UNIDENTIFIED: May 1, 1924 Koppel, Pennsylvania John Doe

On May 1, 1924, the body of a man was pulled from the Beaver River near Koppel, Pennsylvania. He was dressed in winter attire and was believed to have been dead for several months. It's believed he had drowned.

John Doe was 5'9" and 175 lbs.

SOURCES:
Find a Grave

INFANTICIDE: April 27, 1958 Long Beach, California Baby Jane Doe

 On April 27, 1958, a newborn girl was found washed ashore in th Alamitos Bay in Long Beach, California.

Jane Doe was 1'3" to 1'6" and 7 lbs. She was wrapped in a woman's long housecoat size 38-40, it was in a duster-style and lightweight. The housecoat was faded with red piping on the collar. It opens from the neckline to the waist and is fastened with two buttons. The brand was Charmode which was sold at Sears Roebuck & Co.

SOURCES:

NamUs

INFANTICIDE: April 24, 1924 Roker Beach, England Baby John Doe

On April 24, 1924, the body of a newborn baby boy was found on Roker Beach near Sunderland, England. The infant was burned, had a fractured elbow and a scalp wound. It's believed that right after birth the infant was placed in a fire and burned to death.

SOURCES:
Unsolved Murders UK

GHOSTS: The Gelin

 

The Gelin (meaning Bride in Turkish) is a female demon or ghost in Turkish and Anatolian Greek folklore. More than likely hear stories in Heybeliada from Prince Islands about them. She is often seen as a beautiful young woman wearing a white wedding dress. Many of them become Gelin due to tragedy. Like being betrayed by a husband or fiance or being unmarried and pregnant. They usually die brutally typically by suicide.

These women are typically a harbinger of death similar to a banshee. She can sometimes haunt a family line or sometimes she rides a white horse in a graveyard. In the graveyard, she attracts men and kills them if they make contact.

SOURCES:

Wikipedia

Sabah

Encyclopedia Mythica

UNIDENTIFIED: November 29, 1985 Conroe, Texas Doe

 On November 29, 1985, a man fishing in Rish Creek in Conroe Texas would snare a skull with his fishing pole. It is suspected that the skull was a war trophy from WWII as there were faint scribblings on WWII, the Japanese, and the date April 22, 1942.

SOURCES:
NamUs
Doe Network
Unidentified Wiki

UNIDENTIFIED: April 21, 1823, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania John Doe

 On April 21, 1823, an unknown man died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

John Doe was a black male and was around 50-years-old. 

SOURCES:

Find A Grave

Murder of William Ewart Bamford

On April 20, 1912, 26-year-old William Bamford was in Manchester, England. Around 11:30 pm he returned to his home in Hare Place, Rochdale in a taxi bleeding from his face. He at first wouldn't admit what had happened, but would later admit he had been attacked in Manchester.

 He was sent to the Rochdale Infirmary for his injuries, but released. However, due to his injuries, he was admitted to the Dearnley Workhouse Infirmary on September 27, 1913. He would never leave and on February 4, 1914, he would pass.

During his post-mortem, it was found that there was evidence of an operation on him. That there were holes in the vault where his brain mass was protruding. In larger pieces of the brain, there was an abscess. The abcess would cause weakening by discharge which resulted in William's death. 

SOURCES:

Unsolved Murders UK

UNIDENTIFIED: April 19, 1854 Boston, Massachusetts Jane Doe

 On April 19, 1854, a woman's body was found in the water near Battery Wharf in the North End of Boston, Massachusetts. She appeared to have drowned recently as hours before she was seen. She was walking the streets and seemed to have been acting insane. 

The woman is about 35-years-old.

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Boston Evening Transcript April 20, 1854

Strange History: Francis Leavy's handprint

 

On April 18, 1924, at Engine Company #107 a fire department in Chicago it began like any other day. Except on firefighter, Francis Leavy was acting strange that day. He had an air of gloominess around him. He didn't greet his coworkers, smile, or even talk. He just busied himself with cleaning and maintenance around the firehouse. He then admitted to his fellow firefighters that he felt like he was going to die. At the time some of them possibly poked fun at it, because they never thought it could be true.

After 7 p.m. while Leavy was cleaning the windows a call had come in there was a fire at the Curran Hall. Like many of the other firefighters, Leavy left to the fire that was only a few blocks away. Engine #5 and Engine #103 were fighting the fire inside. While firefighters from truck #12 were working the ladders outside.

The four-story building showed some weird anomalies. Some witnesses said that the fires went downstairs like liquid flowing and when it had gotten to the boxes on the stairwell they exploded. Those fighting inside had to take turns running to the windows to breathe fresh air because at the time they had no breathing apparatuses.

Unfortunately for all those who fought the fire inside. Thirty minutes in the fire had damaged the structure of the building too far. First, the roof collapsed and then pushed out the outer walls of the structure causing the whole building to collapse. Those within the building had been hurt or lost their life.

Within thirty minutes all recuse agencies in Chicago were called in. It was difficult to rescue those trapped beneath the building because when the building collapsed it knocked out power lines leaving the search in rescue in the dark.

20 firefighters were injured and 8 firefighters died that night 1 firefighter died 8 days later. One civilian, William Behr, died while trying to help rescue trapped firefighters. Funerals for the fallen occurred on the 21, 22, and 23 where 125 firefighters were officially detailed to honorary escorts for the services. For the first time in history a civilian, William Behr, had 6 firefighters serve as honorary pallbearers.

Truck 12 lost 6 of their firefighters, Engine #5 lost 2, and Engine #107 lost only one and that was Francis Leavy.

The fire itself was found out to be the cause of arson. The reason that the fire spread like liquid flowing was because wood alcohol was spread around the building and lit on fire. The one who started the fire was the owner of the sporting goods and novelties shop that resided on the second floor. They were convicted of arson and murder. It's sad to think all these people were injured, killed, lost their coworkers and friends just because the owners wanted to get $32,000 from the insurance company.

The next day the other firefighters noticed the half-cleaned window that Leavy was working on had a strange stain on it. In the middle of it was a handprint and when they tried cleaning it the handprint would not leave. They scrubbed, scraped with razors, and used different cleaning chemicals, but nothing would work on the window. They even hired people to clean it, but no one could remove the handprint.

It had been suggested to replace the window, but some of them working there didn't want to. They believed that they shouldn't mess with the unknown. It was also left as a reminder or in memory of Leavy and those who lost their lives that night.

On April 18, 1944, exactly 20 years after Leavy and his fellow firefighters lost their life something happened. A paperboy carelessly threw a newspaper and it shattered the window. Thus destroying the mysterious handprint that couldn't be removed.

SOURCES:

Illinois Fire Service Institute

The Paranormal Guide

Paranorms

UNIDENTIFIED: April 13, 1989 New York City, New York John Doe

 On April 13, 1989, the Synagogue on 12 Eldridge St in New York City, New York was undergoing renovations. A worker was shoveling a pile of coal ash in the basement when a skull would be found. Police were called and the rest of the skeletal remains of a teenage boy were found. It's believed that the remains may have been there for a long time. There was a bottle from the 1930s was found in the same area. It's not clear how it may be forensically significant to this case. Also, the building did not have a coal burner for the last 50 years. So it's believed the young man had died between 1930 to 1960. 

John Doe was a black male between 14 to 17 years old. He was around 5'2".

SOURCES:

NamUs

Unidentified Wiki

Daily News April 14, 1989

Daily News April 15, 1989

UNIDENTIFIED: April 24, 1924 Valdosta, Georgia Jane Doe

On April 12, 1924, a woman died from heart disease and kidney problems in Valdosta, Georgia. She had been in the city for around 20 days and was doing housework for a living.  She was buried in the Lowndes County Poor Farm Cemetery in Mineola.

On the death certificate, there is a name on there. The only thing I can make out is last name was Howell but next to that it is noted as Don't Know. So it may be the name she was using, but it's unknown if it was actually her name. She was a widow but don't know is also listed beside it.

Jane Doe is a black female and was around 50-years-old at the time. 

SOURCES:

Find a Grave

Unidentified Wiki

Murders of Thomas Smith and Squire Knyston

Photo of Thomas Smith

On April 4, 1905, 15-year-old Thomas Smith would leave his home on Wood Street in Chorlton-on-Medlock in Manchester, England. His mother would think that he was looking for work. However, the timid boy would not return home that night. It was assumed that maybe he had gone to visit either his sister in Dunkinfield or the one in Denton. 

The next day two boys he knew came to the house and asked if Thomas was going to work. Not knowing where Thomas was and not wanting him to lose his job she sent a note to his employers that he wasn't feeling well. However, she was worried sick about him. She would make inquiries to see if he was at either sisters, but he wasn't.

At 3pm on April 11, 1905, a rag-and-bone men would go to an uninhabited house on Hoyle Street off Fairfield Street in Ancoats. While gathering items he looked in the cellar window a body would be found lying on his back under a slab. He would tell another rag-and-bone man his discovery and the two would go to the police. 

The police would break into the home and go down to the cellar. It was obvious that the boy was murdered brutally. There was a bloody brick on his neck. A newspaper comic of "Funny Cuts" from April 8th was found stuffed in his mouth as a gag and his red handkerchief with 7 black stripes was tied over it. He was partially dressed and what clothes he had were torn and disarrayed. His pants were pulled down in the back and cut in the front. 

 His face was so beaten that he was unrecognizable. His body was also covered in bruises. He had fought back with his attacker that the nail from his middle left finger was torn off. His arms were covered in scratches he wasn't just beaten, but also stomped as a boot print was on his stomach. His genitals were also mutilated while he was alive. 

It could not be said if he was sexually assaulted, but it was suspected that he was. 

Even though the brick was bloody and found at the scene the coroner believed that a knob-like object was used to beat him. 

It was thought that he had been dead for a couple of days even though he had been missing for a week. It's not stated if they think he was held prisoner, but they know that the crime didn't happen in the cellar he was found in. The only access was a window as the doors to the cellar were locked. 

He had not been reported missing, but when the description was put in the paper his mother knew it was him. His mother and older brother, Issac, would go to identify him. They could not identify him from his face due to the brutality on it. Instead, they identified him by his clothes. At the time he was dressed in a black Vicuna jacket, black vest, dark grey trousers with black stripe, blue and red striped cotton shirt, two odd black stockings, and clasped clogs. He also had in his possession a second-class ticket for the swimming bath, Mayfield Baths, number 7,837.

In 1906, 15-year-old Squire Kynston lived with his mother at Whitsuntide at 7 Back Grey Street in Manchester, England. In August he and his mother would get into an argument after he had stayed out all night. She saw him the day after he stayed out on Butler St. She would say "You naughty boy, go right home and stay in the house" while slapping him on the side of the head. She would never see him again after this argument. 

Someone had told her later he was with his cousin. She would assume that Squire was staying with her sister and assumed he was safe. She did not check up on him however since she and her sister did not have a good relationship. It wasn't stated if he was staying with his aunt or just assumed he was. 

On Chapel St behind London Road Station, there was an unoccupied house set to be demolished. On November 20th A workman would enter the house. He stated when he entered the ground floor rooms of the home there was a stench in the air. He would find out that the stench was coming from the cellar. He would go down the stairs nearly tripping over something. It was Squire's body. The worker would quickly go and get the police. 

One of his shoulders was under a slab of flag and his head was partially under a slope stone. Squire was not wearing any clothes when he was found, but a thin strap was found wrapped around his neck. It's believed it was wrapped tightly around his neck. It was unknown what his cause of death was as he was too decomposed and rats had been eating him. However, it was believed he may have been sexually assaulted as his pants were not on him. He was not beaten on his head like Thomas.

Though both boys had died in different ways, the way they were found in similar ways and places. 

SOURCES:

Unsolved Murders UK (Thomas)

Unsolved Murders UK (Squire)

Days of Horror

Manchester Evening News April 12, 1905

Leicester Mercury April 12, 1905

Birmingham Evening Mail

Agnaiyaaq or Little Girl

 

In 1994 Coastal Erosion exposed the body of a little girl at Ukkuqsi in the old whaling village of Utqiagvik in Alaska. The little girl was between 5 to 8 years old and lived and died between 800 and 1200. She was a member of the Thule people. Her name was lost, but she is known now as Agnaiyaaq or Little Girl. 

The little girl was loved in life. She was chronically sick in her short life. It was found that she had lung damage due to emphysema, and a rare congenital disorder, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. Though she was chronically sick her body and burial showed signs that she was well-loved. 

She had evidence in her lungs that she spent much of her life by fire and being cared for and chewing on leather trying to soften them. A little girl helping her family. She however only had clay, leather, and fur in her stomach. It's not believed that she was intentionally starved, but that she and her clan were starving at the time of her death.

With a mixture of her illness and starvation, the girl would pass away. She would be laid to rest carefully. She was buried with a small toboggan made of whale bone likely used to help move her and wrapped in her fur parka. She was then buried in a cold cellar. 

After her scientific look at her body, she was then laid to rest by the Inuit people in Barrow, Alaska. 

SOURCES:

Jstor

Mummipedia

Seattle Times October 1995

End of Watch: Deputy Warden Joseph Clark

In 1864 a man called George Chase was in jail on Collins St in Joliet, Illinois for being a horse thief. It was believed that his name was George Chase, but it was not positive. He refused to talk about his loved ones or where he was from. George was about 30 and described as a stout and healthy man with blue eyes and sandy hair. 

On April 4th George would attempt to escape but failed. However, during his attempted escape, he would hit Deputy Warden Joseph Clark with a rock or club. This injury would cause the Deputy Warden to die weeks later. 

The following January he would be sentenced to death. He was to be the first man executed in Joilet. Because he refused to talk about family friends or even where he was from his only visitors were 3 ministers. On July 27, 1866, George was taken from his jail cell at about 2:30. The three ministers would follow him with their Bibles reading from them. 

He would be walked to a large hallway in the county jail. There was a gallows made specifically for George. There were two posts on each side of the hallway with a beam overhead. a noose would hang from the beam and the other went into a hole in the basement. It was tied with three heavy sandbags that were to bring him up. 

Several official witnesses and newspaper reporters watched the execution. George was tied with ropes and looked to have a dead expression as he was seated in a chair. The chair was under the noose. He would be asked if he had any final words and he did. 

“I don’t think I’m guilty,” he said. “I don’t see any proof that I murdered that man. I think I’ve got as good an explanation of that as you have.” Before he was done talking the Sheriff placed a white hood over his head. “I’m not ready for that yet,” he continued. “I’m as innocent a man as any of you. I am as innocent a man as any in the United States. I admit that hanging is justice. But hanging for a thing a man ain’t guilty of and can’t prove I am guilty of is another thing. It ain’t justice.” He then complained about how tight his bindings were. When the hood was completely placed he muttered, “Gentlemen, I am to be slaughtered.”

The noose would be placed around his neck over the hood. The sheriff would signal the deputy in the basement to drop the bags and they were. George would be pulled from his chair and hung 5 feet in the area. There was a little struggle. They would leave him to hang for 20 minutes. 

He was not taken to a funeral home or buried right after his death. Instead, his head was removed so that doctors could look at the brain attempting to see if there were any clues about his criminal behavior. However, there were no "signs of insanity" in his brain. 

The head was given to a phrenologist and used for lectures. His headless corpse was buried at the prison cemetery known as Monkey Hill. 

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, and Missouri page 3

Will County, Illinois Genealogy