today.

There was the peaceful community of the Plainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Cree people, Egg Lake. Prosperous and enduring, the Cree lasted out the seasons with bountiful hunting and trade with the Europeans who had come to Alberta. The wealth of this community lay in family and in the land. Herds of bison roamed the plains providing furs and food to all who respected the balance of life. Beautiful trees and acres of prairie were home to many, including Swift Runner, a Native giant who was known for his gentle kindness and dedication to his people. Winters were long here and could wear on even the strongest of souls. But the years of peace and plenty were not to last. A darkness was creeping over the plains. A sickness had taken hold of Swift Runner and where sickness thrives, bad things will follow. Trade with the Europeans began to be treacherous, and as they

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ran down and killed the Bison in attempts to starve the Cree out of their own land, war was breaking out and death was wanton. Outcast to the woods for reasons not understood today, Swift Runner and his family of nine were left alone to fend for themselves. The long nights grew sour, and the food grew scarce. The cold was cutting, freezing skin and tiny limbs with no discretion. No one knows who saw the Wendigo first, or when it manifested in the camp, but the next anyone heard of Swift Runner was at a small mission in St Albert, Alberta. When the Fathers opened the door, they found the 6 ft 6 giant begging for compassion and shelter. His family was nowhere to be seen and he told a gruesome tale of starvation and inevitable death. As the lone survivor, he had followed the Sturgeon River as far as he could, setting up camp and then finally making his way to their wooden doorstep.

The kind community took him in, but noticed that despite his story, he was quite fat and appeared in good health. He spent night after night screaming that the Wendigo was attacking him in the darkness, frightening the missionaries and anyone who could hear his screams. All the while, he was certain that a monster was going to kill him… a monster said to spawn from the energies of starvation and desperate cruelty. The Northwest Mounted Police were notified when Swift Runner requested to take a group of school children on a hunting expedition into the wilderness. Father Kemus could no longer ignore his own suspicions about the mission’s visitor. Soon, the NWMP began to suspect something else; a terrifying idea, but they had to be sure. Taking him out to the dark of the woodlands, they brought Swift Runner into Sturgeon River County and for the first time, the friendly nature of the giant man became cold and distant. They continued searching, feigning concern for his wellbeing and wanting to understand Swift Runner’s journey. When they reached a small, wooded isle in the middle of a large muskeg, Swift Runner let out a bone chilling, wolf-like howl. A campsite lay before them, covered in ash from long nights of fires. Bones lay strewn under their feet and the police soon realized they were standing on a graveyard. Upon closer examination, it became clear amidst the greasy, hand smeared tree stumps, that the bodies had been cut up and gnawed

upon, and that a small child’s moccasin was stuffed into one of the eye sockets of the skulls. At the lake shore, a cooking pot was discovered, thick with human fat. Swift Runner soon confessed he had killed and eaten his brother and mother, shot his wife as she slept, and then fed her to their children, who he then brutally murdered and ‘”made beef out of”. Drunk on a tea and plug tobacco concoction that the Northwest Mounted Police had been giving to him in attempts to elicit the location and confession, Swift Runner told of how the entity called Wendigo was simply too difficult to withstand, and the horrified police sent him to Fort Saskatchewan to be hanged.

It took the jury only 20 minutes to deliberate. His fate had been sealed. As he stepped onto the gallows, Swift Runner complained that the hangman had left him standing in the cold for too long. December 20, 1879 marked the first legal execution in Alberta. Many theories have been presented to clarify this phenomenon which has held a taboo place in Native folklore for centuries. Psychologists, physicians, and paranormal experts have struggled to explain the many symptoms of this horrific attack and yet no resolution has ever been settled upon. Nathan Carlson, a Native historian investigated and then structured a published paper around this very problem titled “Reviving Witiko (Windigo): An Ethnohistory of “Cannibal Monsters” In the Athabasca District of Northern Alberta, 1878– 1910”. It is described: “An ethnohistorical examination of the Algonquian witiko (windigo) phenomenon,

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utilizing both previously unexamined documentary sources and oral traditions of Athabasca Cree and Métis elders, reveals that a witiko “condition” is historically verifiable, that the celebrated cannibalistic “windigo psychosis” of Algonquianists eludes proper definition as a bona fide culturebound pathology, and finally, that no single hypothesis, as of yet, consistently accounts for this phenomenon within an internally coherent non-indigenous theory”. For researchers, it has been put aside as an unexplainable illness and a word of it is rarely spoken. For the Native Americans in Canada and Northern United States, the Wendigo (or “Windigo”, “Atchen” or “Witikho”), and its cause are clear: They call it an entity, a spiritual monster that appears in times of grief, famine, or hardship to possess its victims and cause them to cannibalize family and occasionally other targets. The name “Wendigo” is a Cree word meaning “evil that devours” and the title is fitting. The fear of the wendigo can be so great, it has been reported that people have locked themselves in their cabins upon them being sighted in remote areas, and starving to death for fear of leaving the house and having an encounter.

One such instance of Wendigo possession appeared in the Edmonton Bulletin over a century ago and was noted by Carlson in his essay. The account describes in detail the terrifying psychological effects on the community, as well as the physical symptoms experienced by the host. “His Indian name was Na-pa-nin. . .. About the end [sic] of January [1896] he started, apparently in good health, with his wife and children on a visit to his father, who lived at Trout Lake about eighty miles from Wapisca. His wife reports that on the second night out he acted strangely, saying that some strange animals were about to attack him. . .. They reached his father’s place at Trout Lake safely, and was [sic] there for twenty days, his fits of insanity becoming more frequent and more violent. His body is said to have swelled considerably and his lips were very much puffed out. . .. On the day of his death he was tied hands and feet, face down, in one of the houses. . .. The men are reported to have said that they tied him before he entered one of his frantic fits for their own protection. . .. at this time during his frenzy he had nearly broken loose and they feared he would get loose altogether and kill some of them. They struck him four blows with

an axe, about the head. The reason that an axe was used was that there is a belief amongst the Indians that a bullet will not pierce a wehtigo or man-eater. The body was burned [sic] and large trees felled over the grave to prevent the possibility a [sic] re-appearance of the wehtigo. Some days after the death of the man, the people of the settlement were terror stricken, believing that he might re-appear and destroy them”. Descriptions of these ‘strange animals’ or spirit creatures have varied with a few similarities including towering heights, from 7 feet to the heights of treetops, thin and lanky arms and fingers, a bipedal stance, and patchy fur that seems to be eaten away. In some tales, the patchy look is the result of the wendigo itself eating its own flesh: the more it eats, the hungrier it gets. Images of its face have varied: While many modern paintings depict the monster with antlers and a deer-type head, firsthand descriptions consist of generally terrifying features with little specific detail, or a dog or wolf head that the witnesses remember accurately and clearly. The first description of the dog-like monster was in 1636. A Father in Quebec, Canada sent a dispatch to his fellow clergymen in Rome when a native woman told him

that an Atchen was coming to attack the village. As she tried to describe it to him, he related to his colleagues that it was ‘a sort of werewolf’. Although eyewitness accounts and legends have slightly different descriptors, the overall encounters nonetheless follow the same terrifying pattern. Like so many other encounters, the Quebec missionaries soon became fearful as they began to hear the woman screaming from her room at night, claiming she was being attacked in her bed.

Morgan x

NEXT ISSUE (SNEAK PREVIEW): “In a few moments, I would behold the mangled body of a robin in the dust. Headless, the crows have torn him open like a bag, exposing the lungs, gorging themselves on the seeds within him ~too many to count… I would watch the pulpy substance running red with nature, the violent smell of copper on breeze… gluttony cursing his flight as they ate the flesh and blood of their kin.” NICE EH?

THE INTERVIEW with Doctor Q.

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I n t e r v i e w b y Pa u l S t e v e n s o n DISCLAIMER: What you are about to read might not make sense to some, although it may resonate with others. We think highlighting stories and people like Jack is a valid thing to do in the paranormal community, we question, we ask, we try to interpret what the heck is going on. Bearing in mind that Jack is dyslexic, it has taken quite a while to digest his answers to our questions. It is a sad story as it is uplifting, it highlights the madness of life and the madness of the paranormal, it is brutal as it is honest. The Paranormal is something that can be a hobby, can be enjoyed, can be shared, can be watched, can be a frustration, it can be questioned, it can cause arguments, it can cause debates and it can also create jealousy, people so full of egos that we wonder how their heads can fit through the doors of the most spookiest of locations. What is not often spoke about is people who LIVE with the paranormal on a daily basis, some call it madness, some may even address it as mental health issues … BUT what if it isn’t, what if it is actually what it is appears to be to some people. We have seen over the last few years, people having sex with ghosts, people marrying ghosts, people divorcing, we laugh at them and we ridicule them, but why do we do that? We spend our times in locations that may or may not be haunted, using gadgets that may or may not work, interacting with supposed spirits that may or may not be there, what is the difference between our version of the paranormal to the version of someone else? Jack Sorenson could be one of these people who we sometimes dismiss as odd, a freak, loopy, as mad as a box of frogs. Why? Because, at night spirits visit him and he takes pictures of them, sharing them on social media. What right do we have to be dismissive of his and the stories of others?

Jack, tell us about where and when you first experienced spirits in your life? My first remember experience, I was very young around three. Behind my family’s plumbing shop was a huge tree out back of the yard. We lived there for a few years upstairs in the back of the building overlooking the garden. The shop was well over hundred years old and was close to a historic place. There was a creek nearby, a location known as Hangman’s Gallows, sadly modern advancements took over and this area is now Highway 17. I was tall for my age and the steps leading down to the garden were nothing short of a challenge, but the garden was full of beautiful things to see, including the trees where I first encountered these spirits. However, these “tree” spirits were not to be confused with other outside spirits or house spirits. What lived in the trees was very old but incredibly wise. The trees always drew me, I remember there was thirtysix wooden steps to get down to the garden, but I was attracted to the sparkles that danced around the tree so carefree. Where there is light there is darkness and aged five, I came into contact with the shadows, shadows that act as a darkness to the light, disappearing inside the trunk of the tree. This question is bringing back so many memories, dear to me, and as I speak the door handles is my home are being rattled, they know they are being spoke about. I have often got into trouble for speaking on any topic about the ghosts and the spirits I have around myself.

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Do they scare you? In this world there are many people who fear darkness, just not sure what that shadow figure standing before you is. I have had many incredible encounters just like this but there are people who are not frightened by it. I have been lucky to be fascinated by them, rather than scared. I have found that if you speak to it in a hush kind of tone, it will show its true self. To make that contact is not a scary feeling, I love the feeling, to me it is very natural. They come to me. When I was young, they showed themselves to me in a non-scary manner.

As I got older, we moved into a “dark, cold” home already encroached with its own ghosts, including a spirit who would stand in the garden looking at me. It appeared as a white short wispy form. There were also the ghosts that were already at the new house when we moved in. Yes, some of the spirits were nasty, dark, and evil all of which became worrisome and added to my problems is daily life. They made me miserable and turned my days into dark days, praying on my innocence, getting me all “twisted up” with the confusion of the darkness. Many of times as a teenager I would meet them on the side of the road, or a path leading to the town’s dam. I really wished I had taken pictures back then.

“they were able to go after people that harmed me too”.

with my friends, even though they probably did not realise, to any great extent, what I was sharing with them. However, there was much darkness still to be discovered, I would often hear them talking in between the walls. Ghost hunting was not as common nor as popular back then, it wasn’t like there was a whole stream of paranormal investigators wanting to come and investigate my family’s shop. Looking back now the old shop had two cemeteries very close to it, maybe that was why I started to see them. Seemingly I am sitting in empty rooms of forcefulness, dealing with my past, the spirits telling me where I have gone so wrong. If I get stuck in the wrong part of town I am consumed with the sounds of their screaming souls.

Have you sought medical help and has any medical professional tried to analyse them? Not just for that, but I have been to enough doctors to deal with the dreadful illness I have dealt with over the past forty years or so. What I do and what I see has been analysed by people from certain paranormal shows, who seem to pair up illness where seeing ghosts are concerned. What do your friends and family make of them? Sadness and darkness are natural cousins. Since ancient times, people have worn black to express their grief. Happiness is attracted to sunshine and depression to darkness. There is always light at the end of the tunnel, in the real world there is almost a romance in darkness and melancholy albeit with a devilish laugh. Sadly, everyone that knew about have all died, but the memories are still there. When I was younger, from 1960s to the the late 1980s I would take my friends down the basement in my family’s shop. I would get them to look through the key holes in the doors down there to see if they could see movement or shadows.

“Then something moved in front of their eyes and they’d run outside, as fast they could, screaming to high heaven that they’d seen a ghost.” I would stand there laughing, cos whilst they would eventually think it was their imagination, it was actually just one of the shop ghosts. They were cool about my ghosts when I reassured them that nothing would come after them. It was a great time in my life to share this 46

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Tell us more about yourself Jack. Born and raised in a small town of Los Gatos, California nestled between the Santa Cruz Mountains as far as the eye can see to the redwood forest of Monterey. I flunked first grade then got put in a special education class the next year. Life stopped being special then. I sometimes believe that the darkness started and was curated by the special education programme in the 1960s. It was a very inhumane way to treat kids that way, if they were retarded, slow, or not normal. I did not find out that I was dyslexic until I was an adult so it kind of explains a lot of my school life. I do openly admit that I have a form of learning disability and yes, my social media words and messages have often got me in trouble. I was called a bad kid, a dumb kid, we had our own classes, our own play time, ate our lunches at our desk. It was torture, literally, experiencing physical pain as punishment, forcing us to do and say things.

ONE: Monday DAYDAY ONE: Monday

I did come clean to my parents in 12th grade, they were shocked and concerned, especially for my wellbeing. “Singing songs in class as others learned maths, writing out names over and over as other classes were being tough history, being spat on for being in that class” As a teen I loved getting odd jobs working in people’s gardens. I was a good gardener. So, at ease with Mother Nature, all her wonders seeing what she had to offer. In High School I ran my own therapy class to allow my fellow classmate to explore their minds as well as letting them get everything off their chests. It was in a school called Mark Twain, a self-made school, a bit like a reform school, a last chance for us kids who somehow fell through the system, I became class valedictorian. I worked my way up and became a trustee in my later years. After high school I got a great job and then got injured breaking my spine just four years later. BOOM life comes to a stop. Then I started writing, back in 2006, it was also the first time I had used a computer and found myself having to learn first time to learn how to use a computer at the same time. Do you ever worry about why you get them visiting you?

DAY TWO: Tuesday

No, not really. I could not imagine life without the ghosts. It is me; it is who am, I cannot explain as to why I experience them I must be something to them for them to come see me so often, surely? I never wanted this, never expected my life to turn out like this, but they get me through life.

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What made you start taking photographs? I saw a ghost in a photo with a family member; two photos taken between two of our homes showing the same person in a white bright smoky form, it was like all my Christmases came at once when it was seen by someone else too. What we saw was my older brother in the photo in a camera that he gave as a gift to a family member before he died, sadly by his own hand. When the camera broke, no other camera would take any photo of my dear older brother ever again. I could see his presence daily as two others in my family as he was the brightest spirit showing his self as he looked in life. I saw him daily, walking in the family room, closes to my bedroom, his reflection Every day, I could see my brother walking in the family room off set to my bed room; his reflection showed freely from where I sat, from the glass in framed photos given to me by my parents of, photos of when we use to go camping together. The reflection was perfect for watching ghosts pass by. The reflection was perfect for watching out whom past by ghost wise. Although it was sad, sometimes, seeing my brother standing by my room, watching me, only to dash out of the way when my parents came to look in on me. I have been laid up for ill for 40 years now and finally had enough money to buy an iPad. I discovered the iPad camera took noticeably clear photos allowing me to capture what I saw and share what I see to everyone on social media.

“I wake up at 3am and I basically rapid fire on the iPad camera OR take one still photo if they are willing for a selfie.”

DAY THREE: Wednesday

Although that brought its own problems, being labelled a freak, a nutter, something I have been used to though. Some people did ask questions, people wanted to know more, and it gave me the confidence to showcase the pictures. I was told to sage my room, pour salt in certain places in attempt to get rid of the ghosts. I would never do that. There were no slamming doors, no knocks, or noises. I think we all have the abilities to see into this realm, for some reason, I can see more than most. I have heard of paranormal investigators seeing shadows, seeing creatures, seeing people, it is no different to my story, mine is just more regular, I guess. Has your opinion of the paranormal changed over the years? Yes, it is not new or as shocking as I was as a teenager, that fear factor of the cold chills has gone. I had no idea what was behind the meaning of the darker ghost I encountered weekly. For me in those early years, seemly everywhere I went in town a heavy thick cloak of darkness fell wherever I went. I felt trapped as a teenager, battered, and beaten, with very few skills. Writing has helped, massively even though I still feel that I am just a prisoner of this existences. The world in which I live in has no use for a guy like me. Yes, in a terrible way seeing what is real or in store for me, I will know when my time comes. I now have the strength and knowledge to know that to some people my behaviour is odd, weird, or

DAY FOUR: Thursday

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downright mad. Maybe the ghosts, the spirits were there to help me, to guide me through my childhood. Tell us more about your writing career. I have over 100 published works, from fantasy to horror, fact to fiction and poems for all ages. I even read at the Queens jubilee. I did not even know how to use a PC or anything like that until 2006. My latest is called The Adventures of Anna of Waverly Manor: “Anna, a ghost witch, lives in the attic of Waverly Manor with two ghosts, Boo and Tomfoolery. They do not like humans and frighten away everyone who tries to live there... until Jackie moves in with her parents. While Jackie’s special needs make some things difficult for her, they also enable her to see Anna and the ghosts. After Jackie befriends Boo, things change in Anna’s world, leading her on one adventure after another”. (For ages 3 and up, available on Amazon and all good booksellers) If you could change anything about your life, what would you change and why? Surprisingly, nothing at all, we all know you only can change the outcome of the future whilst the past is left to learn from. So, there you have it, whatever you think of Jack Sorenson, bear in mind that this wasn’t an easy thing for Jack to describe and explain,

and wasn’t easy for us to decide to use it as a feature in the magazine. Yes, it is a paranormal story but there were times when we thought that we would just be giving people ammunition to call Jack an oddball, a fruit loop, a nutter and all those things. Then, we looked at our own experiences, the things we’ve seen, we’ve captured, the things we’ve heard over the years and whilst Jack’s story and journey is different to ours, we’ve seen the very things (at times) that Jack illiterates to as I am sure a lot of paranormal loving people out there have, whilst we don’t take pictures every day we all capture parts of the paranormal in different ways, what’s the difference in 4 or 5 pictures that Jack captures and a respected paranormal investigator catching a clear sound on a digital recorder.

DAY FIVE: Friday

Some of Jack’s pictures that he describes as his favourites accompany this feature but we also asked Jack if he would take some pictures exclusively for Haunted Magazine over a five day period, which he agreed to, you are seeing these here for the very first time. They will not be published anywhere else.

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his haunted house in Hinsdale New York,is

perhaps the most famous haunted house in the world. Featured on vir tually ever y american television network possible, it’s haunted histor y keeps it on the para-

normal investigator’s “bucket list”. It has all of the elements of a good ghost stor y: a mysterious histor y, strange sightings on it’s proper ty, unexplainable events and even exorcism. The house on McMahon Road first gained notoriety when a book called “Echoes of a Haunting”, written by Clara Dandy of her own ex-

periences in the house was published. Clara and Phil Dandy lived in the house along with their children in the early 1970’s. During their time there, they were visited by many spirits. A priest from St. Bonaventure University was at the house more than once to per form exorcisms which worked for awhile but as time went by the Dandy family lost their battle with the paranormal and ended up leaving the house for good. As the years passed by, a few families have lived in the home but didn’t stay for long. This is where Daniel Klaes comes into the picture. Daniel purchased the infamous house and put it back into a functional condition. Today Daniel allows teams to investigate the proper ty in hopes of discovering the mysteries behind the many spirits who haunt the home.

Groups can book the house for public overnight stays and private paranormal investigations.

June

2015

Dan

realized

infamous Hinsdale House, site and structural exorcism became

lifelong

dream.

Daniel Klaes bought the Haunted Hinsdale House

The

of insect infestations available for purchase.

Dan was then contacted by producers from the Destination America televsion network who contracted the house to be featured on the hit T V series Paranormal Lockdown featuring Nick Groff and Katrina Wiedman. The Episode was the highest viewed episode of the series. Such was the phenomena that after Nick left both EVP and Geobox evidence called for his return to the house. Nick and Katrina later returned to film a Halloween special at the house that was featured on the The Learning Channe (TLC). The house was also the basis for the movie, A Haunting on The Discover y Channel. For booking information please go to www.HauntedHinsdaleHouse.com. To see our current and future events please see our Facebook Page.

@danklaes

https://www.facebook. com/fixtheHinsdaleHouse/

Check out www.DanielKlaes.com for more information.

Hubble, bubble, Katie & rubble... with Katie Waller

nly rubble remains of the Norman motte and bailey castle in Bramber, South East England which was erected in 1073 on a natural knoll nearby the river Adur. Its purpose was to overlook and protect a gap within the South Downs where the river ran through. These downs are a range of natural chalk hills that elevate to 270 meters and stretch for 260 miles across the South East. From the famous suicide spot Beachy Head to the Itchen Valley, the hills are believed to have been used by people for at least 6000 years and is rife with folklore, legends, and worship. The castle at Bramber also protected the harbour at Steyning, another quaint village nearby. Along with this one, others were built across the downs at Hastings, Pevensey, Lewes, Arundel, and Chichester. The castle was founded by William de Braose (First Lord of Bramber) after being granted English lands since he and his followers invaded Saxon England. Formally Lord of Briouze in Normandy, he fought alongside William the Conqueror at the battle of Hastings in 1066. Over the years it has deteriorated leaving just one remaining gatehouse wall and a fraction of the curtain wall. Owned and cared for by English Heritage this site is open 24 hours a day and free to enter; perfect for a history loving paranormal investigator like me. William had the castle taken by King John after he was suspected of disloyalty to the crown. King John captured Williamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wife Eve de Boisey, now Lady de Braose and their eldest son. The king left them to starve to death in the castle at Windsor or at Corfe. As a result, William revolted which led him and other rebellious nobles to sign the Magna Carta. (Created by King John and the Archbishop of Canterbury (Stephen Langton) in 1215 the historical document statesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the rights of English people. Due to many grievances between him and many noble barons the threat of mass revolt practically forced him to do so. More importantly it was to ensure that even the King is to follow such laws and provided protection and justice to all people and was in short; a peace treaty.)

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After this the castle was returned to the de Braose family until the mid-14th century. William eventually re married a woman named Agnes de St. Clare and the Castle was inherited by their son Philip de Braose (2nd Lord of Bramber.) Some stories say that King John captured two of de Braose’s children, not just his first-born and they were also starved. Many reports and eyewitnesses say that two young child ghosts have been seen at Bramber castle. Ragged and emaciated in appearance they hold out their hands begging for bread and searching for their father. Some say that three have been seen, whether the third is his wife or his daughter is a mystery to this day. On an extremely late evening I approached the abandoned looking remnant’s wondering in awe how such an important place has been left to decay. To begin, I wanted to investigate the children that were starved to death. I wanted to bring them bread, an offering almost. It was not just to lure them into talking or showing themselves to me but to help and give them what they needed. Perhaps it would help them to pass on if they received what they were seeking? Throughout the grounds of the castle, I attempted to make contact with children and Mrs de Braose, the wife of William who also may have starved to death. I settled myself in the middle of the raised motte in the old fortress and begun to call out. My bread offering, also a trigger object, was sat with my K2 and I fixated onto it. I waited and continued attempting to contact the dead until I received some strange interference I had not ever heard before. “Were there murders here?” I asked. Straight away I received a very strange monotone sound on the audio of my camera. It lasted for around 4 seconds, it was lengthy, drawn out and creature like. I continued for a few more minutes. “I have some bread for you, can you tell me your name?” A woman’s cry which was followed by a hiss on the camera audio and then an immediate odd ‘blip’ in the SB7. That sequence lasted roughly about 5 seconds and other than that I recorded and felt nothing. Around the mid-14th century after the Braose male line died out it was acquired by the Mowbray family. John de Mowbray married Aline de Brewes, daughter of William de Braose (2nd Baron Braose.) By the end of the 15th century Sir Hubert Hurst and his wife Lady Maud resided at the castle. He was 50 years old, much older than his wife of 25 and he was a jealous man. Lady Maud fell in love with another man by the name of William de Lindfield, a young acquaintance she met long before her marriage. One day William rode to the castle upon his white horse to await Maud but Hubert who had learnt of their affair, premeditated this, and captured him. Hubert encased William alive within a wall of the castle and years later a skeleton was found with its head in his hands, presumably William. Sadly, Maud was found dead the next day from what is believed to be grief and shock knowing his fate. William’s horse was never seen again. To this day Maud has been heard crying and wailing for her lost lover and is heard within the castle and a rider-less white horse has been seen and heard galloping around the moat on moonlit nights.

baffling. We have all seen heart-breaking footage of dogs sitting on their owner’s graves, refusing to leave them. The intelligence and emotion they show lead me to believe that they must exist in spirit form and the white horse got my attention. Is it galloping around the castle because its master died within? Is it searching for him? Perhaps there is more to this story than we know and speculate. I wanted to know what happened to the horse, so I climbed down into the deep moat of the castle and it was steep. I stumbled and staggered my way through the thickets of foliage and clambered over fallen trees and rotten logs. My ever-growing stack of equipment and Nicky (my Nikon) to hand, I began to engage with the horse with an outstretched hand beckoning him to me. I listened out as I addressed the creature, but I received nothing but an odd eerie silence which gave me shivers down my spine. The silence was unsettling, but I honestly believe something was there, so I walked in circles within the moat searching for ancient horseshoe prints. The earth beneath me was damp and would have left a print or two if a horse had been here. Foot and handprints of human spirits can occasionally be seen so it could be feasible that animal tracks would too. I stood and listened to the noise of nothing in the hope of a whinny, a nay, or the thundering of the stampeding beast. Unfortunately, I was unable to pick up anything on my equipment that suggested any presence of a horse, so I moved back up into the castle grounds in the search of William-behind-the-wall. I paced the perimeter trying to locate the man that died within the walls. I verbally spoke his story as if saying it aloud would either encourage him, Maud, or the horse to make contact. I asked questions about his murder, but the atmosphere was quite vanilla. I proceed to pry into their relationship without putting the pressure on and addressed Hubert to no avail. Unfortunately, during the 16th century the castle was left in ruin after subsidence occurred. Stones from the castle were used to build local roads and houses which damaged it further. It was for a short time re-fortified during the second world war as two “pill boxes” were installed but by the late middle ages there was no need for the castle and it was abandoned and left to crumble. All paranormal investigators know that some locations teem with energy and spiritual activity. Some take us by surprise, or down paths we did not expect. Some places we believe will be quiet, end up being the best investigation of your life and others end up being flat. That is the needle-in-ahaystack excitement we get from what we do and personally I think it gives our investigations credibility. This location has proven to be active over the years but for me I guess it was a case of timing. The stories and historic events that are intertwined with Bramber castle has without doubt left permanent scars upon the land and rubble. I now throw down the gauntlet to other investigators to check out this incredible location. Apparently, the spirits of Bramber are more common in December so do not forget your jacket, bread and perhaps a carrot for the horse.

As an investigator the idea of animal spirits or ghosts is intriguing. Personally, I understand what it is like when you have a loyal pet that never leaves your side. The bond between human and animal without ever speaking a word of language that you both understand is completely 52

Haunted Magazine

Katie

EVP

AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN?

By THE WIZARDRESS OF OZ: Sarah Chumacero

ecording EVPs and using a spirit box are two of the most popular methods when it comes to modern day paranormal investigation. It started back in 1959 when philosopher & artist Friedrich Jürgenson stumbled onto this phenomenon by accident. His favourite hobby was to record the sounds of birds with his microphone tape recorder. It was during one of his recording sessions, that he came upon what he believes was a spirit voice. It sparked years of research and the recording of thousands of hours of sound and the term Electronic Voice Phenomenon was etched in paranormal history. Inspired by his work, many other pioneers continued and evolved the research into EVP.

It was Nikola Tesla who was famous for saying “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration.” Jürgenson and the pioneers that followed wanted to go much further beyond just hooking a microphone up to a tape recorder. Here you have 3 components that all have a connection to sound. Was the key to understanding the EVP phenomenon linked to frequency? Was there a way to be able to use frequency to their advantage? The answer came in the form of carrier waves or what we know as using radio static.

A carrier wave is high frequency electromagnetic wave which can be modulated or (changed) to convey information by being transmitted by a signal. The theory in using this for communication sessions is because if it is the type of wave that can be modulated, then a spirit or some sort of energy could indeed manipulate the frequency or the wave in a way to deliver a message in the form of a spoken word or in other words, be able to leave an EVP on a recording. To conduct a carrier wave recording was quite a simple process. A person taped the static noise from a radio station (or in the days when we had UHF television signals a static tv channel), by setting up a tape recorder and taking a recording of the static noise. This method became Jürgenson’s go to method for recording as he felt it yielded his best results and allowed his tape recorder to act as the medium between him and the other side.

Jürgenson would usually tune the frequency between 1445-1500 kHz with the ‘golden’ frequency of 1485 kHz now widely considered as the most successful. It has affectionately been dubbed as the Jürgenson frequency. Obviously, this method was and still is controversial as it is easy for a person to think they were hearing something that was not really there in an auditory form

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of pareidolia. In the same way our brain makes us see faces in the steam on shower glass or elephants up in the clouds, it can also make us hear sounds that are not there. Pareidolia is the brain’s way of ‘filling in the blanks’ when it doesn’t quite understand what it is seeing or in this case hear. If there is a sound it does not recognise, a person hears it as hello or a name instead. A lot of today’s paranormal investigators have modernised this technique by instead of taping carrier waves from a static radio station, they record the static from a spirit box. A spirit box or ghost box is what is called a ‘hack’ to a radio. The radio in some ways is ‘broken’ so that it will scan through all the radio stations at a certain rate. People select either AM of FM and choose to sweep through the stations forward or backward at a speed they can select. What you generally hear is a short snippet or just one syllable from each radio station as it plays through. You also get a lot of static white noise. The sound of a spirit box is one of the most recognisable by the ghost hunting community.

They record their sessions by either recording directly from the spirit box device or by placing a recorder next to the spirit box. Upon play back they will often remove the background noise and look for voices that they maybe did not hear during the investigation. One of the biggest arguments that is presented when it comes to using carrier waves be it a static radio station or by using a spirit box is that it could just simply be a faint radio station or signal. Sound engineers have argued through the years that it is almost impossible to find a wave band that is not in use by a radio station. What I do find interesting however, is that for many people who use these methods, they find the messages are not the sort of thing you would expect to hear on the radio. They are deeply personal messages to them that seem to be from people who have passed away. Names or phrases are often used that are personal to the recipient and even the sound of a person’s voices sounds like them – Aussie accents and all!

Many people who have experimented with this method over the decades have claimed to have great success. It is thought that because you are using a type of wave that is designed to be manipulated, it means it is easiest way for a spirit to ‘speak’ compared to a more common microphone recording or EVP session. This is the part I find the most interesting. It is now just beyond a theory that a spirit can manipulate a sound file. You have a potential reason as to why they may be able to do it. Of course, it is here that I have to give my own experiences with carrier waves which take place at my beloved Black Rock House. Built in 1856, Black Rock House is a historical homestead based in Melbourne Australia, built for our first auditor general Mr Charles Ebden. My brother and I run monthly investigations here and at the end of each night we finish up in the grand dining room all seated around the table. This room is one of the popular with is beautiful table settings and a century old red velvet tablecloth the masterpiece of the table setting. The mirror itself draws a lot of attention with people scared to turn their back to it. Others claim they can see it shimmering. Many people associate mirrors with portals to the other side and we have certainly had enough happen here to indicate that is a possibility! Once seated we recap on our night and think about all the spirits of the house and their stories to give them an opportunity and come forward for one last chat. Using a specially built device that uses carrier waves through an amplifier we spend some time trying to communicate. People often feel they hear their own names or information that has been relevant to our investigation that night. While sometimes the results are questionable, there are instances where it is unmistakable. When our time is up, we thank the spirits of the house for hosting us and we sign off. Each time we end the session by saying ‘Good Night’. You can imagine the response of our guests in the room when one night just as we were about to turn everything off when through the crackle of the carrier waves a loud male voice replied, ‘Good Night’.

https://www.blackrockhouse. org.au/

PHOTO: © The Black Rock House INSET: Charles Ebden

Haunted Magazine

g when To be honest I was almost droolin such a n bee had It . I looked up to this pub a kid. g bein e sinc life my of t par massive d to use I and My mum used to work here nd frie my with s tair ups come and stay friend also who lived here. My mum’s best both them er emb rem I used to work here. tales with me ling rega e hom k bac coming and a of glasses flying across the room the from ting floa ta, riet spirit lady, Hen rietta Hen tly, aren App t. sigh n plai in bar regulars, was more than a regular than the misery and edy trag her ring sha enjoying ce. noti take with anyone that would

Nicky Alan’s

HAUNTS, HUNTS & HENRIES!

he Lodge pub in Rayleigh, Essex is steeped in history. It is particularly noted as being the site for a 16th century hunting lodge of King Henry the Eighth, for some “deer worrying” & is reputed to be a courting place for Henry & Anne Boleyn. It also has an underground tunnel that leads to the local Holy Trinity church which gave passage for the working monks at the lodge. This tunnel ran directly past our house that I grew up in.

The legend goes that one of the maids at the lodge fell in love with one of the men who was in waiting for Henry. On one particular day Henrietta waited

for her love to return from the hunt. When he failed to show she could not contain her grief. It was never clear if he had died or been asked to serve elsewhere. This was too much for her to handle and so she drowned herself in the large pond that still remains now behind the pub. As the place has had regular reports of paranormal phenomena year after year, you can imagine my excitement when I finally manged to get an evening of investigating the place with my brother and some members of the public that we had invited to come along. This place had never been investigated before so it was a blank canvas.

The only thing with the public is you have to educate them on how to investigate before they start roaming around with torches flashing everywhere and bombarding an EVP session! I have two pet hates in investigations, torches and bright reflective clothing! The clothing is obvious as it can create all sorts of shenanigans reflecting off of a camera 56

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flash. If you get a torch flashed into your eyes in the darkness it takes at least 20 minutes for your eyes to readjust, so even if you saw Elvis swinging his hips in the corner of the room, it can’t be verified as your eye lenses would still be reflecting light from the torch that was thrown into your face! I allow a UV light or infrared, but torches are not allowed on any of my investigations. I also cover up anything shiny on clothing with black duct tape. During the briefing for the night, some of the people reluctantly put their torches back in their bags. They were assigned to groups with a competent investigator and medium in each one. We then arranged where each group would go so that we wouldn’t bump into each other at each assigned area of investigation. Luckily the pub is like a small manor house so is large enough for a good investigation and the grounds are huge as well. I must say the first part of the evening did not disappoint. We had some amazing rapping interaction in the main bar area, including rapping on a window pain. Trigger objects were moved, and everyone felt the buzz of paranormal phenomena in the air.

“I don’t fu**ing believe it!” I groaned as I saw a huge torch light flicker on in the restaurant. What had I said to them? No bloody torches! I got straight on the walkie talkie but all I got back was white noise. I started to walk towards the restaurant area to try and shout through the windows to tell whoever it was to turn their torch off. As I started walking, I looked up and could see a female walking along the restaurant area very clearly. I remember saying to my brother, “For Christ sake why is she holding the bloody torch to her face?” I had the right hump. She looked like she was doing a Blair Witch effort! I then noticed that there was a lot of hair cascading around the shoulders of this woman and just as I noticed this, the figure walked straight through an internal wall within the restaurant. My eyes stung as I did not want to blink. I realised that it was an unruly member of the public playing with a torch, it was Henrietta!

Round about 1 am, I was hungry for a bit more interaction. I had always wanted to see the full manifestation of Henrietta as there had been so many reports of her doing this. So, I figured if I was going to see her it would be by the pond area where she had drowned herself. I went out there with my brother Rich and a couple of other people. It was a tad disappointing as we tried EVP, nothing, there was no interaction whatsoever. My brother then directed me to look at the restaurant area that we could see from where we were standing. The building stood slightly higher from where we were with more windows than brick work.

It was not until the realisation set in that we saw it. She was literally floating along the room eyes looking straight ahead, completely oblivious of us looking through the window. A blue white light shone around her as she glided along uninhibited. I could see every detail of her bodice dress. She was beautiful and exceptionally slim. Everything though, her dress, face and hair were all coloured in a blue white haze. The distinguishing features of her whole appearance however were so clear. She continued to float in full manifestation until she reached the external wall, where she disappeared completely. I just wished I could have seen her for longer. The experience truly was jaw dropping. I could have kicked myself though, I was so engrossed in wanting to tell the torch girl off that it did not compute what I was really seeing. If I had got my head on straight I could have at least tried to film her. I have waited for years to see a fully manifested ghost in the ether. I have seen plenty of spirit people who communicate with me when doing readings, but to see a fully Haunted Magazine

manifested lady sailing through the room was just delicious! I was so excited as everyone with me had seen it as well. The Lodge had stood up to its legend and provided the goods! Henrietta had manifested in a residual energy as I could not find any way to communicate with her. Some ghosts are just that, a reprint of a slither of time being replayed again and again. This means that you will not get interaction with them. That is what I call a residual energy entity. An active energy is when they react to what to ask and interact with you in some way. I know that Henrietta can do both, but to see her gliding though the restaurant was enough to keep me going for months. That is what we all aim for in an investigation. But to be fair getting proof of it is also the main goal, I do not care that I failed on the latter, my childhood ghost had not let me down!

www.nickyalan.co.uk

Nicky x

Psychic Medium, Magazine Columnist Author of ‘M.E Myself and I’ ‘Diary of a Psychic’

THE MORAL DILEMMA

have been very much inspired by Spirit to write this and my aim is not to provoke but to allow people a little more insight and to see the ‘bigger picture’ when Investigating with Spirit.

There has been much controversy recently about people investigating sites where murders have taken place or with items that have been obtained from sites where murders happened. Perhaps we should start by making it clear that human spirits cannot be summoned! They cannot be forced or coerced into making an appearance or communicating with people who wish to contact them. Even in famous, well known cases, people visiting the sites cannot make the Spirits of the victim’s forcible return to the site and make them participate in an investigation. Spirit will interact of their own free will and may return if invited respectfully.

So herein lies the dilemma: At what point do people find it acceptable to investigate these places? I have seen and heard many people say they would not investigate places where there has been a murder but I have also seen many of the same people show extreme enthusiasm when offered places to investigate like castles and gaols. Dungeons and torture chambers are first on the list when it comes to investigation these historic places, yet these sites where people have been brutally murdered in the most horrific ways seem to be morally ok. Are the spirits of these older sites less worthy of the morals of the investigators because these deaths did not occur in their life time? So how much time is acceptable to try and investigate a site where people tragically lost their lives at the hand of another person? 5 years? 10 years? 50 years? …and if more than 1 person died at the site should the time be longer? If an investigator happens to encounter the spirit of a ‘victim’ on an investigation 58

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would it be right to politely decline the contact from the spirit as it goes against the investigators ethics or would it be better to fully engage with the spirit to try and get that evidence, contact and story? I just cannot help feeling there are a lot of double standards around in the field regarding this issue.

I have heard many people say that it is morally wrong and too soon to investigate places where recent murders took place, but how much time should pass before people feel it is acceptable? Does this then not go against the Spiritual churches where people visit for those messages from loved ones in Spirit? I have worked the platform in these Churches and there is nothing more comforting that bringing a message from someone recently deceased. Some messages came through only days after the person passed and others could be years or decades but each and every time it is the choice of the Spirit itself. If one of these sites has seen the burial of several victims should investigators not investigate? ...and how is this different to investigators going down to the local churchyard and investigating a plot of ground that has been used for burials for several hundred years? Should we perhaps categorise the sites of burials (for investigation purposes) and gauge it on how the person died - Illness? suicide? Accident? Naturel causes? Would this address the issue of the moral dilemma?

The Spirit World has got all the answers where Spirit are concerned. They are not going to waste any energy on futile encounters. Regardless of whether the Spirit is recently deceased or have been dead for hundreds of years, if there is a message or contact to be made it will happen regardless of time. Regardless of when they died and how they died they are all valuable contacts to the Paranormal investigator and should be treated as such. Haunted Magazine

As there is no time in the spirit world, the time definitely does not affect the spirits. Yes, the family will always grieve their lost family member but if that spirit wishes to come forward and communicate with us, we should we not embrace the effort and the opportunity the Spirit World has given us or do we reject it as it’s a victim ? The best thing we can do to accommodate the work of the Spirit World is to be a little kinder to each other, less judgemental and critical and get off our moral high ground as it only serves to hinder us rather than help us, when working with Spirit. If we focussed on our own path and gathering our own evidence the Paranormal field would be a better place. I feel there is no issue working on investigations where the spirits of ‘Murder’ victims maybe. The problem comes from the living…. when people do not work with respect and allow their egos to blight the situation and don’t act in a professional and discreet manner. Where viewers, followers and Facebook lives become more important than being respectful and professional courtesy. The Spirit World cannot help us with this, we have to work at that ourselves. Our conduct is one of our greatest assets when working with Spirit yet many people let themselves down by not following their own basic standards. The moral code is non-existent. We cannot help how a person died or what level of suffering they endured whilst they crossed over, nor can we say that one person’s life was more meaningful than another, but we can be respectful and grateful of all Spirit who come to communicate with us.

Jane

HIGGYPOP

, Y G O L O ‘ N A YOU GOT ! T S I T N E I C S YOU’RE A

h technology

gs have kept up wit sts, Spirits & Hauntin

How Gho

FOMO: THE FEAR OF MISSING OUT GHOSTS! There has never been a better time for ghosts to finally get in touch with us, gone are the days are having to creak a floorboard or bang a radiator pipe to get our attention. There’s a plethora of gadgets and instruments out there, not forgetting the tried and tested method of speaking via a third party (psychics, mediums, clairvoyants et al). People have often wondered what the ghost of a Victorian street urchin would make of an EVP recorder. “talk into this device, please”.

hen you think of a ghost, you probably conjure up the image of a gentleman in Victorian style clothing or a Civil War soldier stomping through a castle. These spirits are of their time and often fit in with their surroundings such as an old manor house or a castle, but have you noticed that for every technological advancement mankind makes, the spirit world seems to keeps Photo Credit: FunkyFocus up? The Victorian era was a simpler time for ghosts. They were called upon in low-tech séances, these were often performed by candlelight or in complete darkness and usually involved nothing more than a table. The spirit would communicate by knocking to indicate yes or no or speak via the medium who was leading the séance.

I can imagine the urchin mouthing:

However, in the 1860s something changed that forced ghosts to adapt. Over the next 150 years spirits would have to learn to interact with everything from cameras to televisions, and now they have the challenge of haunting their victims via the internet.

“cor blimey geezer, them their flashing lights, that’s the work of the devil, leave it out” (yes, he is a cockney street urchin). BUT if we are curious in life, then surely, we’d be curious in the afterlife so our spiritual versions of ourselves would prod, poke, squeeze and talk, if only to spout some gobbledygook for us to record and playback. It happens. So, do ghosts / can ghosts keep up with modern technology? Can they adapt mentally to understand the mechanics and the workings of a gadget they have not seen prior to them departing this mortal coil. We asked our good friend Steve Higgins AKA Higgypop to have a stab at expressing how hauntings have kept up with technology over the years. Paul, Haunted Magazine

CAMERAS It wasn’t long after cameras became widely available people discovered that they were able to capture what appeared to be spirits on film - spirit photography was born. Paranormal investigators would attempt to snap images of spiritual entities. The technique was pioneered by William H. Mumler, an American photographer who worked in New York and Boston. It was in the 1860s that he accidentally stumbles upon spirit photography after seeing a second person in a photograph he took of himself. He later realised that this was a double exposure, but this did not stop him from becoming a medium and selling fraudulent spirit photos to his clients. Mumler was eventually taken to court and tried for fraud and larceny, but spirit photography had taken off and only grew in popularity throughout the 1880s, remaining popular into the early 20th century. Even Sherlock Holmes author Arthur Conan Doyle was a practitioner of spirit photography. Photo Credit: Conger Design

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Photo Credit: HOerwin56

COMPACT CAMERAS As the technology evolved, so did its connection with the paranormal. The advent of compact and ultra-compact digital cameras brought about a whole new type of spirit photography and the phenomenon of “orbs”. Many paranormal investigators believe that these ghost lights were evidence of spirit presence, or even the early stages of a ghostly manifestation. However, orbs are actually nothing more than the result of the camera’s flash illuminating dust particles that are drifting close to the lens (ooh controversial – editor)The compact design of this type of camera means that the lens is much closer to the flash and this is to blame from orbs. The photography experts at Fujifilm describes the artefacts as a “common photographic problem”.

TELEPHONES Photo Credit: StockSnap

Also invented in the late-1800s was the telephone, and by the 1960s and 70s they were allegedly being used by ghosts too. After hearing about the first case involving a “phantom phone call” in 1967, parapsychologists D. Scott Rogo and Raymond Bayless wrote about the phenomenon in their book ‘Phone Calls from The Dead’. In the 1979 book they described it as a brief and usually one-off phone call from spirits of deceased relatives, friends, or strangers. One famous phantom phone call case occurred in 1988 and was reported by American author, Dean Koontz. He claims that he was in his office when he received an unexpected call, he answered and heard a female voice that sounded distant. The voice said “please, be careful.” Koontz questioned the caller to try to establish their identity, but the ghostly voice simply repeated its cryptic warning. The author was dumfounded by the call, especially as the voice sounded strangely like his mother’s, but she had been dead for almost two years.

TAPE RECORDERS After the invention of the telephone came the technology that allowed us to record voices on to tape. This is where the modern-day phenomenon of EVPs, or electronic voice phenomenon started. American photographer Attila von Szalay was one of the first researchers to attempt recording what he believed to be voices of the dead. By 1956 he was using a reel-to-reel tape recorder and was able to make several successful recordings using a custom-built insulated cabinet that contained a microphone. Upon playback he found there were sounds on his tapes that were not heard during the recording, he believed these sounds to be the voices of the dead. However, not everyone was convinced by his work. Some think his recordings may have been the result of using recording equipment with a poorly aligned erasure head, resulting in a small percentage of previous sounds recorded on the tape to be mixed into a new silent recording.

Perhaps one of the most famous uses of a tape was by parapsychologist Maurice Grosse during the Enfield Poltergeist case. While researching the 1977 haunting he recorded hours of audio which appeared to be the voice of the entity that haunted the house speaking through the young girls who lived there. 60

Photo Credit: TBIT

In 1995, the parapsychologist David Fontana suggested in an article that poltergeists could haunt tape recorders and that this is what happened to Maurice Grosse.

TELEVISION The next big leap in technology was the invention of television and along with it came a new form of haunting. One form of spirit communication involves using a television and video camera feedback loop, which creates the Droste effect, where a picture recursively appears within itself or simply by observing patterns in static. Haunted Magazine

Photo Credit: TebielYC

One famous example of this occurred on the day of the funeral of EVP researcher Friedrich Jürgenson. His colleague had tuned his television set to an empty channel so that it just showed static. He claims that Jürgenson’s face appeared on the screen. The idea of haunted televisions firmly rooted itself in popular culture. A memorable part of the 1982 movie ‘Poltergeist’ was the television screen that shows static and talked to the youngest child in the family, Carol Anne. In 1992 a piece of ground-breaking British TV show attempted to use the viewers’ televisions in a unique way. ‘Ghostwatch’ was presented by Michael Parkinson, the show started on Halloween night with the words “the programme you’re about to watch is a unique live investigation of the supernatural.” The show aimed to convince viewers that they had inadvertently taken part in a mass séance via their television sets. Haunted television naturally evolved into the idea of haunted video tapes, an idea which is pivotal to the plot of the 2002 horror film, ‘The Ring’.

VIDEO CAMERAS Next came video cameras which were responsible for an explosion of paranormal incidents caught on camera. of course, nowadays high-quality, 4K cameras are inexpensive, but initially consumer camcorders were analogue and of poor quality, which resulted in grainy pictures and ghostly figures that were hard to make out. The more artefacts there are in a piece of footage the more pareidolia kicks in - that is our tendency to see familiar shapes in abstract images. It is also harder to debunk low quality footage as it is hard to work out what you are really looking at. This is something the makers of the ‘Paranormal Activity’ movie series understood. Although the movies were made during the era of high definition video, they ensured that all of the footage that was captured in the film was low quality, jittery and poorly lit, all this helps add to the tension and realism. The rise of consumer night vision cameras also gave rise to a new wave of captures of orbs. In Photo Credit: abdusakten the same way that orbs became more common when stills cameras got more compact and the flash moved closer to the lens, mounting a light source to the front of a video camera had the same effect. In the case of night vision, it is an invisible infrared light that illuminates microscopic particles close to the lens (ooh controversial (again)– editor). Again the short distance between the lens and the IR light decreases the angle of light reflection to the lens, directly illuminating the aspect of the particles facing the lens and increasing the camera’s ability to capture the light reflected off these particles. More and more people are looking for ghosts all the time and with high quality video equipment getting ever cheaper and more accessible, surely it can’t’ be long until someone manages to capture definitive proof of the paranormal in full HD video. Sadly, despite the technology available we still only see poorly shot and low-quality videos.

Photo Credit: gabrielle_cc

EMAIL We have heard about phone calls from the dead, how about emails from the dead? Well there are some who believe that the spirit of dead humans have the ability to take control of technology in order to send emails from beyond the grave. The most famous case of this nature took place in 2011 when a Pennsylvanian man named Jack Froese passed away suddenly at the age of 32. Five months after his death, Jack’s childhood friend Tim Hart started receiving emails from Jack. The first emails carried the subject line “I’m Watching”, and read “Did you hear me? I am at your house. Clean your f***ing attic!!!” The source of the emails remains a mystery to this day. The emails all had a personal touch and seemed like they were really coming from Jack. His friends and family said no one had Jack’s password and there’s no signs that his account was hacked.

MOBILE PHONES Right now, smartphones seem like the ultimate piece of technology, it gives us the world in our pocket. They have also opened up brand new ways for ghosts to Photo Credit: terimakasih0 haunt us, everything from spooky figures in photos and videos, through to Snapchat filters detecting unseen faces. Reports of people getting text messages allegedly from the dead is on the increase. Of course, this could be the result of a glitch or a faulty phone, but those who have received them are convinced the messages are from their deceased loved ones. And it is not just text messages, in 2018 a Twitter user going by the name of Ty posted a chilling piece of audio of a mysterious voicemail message he received. The eerie clip seemed to consist of a cryptic code, a geographical coordinate, and instructions to evacuate. Others have reported receiving missed calls from the ghosts of their friends and family. In these cases, it is said that the phone does not actually ring and the missed call from their number simply appears as a notification.

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Since phones have got smarter and been packed full of more and more sensors and detectors, app developers have taken advantage of these features to make ghost hunting apps. Many of the apps are based on randomisation algorithms to generate words from a database of words or phonics. The apps allow any spirits in the vicinity to interfere with this random sequence

and intentionally select words in order to communicate a message to the living. Others are based on the detection of fluctuations in the electromagnetic field, as phones and other mobile devices donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a true EMF meter built in, the apps use a combination of inputs including the compass, magnetometer and accelerometer to build up a picture of electromagnetic field strength.

YOUTUBE VI DEO REF: h ttps:// www. y o utub e .com/ watch? v =nn2 oO- kS1 Wk Bring is us bang up to date is YouTube live streaming. Gamers spend hours broadcasting gameplay live to their hundreds of thousands of subscribers. In 2017 one YouTuber named Rubzy got more than he bargained for while streaming from an apartment where he was house sitting. Around 45 minutes into the live stream a door behind the gamer opened on its own, before slamming and making him jump. This was followed up by several other occurrences that seemed to be paranormal, all of which was witnessed live by the hundreds of people watching him at the time.

Steve â&#x20AC;&#x153;Higgypopâ&#x20AC;? Higgins

Mike Covell’s

e are living in uncertain times, and with global stories centred on the current Covid19 question the curious question of plagues, pandemics, and the paranormal has raised its head. In recent weeks and months I have had numerous reports from people, currently staying at home, who have encountered paranormal activity in their properties, almost as if their presence and the international anxiety has brought about a wave of paranormal phenomena. On the flip side of this, I have been approached by multiple researchers, writers, and investigators wishing to discuss paranormal encounters related to plague pandemics. Internationally one of the most infamous paranormal sites is Poveglia Plague Island in Venice, Italy, has been host to numerous investigations through the years, with the island even appearing on Ghost Adventures (Season 3, Episode 3,) which first aired in 2009. While the island already had a dark macabre history prior to the plague, it was the plague that really put it on the map, when the island was taken over in 1776 and became used as a temporary confinement station in 1793, but a more permanent outpost in 1805. The site has been host to a plethora of paranormal activity through the years, with eyewitnesses reporting full bodied apparitions, phantom footsteps, strange scents, and among the legends are stories of suicides, multiple deaths, and it has been claimed that at least 100,000 are buried in the plague pits there. Through the years I have been researching local stories here in Hull that are linked to outbreaks of disease and subsequent reports of alleged paranormal activity. Here are just a few.

1570 OUTBREAK AND GOD’S PUNISHMENT 1575 – 1576 Bubonic Plague. Some Hull residents thought that the outbreak was God’s punishment for the sins of the wicked. During this outbreak Blackfriargate was the worst affected. The area was fenced off and watchmen stood at certain points to ensure people living in the area did not leave and infect the rest of the town. During this outbreak, which lasted until the summer, over 100 fatalities were recorded. As no trade was coming in, nor leaving, the people of Hull began to struggle for money. Usually when hard times hit Hull residents they would take to the streets and beg, but because of the spread of infection even this was outlawed, and a number of subscription funds were set up. The infected were removed to pest houses, situated in Myton Carr, and were kept in place during the day by a watcher. At night, when he returned to the town, he ordered the town gates to be closed and that no admissions should take place. Curiously, anyone with symptoms would be removed to these pest houses, so regardless of whether you had the plague or not, you would be locked in with those who had it! Since then reports of phantom monks, dressed in brown robes, carrying lanterns and bells, have been reported in some of the local cellars in the area, although today the site is a vast construction site, so who knows what the future holds. Hull at the time of the 1570 and 1604 outbreaks was a walled town, with the deceased dumped on the outskirts in the pest houses, today these sites have been overtaken by shops, offices, and accommodation. Haunted Magazine

THE 1604 PLAGUE OUTBREAK AND WITCHCRAFT Hull in 1604 was hit by the plague, an event that led to the town gates being closed to stop people coming in and getting out. Public fairs and markets were cancelled, and a great number of people were infected. It was also during this year that accusations of Witchcraft were placed on several citizens. In September 1604 Baron Saville held sessions of gaol delivery. At them Mary Holland, Jennet Wressell (aka Beaumont), Jennett Butler, Roger Beadneys and John Willerby were hanged for Witchcraft. It was written that John Willerby confessed at the time of his death. Sadly, all traces of what happened have since vanished, and only a few sources exist that give the bare essentials of the people involved. The group were hanged at the public execution site, which is a stoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s throw from the site of Castle Street Cemetery.

CASTLE STREET CEMETERY Castle Street Cemetery in Hull is currently under threat from a multi-million-pound road expansion, but officially the site was said to be home to at least 44,000 souls, and it is claimed around 19,000 bodies will need to be exhumed. The cemetery was originally opened as an overspill cemetery to the Holy Trinity Church/Minster, and was erected in the 1700â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, being officially opened in 1784 and being in use until 1861, on what would have been the outskirts of Hull. The site has seen several notorious outbreaks including cholera, typhoid, and smallpox. The cemetery was also the scene of an infamous local bodysnatching case, when on Tuesday November 16th 1830 an investigation was held at the Mansion House in Hull, it was reported that an unnamed girl was exhumed for the purpose of selling her body. A man named Joseph Turner was passing by the cemetery when he saw a man named William Craven and another man named Beck digging up the girl, but when they were alerted, they dropped her and ran. A posse of men gave chase and another body was also discovered, but with not enough evidence, no charges were ever brought.

Castle Street Cemetery seen in better days

The cemetery eventually became too full, and other cemeteries were erected around the city, including the Hull General Cemetery and the Hedon Road Cemetery, both of which were also linked to the plague and cholera.

Since then, a number of eyewitnesses, one of which was a close friend, had reported seeing a spectral woman, dressed in white, running round in circles close to the cemetery wall, one eyewitness went on to describe her tongue hanging out, and her eyes wide open!

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HULL GENERAL CEMETERY Hull General Cemetery is situated in West Hull off Spring Bank and is an enormous Victorian cemetery that is today looked after by a group of volunteers who carry out weeding, cleaning, and planting in the cemetery. The first mention of the Hull General Cemetery came in the Hull Packet in February 1845 when shares were being offered for £10 to raise £10,000. The General Cemetery was established in 1847 when a joint stock company was formed to purchase 20 acres. In July 1854, the company was incorporated, and at its height the cemetery was surrounded by large front gates and six smaller double gates, forming entrances, adjoined by three stone lodges and three chapels. Whilst Cholera had struck Hull previously, the 1849 outbreak resulted in 1,860 deaths in the town, and thus a monument was erected over the site where many of the poor where buried. James Sibree, who at the time was attached to St. Mary’s Church, on Lowgate, was also the Hull General Cemetery Companies chaplain, thus, he oversaw many of the burials. He described how grave diggers originally dug single graves but eventually dug deeper to house eight or nine bodies. Then they began digging double graves, with little or no earth between each coffin. He described the state of the cemetery at that time as being like a quarry or ploughed field, it being all dug up with little time to make it neat. Today a large obelisk, with the number of deaths listed, stands close to the spot where 700 of those cholera victims were buried.

The Cholera Monument in Hull’s General Cemetery

One of the strangest stories came from the cholera outbreak of 1849 and was recorded by Rev. James SIbree. He had been called to a property on Paradise Place in Hull and was asked to look at two children. Both were laid in bed and seemingly lifeless, so arrangements were made to bury them as soon as possible. Their mother, who is unnamed in the report, could not bear to see both her children buried on the same day, so sent one of them off first. The child was hastily buried in Spring Bank Cemetery, and the grief-stricken mother returned home to make similar arrangements, but upon arriving home, found her other child alive and well. James Sibree and the mother, therefore, harboured the belief that the first child had been buried alive. For years stories of ghostly activity has been reported in the cemetery, from a phantom lady seen running at people, screaming, and vanishing, to phantom funeral processions. One of the most interesting aspects for me was during a nocturnal visit to the cemetery. We picked up large spikes of EMF at the cholera monument, and heard what sounded like a woman sobbing, this was picked up on analogue and digital audio recording devices, but there was no one in the area.

Detail on the Cholera Monument

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HEDON ROAD CEMETERY The cemetery on Hedon Road was to be originally named The Drypool and Southcoates Cemetery, and the ground was purchased in 1852, through a local subscription fund worth £2,100. The original plot of land was prone to flooding, so the cemetery floor was raised, thus giving the gravediggers ample room to dig their graves. It opened on September 17th 1852 when it was announced that the cemetery was ready to accept burials. Between 1988 and 2014 several people claimed to have seen a Victorian funeral procession in the cemetery at night beyond the locked gates, heading up the roadway towards the rear of the cemetery. Various eyewitnesses have reported seeing black horses with large black feather plumes pulling behind it a carriage with glass sides and bearing a coffin. Despite this, no one has seen anyone leading the phantom horses and their charge to its final destination. The S.S. Friary, which was a Cardiff registered steamer, had set sail from Alexandria, back to Hull when Captain Birch reported that one of his crew, 30 year old Emanuel Frorgulas, a native of Greece, had taken ill and died onboard

the vessel. Initially it gained a couple of lines in the Hull Daily Mail on Friday January 11th 1901, and all was seemingly forgotten. That was, until Wednesday January 16th 1901, when the Hull Daily Mail reported that a ship was berthed off Victoria Dock, with several severe cases of illness reported amongst the crew, and several members brought ashore to take respite in the nearby isolation hospital, then on Victoria Dock. The residents of Hull began to panic, cholera had struck the city so badly in the Victorian period, when thousands were killed, and anyone associated with the vessel was turned away for fear of the spread of disease. Within days a local state of emergency was declared when the meeting of the Hull and Goole Port Sanitary Authorities were called to a meeting, with Hull medical men put on standby, and even Alderman Fraser making a statement to try and bring the facts of the case to the public. Today the only remaining memorial to those who perished in the outbreak is

The crematorium and columbarium, where eyewitnesses have reported a phantom funeral procession. [Inset] The Plague Ship monument.

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a small weathered plaque, hidden away at the back of Hedon Road Cemetery in the Columbarium opposite the old Crematorium. It features the names of only a handful of the victims but serves as a chilling reminder to that dark month of January back in 1901, when the “plague ship” visited Hull bringing many on their final journey. Since then eyewitnesses have reported a phantom coach, drawn by ghostly horses, all in black with black feathered plumes atop their heads, parade up the cemetery drive, and swing round to the road that stops in front of the columbarium where the plague victims are buried. The road leading up to the crematorium and columbarium, where eyewitnesses have reported a phantom funeral procession Presented here are just a few cases from my local neighbourhood, I know that there are many more similar stories across the British Isles, and many more around the world. These dark days seem to have left a lasting memory that is still encountered today, and a stark reminder of what we are still facing.

E X PL A I N E D LIKE IT OR NOT (BY THE WAY WE LOVE IT), PARANORMAL TV IS AS MUCH PART OF THE PARANORMAL AS DOWSING RODS AND TRIGGER OBJECTS. MORE AND MORE THE TV PRODUCERS FROM THE UK ARE REALISING THAT THERE IS AN AUDIENCE FOR THIS KIND OF TV AND ARE PRODUCING THEIR OWN SHOWS. But what goes into a show, you can’t just get a bunch of spooky clips, put them together and expect the TV viewer to go “WOW, I saw that too”, there must be more to it. We caught up with Back2Back TV Producer Carron Munro, who is currently working on series 2 of Unexplained! Caught on Camera and asked her why Paranormal TV is important.

experiences and being part of the new series of Unexplained. How long does planning and preparation take for a paranormal series like Unexplained take from start to finish?

So, tell us more about Unexplained! Caught on Camera 2? Did you learn anything from Series 1? The first series of ‘Unexplained! Caught on camera’, was really well received and we were all really grateful for the feedback and positivity that came with it. The paranormal community got behind us to share experiences and stories, and it is with their continued support that we are excited about this second series. We are determined to bring even bigger and better unexplained and paranormal stories from across the globe. So, we are really urging people to get in touch and get involved by sending in their videos, sharing their 68

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From start to finish, a series takes around 6 months to make. This will involve everything from finding the stories, watching videos that people have sent in, to filming interviews and putting the stories together in the editing process. I absolutely love my job on the show, I am a story producer, which means I get to spend my time having great chats with people from all over and listening to the unique unexplained experiences people have had. Some of the stories I’ve heard have been absolutely amazing, from people who have had poltergeist encounters, to people with telepathic powers and I particularly love hearing from Paranormal investigators who have shared some jaw dropping stories to share. We are only a small story team, it’s just me and 2 others who will be reaching out to people and trying to uncover the amazing things that have happened to people. Have you been amazed by the footage you’ve been sent, is there a back2backTV panel watching it?

I am not an expert in Paranormal goings on but hearing from people encounters has really given me the passion to find out and investigate it more. When we get sent clips, the Back2Back production team will discuss what we make of the videos. This is the fun part, each one of us has a different opinion, and it is always so interesting for us to discuss. Once we have decided on which clips are featured in the series, we then arrange filming with the footage owners or people who have experienced the Unexplained, so that we can bring the stories to life. What happens when you have all the footage you need? Are you still after more footage? It takes a lot of footage to make a television series and we are making 10 episodes in this new series, so there is never too much, and there is plenty of time for people’s stories and encounters of the unexplained. If you have experienced any unexplained encounters that you caught on camera, or even if you yourself have a remarkable or unexplained talent or skill we would love to hear from you. From UFO’s, to Poltergeists and contacting spirits, through to ghostly sightings and spiritual powers, or anything unexplainable at all. We would love to hear from you and share these amazing experiences with other like-minded people, who also have an interest in the unexplained. Do you think there is a bright future for Paranormal TV shows? Is it all down to ratings? There is a huge appetite in the UK and in fact all over the world for this type of television series. People are fascinated with the unexplained world. The number of cameras we now have at our disposal has seen this increase. We now have video doorbells, personal security systems in and outside of our houses, people are able to capture more caught on camera unexplained moments than ever, and when something unexplained happens, it blows up for millions to see. People will always have a curiosity in things that cannot be explained. Do you believe in the paranormal, yourself? If so, ever experienced anything? I do believe in the paranormal, and I will tell you a story about what happened to me as a teenager. I have always suffered from nightmares and night

terrors and at times I get a real uneasy feeling and used to struggle to sleep, as I have got older this has got less and less thankfully. I was in my bedroom when I was about 14 in my mother’s house and I always used to sleep facing the door, I had a real fear of sleeping with my back to the door. This one night I don’t know why I actually turned to face the wall in my bedroom and in the wall, I saw what looked like a face in the bricks of the wall. I jumped up out of bed and ran to the bathroom and I let out a scream and I heard my mother scream, I said sorry sorry I woke you she said no no its ok sorry I woke you. So, I calmed myself down turned on the lights in my room and went back to bed. The next day after I had finished my early shift at the local shop, I saw my mother in the afternoon. I apologised for waking her and she said no I’m sorry I screamed and woke you I looked confused and said no I screamed first and woke you and she insisted that she had screamed first and woken me. So, we had a little disagreement over who screamed first, and I said to her alright then if you screamed first (thinking I was smart) why did she scream? She looked slightly uneasy and said I am not telling you, I said no you must tell me if you screamed first! And she said well I woke up and looked at my bedroom door and I saw the figure of a headless man walking towards me with his arms out. Now we had not seen each other all that day there was no way she could have known what I had saw. All these years later it totally remains unexplained. And finally, is there anything else the readers of Haunted Magazine can do to help?

We can only make this series with the help of the wonderful paranormal community in the UK, and with anyone who has caught anything unexplainable on camera! It is such a wonderful community and last series we were so grateful at how many people shared their stories. This series- we need your help! If you see a clip on any social media platform or someone sends you a clip, then tag us in the clip or email it into us for the series. If you have any experiences yourself that you have caught on camera, please do get in touch, and drop us an email. We want to find even more Unexplained going on and remarkable stories for series 2 and we can only do that with your readers help.

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So, send us your caught-on camera clips and please do spread the word. Its through your experiences we can share stories. Email: Unexplained@back2back.tv Twitter: Unexplained Caught on Camera @OnUnexplained Facebook: CarrMun Cast and new Unexplained Page

Some of the footage we have seen for series 2 so far, really has stepped up a gear.

with Richard Estep The â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Haunted Hospitalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Guy

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T H E S T E P B Y E S T E P G U I D E T O T H E PA R A N O R M A L

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Something about the house seems to gnaw at the minds of paranormal investigators, goading them into angry confrontations with one another for no apparent reason.

ituated in Hartford City, Indiana, the infamous Monroe House has earned itself a fearsome reputation as being a hub of dark paranormal activity. Those who live in the locality tell of it always having been ‘that house,’ the place around which countless ghost stories swarm. In fact, the metaphorical waters surrounding the Monroe House are so murky, it is next to impossible to separate fact from fiction. Some stories have almost reached the status of urban legend. Although documentation is sparse, it is believed that the house was built in either the late 1800s or early 1900s and has been home to several families and numerous other tenants down through the years. One story insists that a pharmacist lived either at the house or on a different property that preceded it on the same lot, along with his wife and children. Supposedly, he was not a nice man at all, being prone to outbursts of anger that led to him abusing the other members of his family. His wife and children were all killed in the house, as the tale goes (most variations hold that this happened in some kind of fire) and their restless spirits now roam its hallways. As ghost stories go, it’s a doozy. Unfortunately, I (and several other researchers I have consulted with) have been unable

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to uncover a shred of evidence to support it ever actually happening. Another fascinating story comes from somebody claiming to have been a former tenant of the second floor. The house is a spacious two-story affair, and at several points in its history has been sub-let out to renters. This gentleman, who prefers to remain anonymous, claims that he and a number of others carried out occult rituals inside the Monroe House, with the intention of opening up a doorway to let inhuman entities come through into our realm. Whether you believe in the possibility of such things is, of course, entirely up to you, but I will say that if this claim is true, it would explain many of the darker goings-on which have taken place at the house. It is not unusual for visitors to find themselves getting scratched or pushed at certain haunted locations, but the Monroe House takes this to an entirely different level. Something about the house seems to gnaw at the minds of paranormal investigators, goading them into angry confrontations with one another for no apparent reason. Members of one team even got into a fistfight. Other groups have fled the property in the middle of the night, chased out by the negative atmosphere and sheer intensity of the paranormal activity taking place there.

With a pedigree like that, I just had to experience the place for myself. Fortunately, the owners of the Monroe House, Eddie, and Pam, proved willing to let me move in for a few days with a team of fellow paranormal investigators. They purchased the property with the intent of fixing it up and selling it on, but soon found out that their newest acquisition came with some unexpected extras — ghosts. Eddie and his brother worked on fixing the house up and making it structurally sound again. The routine was that Eddie worked until dark, then his brother would come by and take over, working later into the night. One evening, Eddie got caught up in the task at hand and lost track of the time. He was up on the second floor, with only a radio for company, when he suddenly caught sight of a shadowy figure walking into one of the rooms at the end of the hallway.

“That’s strange,” he frowned, thinking that his brother had just arrived and that he hadn’t heard his footsteps over the music coming from the radio. “Why’s he going into that room? There’s nothing in there, and the lights don’t work.” Downing tools, Eddie went after his brother. The room he had seen the shadowy figure enter was completely empty, though fully illuminated by the moonlight coming in from the windows. Right then and there, he knew that he was in the presence of something that deeply disturbed him. His new house

now seemed sinister and frightening. Rather than retrace his steps by going back downstairs and leaving via the front door, he opened the window and climbed out, then dropped down into the yard and made his escape. He had just allowed himself to be chased out of his own house by a shadow figure, which he still finds a little embarrassing to this day. To my mind, Eddie has nothing to be embarrassed about. Seeing a shadow figure when you are all alone in what’s reputed to be an extremely haunted house is a frightening thing for most people. Still, it wasn’t long before Eddie was back at work again (making sure to do most of it during the hours of daylight) and starting to experience other strange things. One day, he clearly heard the sounds of footsteps running from room to room up above him on the second floor. Steeling himself, Eddie went up there to search the house, concerned that a kid from the local neighborhood might have broken in on a day. The footsteps had sounded childlike and playful. He checked every room and confirmed that there was no intruder present inside the Monroe House — not of the living, flesh, and blood variety, anyway. That’s when he started to hear stories from the neighbours and local residents. Several reported seeing dark, shadowy figures standing in the upstairs windows late at night, silently staring out into the street. The lights seemed to take on a life of their own, switching themselves off and on at all hours of the night, despite

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there being no residents inside the house, and all of the doors and windows securely locked. Katrina Weidman and Nick Groff visited the house twice in order to shoot two episodes of their series Paranormal Lockdown. To say that their stay was eventful would be an understatement. Trails of water mysteriously appeared throughout the house, coating many of the surfaces and cabinet doors in the kitchen.

Those same cabinet doors would also open up of their own accord. One of the stranger occurrences took place when the entire house shook on its foundation, something which was corroborated by the security guard that the production team had hired to keep unwanted visitors away from the perimeter. Perhaps most disturbing of all was the discovery of bones partially buried in a crawlspace beneath the house. Nobody seems to have a good explanation for how they came to be there, but there is no doubt of the fact that they appear to be human in origin. Because a church was situated on a nearby lot at one time, some

‘

have speculated that these human remains may be part of a forgotten cemetery which extends beneath the Monroe House itself and also into the back yard. This is certainly feasible, and a Ground-Penetrating Radar expert that was brought in for the shoot did identify anomalies beneath the ground that could be consistent with the presence of graves behind the house.

Katrina Weidman and Nick Groff visited the house twice in order to shoot two episodes of their series Paranormal Lockdown. To say that their stay was eventful would be an understatement.

My own investigation of the Monroe House took place a little over a year after Katrina and Nick’s second visit. Eddie has continued pouring TLC into the house and proved to be every bit as friendly and gracious as host in person as he appears to be on TV. After granting me access to the house for four days, and not requesting anything at all in the way of payment, he wished us luck and left us to it. For this particular case, I decided to keep my circle small. Jason and Linda are a married couple, both of them medical professionals. We have shared many paranormal adventures together in the past, and we made the epic drive out from Colorado to Indiana together. Lisa lives a fairly short distance away from Hartford City, and Erin flew out on what was to be her own strange version of a bachelorette party (that’s a hen night, for UK readers). Instead of liquor and male dancers, she preferred mystery and ghosts.

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We arrived after dark, and found a single light had been left on, up on the second floor.

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We had the distinct feeling that something wasn’t at all happy that we were in the house, especially for such a long period of time.

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As I approach the house from the back, Linda caught sight of the curtain twitching, as though somebody were looking down on us from that window. Suspicious of it being a draft, we went up there (it was the bathroom) and checked for stray air currents. There were none, as evidenced by a piece of paper that stubbornly refused to move. Several of us were physically affected during our stay. I could not shake a strange ‘cobwebby’ feeling in my hair, as if somebody was running their fingers through it. This happened after I had been inside the house for just a few minutes and grew stronger the more time I spent there. I am tempted to write this off as being purely psychogenic, a product of my imagination fooling my senses, though it is impossible to say for sure. Jason, on the other hand, developed the much more concerning symptom of chest pressure and tightness, which made my inner paramedic more than a little nervous. He had never experienced anything similar either before or since, and the Haunted Magazine

feeling would eventually go away on its own. Only later would I realize a strange synchronicity: Jason was a pharmacy technician and had brought his wife along with him to the Monroe House. If there was any truth to the story about the pharmacist and his wife living in the house, I wondered later whether one of them might have made some kind of connection with Jason or Linda. Regular readers of this column will know that I’m a big proponent of using the Estes Method of Instrumental TransCommunication, and the technique was extremely fruitful for us at the Monroe House. In one particularly memorable session, held upstairs in what is known as the Ouija Room, we conducted two Estes Sessions simultaneously, with two sets of listeners and questioners working side by side in parallel. Things took a turn for the weird when one of the listeners began engaging in a backand-forth conversation with the other listener, even though both were wearing noise-canceling headphones and

couldn’t actually hear one another. One of the more ominous statements came in the form of a voice emerging from the SB-11 Spirit Box, telling us in no uncertain terms: “Don’t sleep...you’ll die.” I must confess that it sent a bit of a shiver down my spine. We had the distinct feeling that something wasn’t at all happy that we were in the house, especially for such a long period of time. Being the smaller, more svelte members of our group, both Erin and Jason took it in turns to brave the crawlspace in which the human remains still lay. They took it in turns to boost themselves through a tiny gap in the basement wall and wriggle their way underneath the house, crawling in the dirt to see whether what had happened to Nick Groff (he claimed to have been attacked by an unseen force in there) would repeat itself. It did not. Both Erin and Jason emerged unscathed, and none of the burst EVP work they had conducted yielded any meaningful results. Yet the Monroe House still had other cards to play, and while the full

story is detailed in my forthcoming book “On Dark Ground: Investigating the Haunted Monroe House,” I would like to share just one of those highlights with you. It was our last night at the house, and we were all exhausted. Lisa and Erin had already left for home, leaving just Jason, Linda, and myself to lock up the house. We had packed up all our kit and were sitting in the living room, just chilling out for a bit before we hit the road to make the long drive back to Colorado. Linda and I were sitting on the couch, while Jason was in one of the chairs. Suddenly, we heard the sound of an upset woman sobbing. It was brief, just a split-second or two in duration, and came from somewhere in the corner of the room. Not from outside: this crying was definitely there inside the room with us. We all looked over toward that corner, which was completely empty. Half-suspecting that we might have imagined it, I was thankful that I had the foresight to leave a digital voice recorder running. Haunted Magazine

I stopped the recording and ran it backwards for two minutes, then played it through an external speaker with the volume cranked all the way up. There it was, as clear as a bell. Not an EVP, but a perfect example of the direct voice phenomenon...the sound of a distraught woman. It took us eighteen hours and a thousand miles on the road to get home. All the way back, we debated the identity of the mysterious woman. One possibility chilled us more than any other. Could the voice we captured have belonged to the owner of the bones buried underneath the house...and if so, who was she, and how had her remains ended up beneath one of Indian’s most haunted places? As with so many others involving the Monroe House, that particular mystery has yet to be solved.

Richard

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“Houses in Montagu Street, Bedford Place, in Harley Street, in Euston Square, in Burton Crescent, all of which still stand, have the stain of unavenged blood upon them, as has Great Coram Street, not so very far away from those mentioned.” Guy Logan Famous Crimes Past & Present

t is not generally known that in late Victorian times, the part of Bloomsbury between Euston and the British Museum had a distinctly sinister reputation. Mysterious murders of women, many of them unsolved, abounded in this strange ‘Murder Neighbourhood’ of fly-blown brothels and lodging-houses, and not a few of the murder houses were reputed to be haunted. On at least two occasions, streets containing haunted Bloomsbury murder houses were renamed, in vain attempts to remedy their gruesome reputation.

*** Harriet Buswell, who called herself Clara Burton, was a young London prostitute. Once she had been a ballet dancer at a music-hall, and the kept mistress of an army major, but in recent times, life had not been treating her kindly. She was drinking more than was good for her, and her only child had been ‘farmed out’. Harriet lived in a lodging-house at No. 12 Great Coram Street, and made a precarious living as a common street prostitute. On Christmas Eve 1872, the contents of her purse amounted to one shilling, and she was behind with the rent. Desperate to pick up a ‘client’, she went out in the evening, dressed in her tawdry finery. Harriet returned after midnight with a ‘gentleman friend’, who walked straight up to her second-floor room, like if he knew the place, and had perhaps been there before. The landlady was delighted and surprised to receive half a guinea for the rent that was owing. Harriet did not seem fearful of the man she had brought home, but childishly pleased that he had bought her some fruit and nuts.

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On Christmas Day, no person stirred in Harriet Buswell’s room. She was habitually a late riser, but when one of the other lodgers came knocking at mid-day, there was no response. When the door was broken open, Harriet was lying on the bed with her throat dreadfully cut. The murder weapon, presumed to have been a sharp knife or razor, was not found in the room. A jug full of bloodstained water indicated that the killer had washed his hands. An apple was found in the murder room, and some person had taken a bite from it; it did not match Harriet’s teeth, so the detectives made sure a cast was made to prevent this clue being ruined by the effects of shrivelling. Several people had seen Harriet with a man at the Alhambra Theatre, and some other central London locations, and a fruiterer had sold them some of his goods. They though that he looked foreign, possibly German, but otherwise their descriptions diverged in a worrying manner. A servant girl had seen an unshaven young man with a swarthy, blotchy complexion leave No. 12 Great Coram Street around 7.15 am on Christmas Day. She later added that he had seemed furtive and turned away like if he did not want to be identified. The police attached considerable importance to this observation, and all over the country, the hue and cry was on for dodgy-looking Germans with unprepossessing skin conditions. After a reward of £200 had been posted for the detection of the Great Coram Street murderer, the amount of alleged witness observations, and letters to the police, exceeded all precedents since the hunt for the London Monster back in 1790. Various mischievous people informed against old enemies, and other jokers offered some friendly advice to the detectives. It was recommended that all Germans in London should be imprisoned in a [concentration] camp, so that the witnesses could see them and pick out the murderer, and that Harriet Buswell’s body should be exhumed and her eyes photographed, for an image of her killer to appear. A man using the signature ‘M.D.’ presumed that Harriet had used lemon juice locally to prevent venereal disease, and that this liquid had entered her guest’s urethra, the pain sending him off into a murderous rage. This hypothesis, which is not as crazy as it seems, would have received useful support if a freshly squeezed lemon had been found in the murder room. The murder house at No. 12 Great Coram Street, from a feature in Lloyd’s News, October 20 1907.

Apart from one landlady, who had shown Harriet Buswell the door since she mistreated her little daughter, the murdered woman did not appear to have any enemies. The major who had once ‘kept’ her was serving abroad, as was another man who had written her a bundle of love letters. A number of Harriet’s regular ‘clients’ were also tracked down, but they also had alibis for the time of the murder. Harriet Buswell had been collecting cabinet card photographs of her friends and other people, and much effort was put into identifying all the persons on the cards. In late January 1873, the police got a tip that a party of Germans from the emigrant ship ‘Wangerland’ had made a trip to London on December 23. The detectives brought the two best witnesses down to Ramsgate, where the ship was still becalmed, since there was suspicion against the surgeon’s mate Carl Wohllebe. An identity parade was arranged, with some other Germans from the ‘Wangerland’ making up the numbers. The detectives were astounded when both witnesses pointed out the ship’s chaplain, Dr Gottfried Hessel, and identified him as the man they had seen with Harriet Buswell!

Harriet Buswell is found murdered at No. 12 Great Coram Street, from the Illustrated Police Budget of 1906.

And indeed, Pastor Hessel had come along for the trip to London on December 23. Inquiries with the Berlin police showed that he had a bad reputation for various dubious financial transactions in the past, and these were supposed to be the reason he joined the emigrant ship, to start a new life in Brazil. He had no convictions for violent crime but was known for “keeping very low company”. Dr Hessel Haunted Magazine

did seem like a tough, brutal murderer, however: he suffered from bronchitis and was coughing incessantly. He had recently married, and his wife was very solicitous about his health. Before Hessel faced the Bow Street Magistrates’ Court, a marathon set of police line-ups was held: some witnesses picked him out as the man they had seen with Harriet Buswell, others though he looked like the man, and an impressive number said he looked nothing like the man they had seen. A hotelier said that after returning to Ramsgate, Hessel had asked for turpentine to clean his clothes, and put several blood-soaked handkerchiefs in the laundry. But in the end, Hessel’s wife and the surgeon Wohllebe put forth a modestly sold alibi, indicating that the Pastor had been staying in a London hotel at the time of the murder, and that he had been lying ill in bed. The magistrate Mr Vaughan declared that Dr Hessel was certainly innocent. The police detectives still strongly suspected that he was the guilty man, and the crime writer Hargrave Adam, who had good police contacts, insinuated that his alibi had been a concoction. The case against him would have been stronger, however, if he had been known to visit London before, in order to seek the company of prostitutes. As for Gottfried Hessel, he proved to be a great whinger, complaining at length about the quality of his prison cell: there had been an unpleasant draught, and he had only been served two eggs with his luncheon, and not enough Bier for his liking. In the end, this unprepossessing creature was awarded £1000 compensation, and an apology from Prime Minister William Gladstone. There is nothing to suggest that he went to Brazil, since a newspaper notice records that he was the translator of a German edition of the lectures of Ernest Renan, given in London in April 1880. As for the murderer of Harriet Buswell, the police investigation collapsed after Gottfried Hessel had been released, and the killer was never found. There is, however, a note in the Illustrated Police Budget for 1906, to the effect that a few

years earlier, a German silversmith named Toller had died in America. Among his effects was found a cabinet card photograph of Harriet Buswell, marked C.B. and with the date 24.12.1872, wrapped in a page from a Sunday newspaper giving an account of the murder. Since the Illustrated Police Budget had a low reputation, this may well be a hoax, but it is noteworthy that the police files on the Great Coram Street murder make particular mention to Harriet Buswell’s collection of cabinet cards. As for the apple found in the murder room, the cast of it was never made any use of. Sherlock Holmes would of course have given Dr Hessel another apple to eat, snatched it from him after one bite, and made a comparison with the cast, but he had not been invented by that time, and good old-fashioned policework was considered more important that such flashy showmanship. Or perhaps the dodgy German parson was wearing patent dentures, thus invalidating the evidence from the apple? The apple and the cast were deposited into that rather disreputable repository of criminal memorabilia, the Crime Museum at Scotland Yard, from which they are since alleged to have been lost. As for the murder house at No. 12 Great Coram Street, it was reported to be haunted: all the tenants moved out, and the house was put up for sale. A lady evangelist bought it for a knockdown price and reopened it as Miss Stride’s Home for Destitute Girls and Fallen Women. The haunting continued for several decades: the second-floor back room, where the murder had been committed, was always kept locked, due to the eerie, unworldly sounds emanating from it at night. The haunted house at No. 12 Great Coram Street stood for many decades to come, even after the street had been renamed Coram Street in 1901. In 1912, a woman named Annie Gross shot her rival Jessie Mackintosh dead in the lodging-house at No. 2 Coram Street. Both murder houses are gone today, victims of the construction of mansion flats.

*** The once elegant Georgian terraces of Burton Crescent were situated just at the epicentre of the Murder Neighbourhood. By late Victorian times, many of the large old houses had been converted into seedy hotels, lodging-houses and brothels. No. 4 Burton Crescent, one of the few remaining private houses, belonged to the elderly widow Mrs Rachel Samuels. She had only one lodger, the music professor John Borchidsky. When he returned home in the wee hours of December 12 1878, he found Mrs Samuels dead in the kitchen. She had been murdered by a hard blow to the back of the head. Being known for her reluctance to spend sixpence if she could avoid it, Mrs Samuels had only employed one daytime servant, a young girl, but a former live-in servant of hers named Mary Donovan sometimes came to see her, and she had done so the evening of the murder. The police detectives knew that Mary Donovan was a somewhat shady character, and she was promptly arrested. When Mary’s wardrobe was searched, one of her skirts appeared to be stained with blood.

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When Mary Donovan was charged with murder at the Bow Street police court, she protested her innocence with impressive candour. When examined by an expert, both her skirt and her boots turned out to be stained with blood, but Mary said it was her own, since she had once cut herself by accident. She was a far from pleasant-looking woman, but had no convictions for violent crime, and was known to be attached to old Mrs Samuels. After several grillings at Bow Street, her ordeal was at an end on January 10, when Harry Poland, prosecuting, addressed the magistrate, saying that although every effort had been made by the police to obtain further evidence against her, none had been found. The debate concerning her guilt has been ongoing, but the Bow Street magistrate was probably right to say that no jury would convict on the evidence presented. Mary Donovan said that when she had visited Mrs Samuels on the evening of the murder, she had seen a workman on the premises, and there had also been a visit from a man who wanted lodgings. None of these people were ever traced, since the police thought Mary Donovan was lying. As for the musician Borchidsky, he had a solid alibi. Although a madman named James Wells confessed to the Burton Crescent murder in 1880, he was not believed, and the murder of Mrs Samuels was never solved. A few houses away from the gloomy abode of Mrs Samuels was No. 12 Burton Crescent. In 1884, this house was a small brothel run by a certain Mrs Apex. The 24-year-old prostitute Mary Ann Yates occupied a large room on the first floor. Her real name may well have been Anne Marshall, and her parents were said to have hailed from Reading, but they had long since ceased to play any role in her sad and degrading life as a street prostitute. Despite a deformed arm, Mary Ann was reasonably attractive, and she took a steady flow of ‘customers’ back to No. 12 Burton Crescent. On Saturday March 8 1884, Mary Ann Yates and her colleague Annie Ellis, another resident of No. 12, had a drinkingparty, consuming two brandies and many ‘lemon-andbitters’. Then they went out to Euston Road, where Annie saw Mary Ann with a well-dressed, gentlemanlylooking young man. She presumed that she had brought this individual back to the brothel. On the following Sunday, Annie rose at half past mid-day. She went to look for Mary Ann and was horrified to find her dead in her first-floor room. She had been knocked on the head, and then strangled to death with a towel. Despite the crowded nature of the house, no person had seen ‘the customer’ enter or exit the building. The prostitute Kate Mansfield, who lived next door to Mary Ann, had heard her speaking to ‘the customer’, exclaiming ‘I shan’t!’ Her male bedfellow had heard

screams later in the night, and asked Kate if her friend had been in hysterics. The police tracked down a number of Mary Ann’s former customers but found nothing suspicious about their stories. Mary Ann had a boyfriend named Alfred Marsh, who actually came to visit her on the Sunday she was found dead, but he had an alibi. A man named Charles Ellis, who described himself as an engineer although he really was a sailor, came under scrutiny since he lived in a second-floor room at No. 12 Burton Crescent, but although he might well have been a ‘bully’ looking after the prostitutes living on the premises, no solid evidence against him was unearthed. The murder of Mary Ann Yates was never solved, nor was a single credible suspect identified. It may well have been a coincidence that Seymour Boyer Relton, a well-dressed, gentlemanly young man who was known to frequent the better class of prostitutes, went insane and murdered his mother on March 18 1884.

ht Gardens, as they look today.

The remaining terraces of Cartwrig

The two murder houses at No. 4 and No. 12 Burton Crescent became quite notorious. They were both reputed to be haunted, although the ghosts lacked the persistence of the spectre of Harriet Buswell. Due to its bad reputation, the residents made sure that the name Burton Crescent was changed to Cartwright Gardens, a name it has retained until the present time. It remained murder free until 1930, when the Yorkshire coal merchant Albert Allen gassed his girlfriend Phyllis Crummy at the hotel at No. 55 Cartwright Gardens. The two murder houses at No. 4 and No. 12 later became victims of the expansion of London University’s halls of residence, which destroyed the entire eastern terrace of Cartwright Gardens.

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***

The discovery of the body of Miss Hacker. Like the following two, this image is from a large scrapbook of criminous material.

In the late 1870s, the lease of the large terraced house at No. 4 Euston Square was held by the bamboo furniture maker Severin Bastendorff. He used the rear of the premises as a workshop, employing several men, and the house was crammed full of lodgers, who were looked after by a servant named Hannah Dobbs. A native of Luxemburg, Bastendorff had an eye for the ladies, and Hannah was actually his mistress. When one of the lodgers, an elderly spinster named Matilda Hacker, suddenly disappeared, nobody bothered much, since she was in the habit of frequently changing lodgings. In 1879, when two new lodgers moved into No. 4, they asked for the use of one of the coal cellars, and Bastendorff readily agreed. But when the cellar was cleared, it was found to contain the mummified remains of Miss Hacker. She had been murdered and had a rope around her neck. Since Hannah Dobbs had pawned various items belonging to Miss Hacker, she soon became the main suspect. There was grave suspicion against Severin Bastendorff, but he could prove a moderately solid alibi for the time when Miss Hacker disappeared, and if he had known that the body was in the coal cellar, why had he agreed to have it cleaned? Bastendorff had a brother named Peter, a shady character who also enjoyed the favours of Hannah Dobbs. The two brothers were very much alike, something that might come in useful to fake an alibi. When Hannah Dobbs stood trial for the murder, she was acquitted due to lack of evidence, and Miss Hacker’s murder remains unavenged. Since Severin Bastendorff had clearly lied in court, denying that Hannah was his mistress, he was taken to court for perjury and sentenced to two years in prison. Peter Bastendorff is said to have died in Paris in 1897. Brother Severin made it out of prison, but in 1886, he went stark raving mad and beat up his wife with an umbrella. He died from bronchopneumonia at Colney Hatch Asylum in 1909, having suffered from ‘chronic mania’ for 21 years. As for Hannah Dobbs, she published a sensational pamphlet about the case, suggesting that the Bastendorffs had murdered several people at No. 4, and that a dog had also been killed and eaten on the premises. After a brief period of literary fame, she is likely to have changed her name and lived happily ever after. The residents of the southern part of Euston Square successfully petitioned to have that part of the Square renamed Endsleigh Gardens, something that amused ‘Dagonet’ of the old Referee newspaper, George R. Sims:

Portraits of Hannah Dobbs and Miss Hacker.

Miss Hacker’s cashbox, found by the police among the belongings of Hannah Dobbs, from Major Arthur Griffiths’ Mysteries of Police and Crime

To Endsleigh Gardens they would change The blood-besprinkled name. They fell like ton might then arrange To live there just the same. Miss Hannah tells of awful deeds She taints the local air. To link ton with Miss Dobbs’s screeds

The murder house at No. 4 Euston Square, said to have been haunted by the ghost of Miss Hacker for many decades.

The title page of Hannah Dobbs’ pamphlet.

Is not to Euston Square. The murder house at No. 4 Euston Square kept its sinister reputation for decades to come and it was reported to be haunted, and strange groans and screams were heard in Miss Hacker’s old room. The bloodstain on the floorboards in the murder room could not be removed by any amount of scrubbing, and no dog would pass this room of horrors without snarling and whining and giving indications of intense terror. Still, the haunted house stood for several decades, before becoming a victim of the reconstruction of Euston Station in the 1960s. Some old houses in Endsleigh Gardens still stand today.

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*** The infamy of the Murder Neighbourhood would continue for several decades to come. No. 53 Whitfield Street, where Elizabeth Stoffel was murdered in 1891, no longer stands; nor does No. 8 in the same street, where the servant girl Sophie Richard was murdered in 1899, or No. 115 Whitfield Street, site of the unsolved murder of the prostitute Dora Piernicke in 1903. Grafton Street and Guilford Street were also home to strange and mysterious crimes. The unsolved murder of the young prostitute Esther Praager at No. 3 Bernard Street in 1908 did nothing to improve the reputation of these parts. This murder house still stands today and looks pretty much unchanged since the days it was a seedy lodging-house for prostitutes. George R. Sims was probably thinking of the Murder Neighbourhood when he wrote, in his Mysteries of Modern London,

The murder house at No. 3 Bernard Street, from a newspaper article in the crime archive of Mr Stewart P. Evans, reproduced by permission.

“There are streets and squares and terraces in London which have been renamed in order that they may no longer be associated in the public mind with the dark deeds of which they have been the scene. Sometimes, where the renaming has been a difficult one, the houses have been renumbered. But many remain as they were, and Londoners pass them daily and hourly, little dreaming of the drama that once made them notorious.” The murder house at No. 3 Bernard Street, from a newspaper article in the crime archive of Mr Stewart P. Evans, reproduced by permission.

No. 3 Bernard Street today

This is an edited extract from Jan Bondeson’s Murder Houses of London (Amberley Publishing, Stroud 2014). The Buswell, Burton Crescent and Euston Square cases have received closer attention in my Rivals of the Ripper (History Press, Stroud 2016). Esther Praager is found murdered, from the Illustrated Police News, October 24 1908.

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