UNIDENTIFIED: 1959 Highland County, Virginia John Doe

In 1959 or 1960 a human cranium was found in Highland County, Virginia. It was then stored in a closet at the county jail until it was found and transferred to the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. It is believed that the person died between 1958 to 1959. There is little information in this case. 

John Doe is an African American male between 21 to 45-years-old. 

SOURCES:

NamUs

End of Watch: Murder of Constable James Corcoran

On October 30, 1850, in Philidelphia, Pennsylvania. 32-year-old Constable James Corcoran spotted a man who had a warrant for assaulting his wife. He arrested the man. They were only a few blocks from the magistrate's office and when they were on Vine St and 13th St the man kicked the constable in the abdomen twice. He would flee.

A citizen saw what had happened. The citizen walked the Constable back to the magistrate's office. The citizen reported what had happened and was deputized to arrest the man. The citizen and Constable Corcoran went to serve the warrant. The subject was spotted walking past the magistrate's office and he was quickly arrested. 

Constable Corcoran would return home and a doctor would be summoned the following morning. He was still having pain in his abdomen, and surgery was performed. His health would decline and he would die on November 1st. 

The man was charged with murder and was found guilty of manslaughter on March 21, 1851. A motion for a new trial was denied by a local judge the following month. 

SOURCES:

Criminal Justice Research Center

Criminal Justice Research Center PDF pg 32

Officer Down Memorial Page

UNIDENTIFIED: October 26, 1856 Stockton, California Antione

On October 24, 1856, a man around 36-years-old named Antoine was admitted to Ward No 2. to Stockton State Hospital in Stockton, California. He would die 2 days later on the 26th from Epilepsy. There is little information in this case. He was described as being an "idiot" and was French.  He was also a Charity Patient. 

SOURCES:

Unidentified Wiki

Find a Grave

HAUNTED: Pupa The Doll

 

Pupa the Doll was a doll made for a little Italian girl in the 1920s. She would own the doll up until her death in 2005. Since she was a girl the owner stated that the doll was alive and would talk to her throughout the years. The doll was a friend who helped a little girl grow up and kept her secrets.

Pupa and her owner's family would travel a lot throughout Europe and the U.S. At the end of WWII, her owner's grandmother would pass away and as a memento, they sewed a button from her grandmother's clothes onto Pupas. Pupa and her owner would eventually settle in the U.S. and her owner would start a family. 

Her owner would often tell family members how special Pupa was and it wasn't until after death that they realized it was true. After her owner's death, she was still active. She is now kept in a glass case and isn't happy about it. When someone decided to clean the case they fogged up the window and saw the message Pupa Hate on the glass. Sometimes tapping can be heard on the glass and at times a strange faint laugh can be heard.

SOURCES:

ObscUrban Legends

Emadion

The Paranormal Guide

Unsolved Murder of Joseph "Joe Stevenson

 Around 12:30 a.m. on October 22, 1953 police received a call for a shooting at the Blue Goose Jook in Belle Glade, Florida. The Blue Goose Jook was a gambling location in Zellwood owned by Lee Grant, who was at the location. The body of Joseph Stevenson who went by Joe Stevens was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds near The Blue Goose Jook.

SOURCES:

Orange County Sheriff's

Murder of Baker Tilley

 On October 21, 1871, 31-year-old Pompey Lyon stabbed  Baker Tilley in Orange County, North Carolina. The motive for the murder was a fracas at a husking bee. Pompey would be executed on December 15, 1871.

SOURCES:

Legal Executions in North Carolina and South Carolina pg 18

Tri-Weekly Era November 7, 1871

The Wilmington Morning Star December December 23, 1871

MONSTERS: Tano Giant

 

In the Upper parts of the Boin Tano Forest in Ghana, Africa, a tale is told by the natives of the area of the Tano Giant. It seems to be a bigfoot-like creature described as a white ape of extraordinary structure and human instinct. They are described as larger than a man with arms as thick as a man's body. His skin is white, but black hair grows on it. They only have four fingers and no thumbs, the head is flat and small for its size, but the same size as a large monkey's head. His facial features are similar to monkeys, their mouth is the same, and has large teeth. It's said that they carry the skin of a bush cow and during the when cold. The creature is also dangerous.

A hunter once tried to shoot the Tano Giant, but the creature broke the gun and the hunter's arms. There are other similar stories. It attacked two women gathering plantains and kidnapped one and the other woman left screaming. This woman was never found again. It's said that several children were kidnapped by it and their bodies were later found mutilated with their bowels devoured. 

To help keep the Tano Giant away doors are barricaded at night and broiled plantains and cassava are left on the jungle paths to the village. This is to help appease his hunger and hope he does not find his next meal in the village. But if they do appear in the village he only runs away when a fire is thrown at them.

SOURCES:

Cryptid Wiki

Kook Science

Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology Volume 2 page 535