Crazy Crimes: Phantom Barber of Pascagoula

 In 1942 WWII was in its 3rd year and towns across America were manufacturing weapons and supplies for it. The little town of Pascagoula, Mississippi was no exception. It is a coastal town and a perfect place to build warships. This had increased the population of the small town and it was thriving. Something strange began to happen in the summer of 1942.

On June 5, 1942, someone had slit the window screen at the Lady of Victories covenant. Two young girls were sleeping but awoke when a man they described as "Sorta short, sorta fat, and wearing a white sweatshirt was in the room. The girls were both missing a lock of hair and that was all he did.

A few days later on Monday the Barber struck again. He had slit open the window and snuck into the room that 6-year-old Carol Peattie. She was sleeping next to her twin brother. He had cut the girl's hair and had left a bare footprint at the scene.

It was believed that the same man had attacked a sleeping couple. He snuck in through a screen he had slit and entered the home. Neither was killed, and his typical trophy wasn't taken. It's also thought that he had also attacked another victim by using chloroform. But it's unsure if either case was connected to the Phantom Barber.

57-year-old Chemist William Dolan was charged with the crime involving the couple. He was not charged with any of the other hair snatching crimes. They believed he was guilty of them though because police claimed a bundle of hair was found behind his home. In the eyes of the people saw him as the Phantom Barber. It's possible that the police wanted to end the case and placed blame on William Dolan to stop the public fear.

SOURCES:
Mental Floss
Southern Living
Fun Factz