Tuesday, October 31, 2023

UNIDENTIFIED: November 1, 1872 Kings County, New York

On November 1, 1872, the body of a woman was found at the Navy Yard in Kings County, New York. He cause of death was drowning. There is little information in this case.

Jane Doe was around 35-years-old. 

SOURCES:


Monday, October 30, 2023

INFANTICIDE: October 31, 1880 Floyd County, Indiana Baby Doe

 On October 31, 1880 the body of a very young infant (less than a year-old) was found floating in the Ohio River opposite of the hickory Mill in Floyd County, Indiana. The infant's head showed evidence that they  had died a violent death . The Infant would be buried the next day in New Albany's Fairview Cemetery. 

Since the infant was described as very young and not newborn it could be assumed that it was not. 

SOURCES:

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

UNIDENTIFIED: Jo Daviess County, Illinois Jane Doe

 On October 25, 1874, the body of an elderly woman was found beneath the bridge that spans the Big Menominee about four miles south of Dunleith, Illinois. She must have been walking on the bridge at night and was struck and killed by the train that left Dunlieth at 7p.m. Her body had been mangled by the train. It's believed that "Her clothing denoted a person in the humble walks of life". 


She was believed to have been in her mid 60's. Her hair was grey. In her pockets was a string of prayer beads, and around her neck was a scapular.

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

UNIDENTIFIED: October 18, 1986 Bowie Arizona Jane Doe

 On October 18, 1986 the cranium of a teenage girl was found by a park ranger in Bowie, Arizona. It's believed she died between 1936 to 1976.

Jane Doe was believed to be between 13 to 17-years-old.

SOURCES:
NamUs

Monday, October 16, 2023

UNIDENTIFIED: October 17, 1581 London, England Unknown Poor Woman

 On October 17, 1581, a poor woman was found dead in the streets of London, England. She had died from the plague and it was unknown who she was. She was buried in the Bedlam Burial Ground.

SOURCES:

Find a Grave


Sunday, October 15, 2023

GHOSTS: Crying Girl of 5 College St.

 

Image from Secret York

There is a haunted house at 5 College St. in York, England. According to legend in the Middle Ages, (1346 to 1353) a couple would contract the plague however their daughter did not. They and their daughter were bricked into the home. The girl would cry and beg saying she wasn't sick, and it seemed to be true, but no one wanted to risk it. Her parents would die from the plague, and unfortunately, the girl would starve to death.

It is said that the girl could be seen in the home crying. She is mostly seen in the upper part of the house. One sighting happened in the 1950s and two of the children in the home would see her crying on one of their beds.

SOURCES:
Secret York

Friday, October 13, 2023

UNIDENTIFIED: October 14, 1923 Boistfort, Belgium Jane Doe

 




On October 14, 1923, an unknown woman was found shot dead in the Sonian Forest near Boistfort, Belgium. Due to the items on her person, it was likely she was a foreigner from France or Italy. There is little information on this case. It's not stated whether or not her murder was solved.

SOURCES:

Sunday, October 8, 2023

GHOSTS: Enenra

 

An Enenra as depicted in Toriyama Sekien's Konjaku Hyakki Shūi

The Enenra is a being in Japanese folklore or a yōkai, The Enenra shows up during large fires such as bonfires. It is made up of the wisps of smoke that would rise up to the skies from fire. These beings usually have human-like faces it doesn't do anything, but billow in the wind and appear as fragile fabric. It only appears to those that are calm and pure and are relaxing to watch.

The Enenra seems to be loosely based on a passage in Tsurezure gusa which describes the smoke rising from fires burned in the summer to keep mosquitoes away. Some have pointed out that the name is similar to Enma, the lord of hell and judge of the dead. It's suggested that the beings are actually spirits of the dead.

SOURCES:

Friday, October 6, 2023

Murder of Joseph Wilson at the Lintz Green Station

 On the night of October 7, 1911, it was a normal work night for 60-year-old Joseph Wilson. He was the station master at the Lintz Green Station un County Durnham, England. He would see off the last train around 11 p.m. that night. After it had left Joseph walked to his home 50 yards from the station. 

Someone would ambush the stationmaster on his doorstep. Sand would be thrown into his eyes and there was an attempt to gag him with a linen cloth. During a struggle, he would be shot in the chest. This would not automatically kill him, but he was unable to say who did. Four Miners who were on the last train weren't very far when they heard the gunshot.

By the time they arrived to Joseph's aid, his killer had disappeared unseen. His daughter was in the house and came out when she heard the sound. The miners and his daughter brought Joseph into his home and tried to help him. He seemed to have tried to talk but was unable to do so before he died. 

Police believed that the motive for the murder was a robbery. Though the day's takings weren't with him and he had brought them home earlier that day. 

The prime suspect in this case was 25-year-old Samuel Atkison. Samuel was a relief porter for railroad. Someone stated that they saw him at the station that night. Samuel said that he had went home after work and went for a walk around 7. He would be arrested and arraigned at the local Magistrats Court. At the trial there was no evidence against Samuel and this allowed him to be released. This case was never solved. 

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

True Crime Library

Unsolved Murder UK

The Times October 9, 1911

The Guardian October 13, 1911

Tuesday, October 3, 2023

UNIDENTIFIED: October 4, 1867 Fannin County, Texas Stranger




On October 4, 1867, a man was found wandering the yard of J.S. Donaldson in Fannin County, Texas. The man was very sick and incoherent and was unable to give his name before he died.

SOURCES:

Sunday, October 1, 2023

URBAN LEGENDS: The Stare

 

Image created in Imagine AI Art Generator

This tale is of an almost empty subway and a woman unsettled by a deep stare. This Urban Legend goes back to 1947, but it's said that it went around for a long time before that. Similar stories have been said for years.

A young woman would get onto a subway. There were 5 rows of empty seats but the last row had 3 people sitting there. Uncomfortable with sitting completely by herself she sat across from the group. Two men sat on either side of a woman really close. She would begin to read her book. However, the woman between the two men would stare at her with unblinking eyes.

This would make her extremely uncomfortable. She had no clue why the woman was staring at her so much. At the next stop, a man would come onto the subway and sit next to the woman. Trying to ignore the stare the woman tried to read her book. The man would then nudge her and whisper in her ear, "If you know what's good for you, you'll get off at the next station with me".  Terrified she agreed because she knew people would be at the next stop. If he had any plans with her, she could get help.

When they got off the man breathed an air of relief. This confused the woman who thought she was going to be in trouble. "Thank God, I didn't mean to scare you, but I had to get you off." She stared at him confused. "The woman in the middle was dead and the two next to her were propping her up."

They would inform authorities of the three. At the next station, the two men were arrested.

SOURCES: