Ghost Hunters, 1803

October 25, 2017 10:18 AM

Assault, Robbery, and Murder: The Dark History of "Bedsheet Ghosts"

The Case of a Ghost Haunted England for Over Two Hundred Years

posted by the man of twists and turns (8 comments total)

Fascinating. I was wondering about the origins of sheet ghosts only a few days ago.

The article mentions Owen Davies. I keep meaning to read some of his books. Interesting that he traces fake ghostery back to the Reformation. There was a lot of witch burning during that time too. Here he is talking about witch trials.
posted by popcassady at 11:01 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]

👻
posted by Fizz at 11:22 AM on October 25, 2017 [1 favorite]

The context around Spring-heeled Jack was fascinating to me, as someone who read too many books about the paranormal as a kid. It's also weird to dig beneath something I've put in the "fun folklore story" category in my head and realize, nope! just trash men assaulting women.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 11:37 AM on October 25, 2017 [9 favorites]

a priest once fastened candles to a cast of crabs and released them in a dark graveyard in hopes of imitating the lost, wandering souls of purgatory

This is teetering on the line between brilliant prankster and Scooby Doo villain.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 12:07 PM on October 25, 2017 [17 favorites]

Smith’s case would remain a philosophical head-scratcher: If somebody commits an act of violence in an effort to stop a crime from occurring—only to realize later that they were mistaken and that no crime was being committed—is that person still justified in using violence? Or are they the criminal?

All I can think of is Tamir Rice and Trayvon Martin.
I don't get how this is a head scratcher.
posted by lkc at 1:19 PM on October 25, 2017 [2 favorites]

I mean, otherwise great article. It never occurred to me that there was a long tragic history about the thing we did as kids on Halloween.
Or if your house has a Winona infestation!
posted by lkc at 1:26 PM on October 25, 2017

I don't get how this is a head scratcher.

It's not, and it's strange that the article frames it this way. In most (common law, at least) jurisdictions the key issue in determining whether you are legally entitled to use force to defend yourself or another is whether you subjectively believe that you must use physical force for such defense AND whether your belief is objectively reasonable. In other words, not only do you need to actually believe that you need to use physical force, but a neutral and average person looking at the situation from your perspective must have come to the same conclusion. But this two-pronged analysis isn't a "philosophical head-scratcher".
posted by Sangermaine at 1:34 PM on October 25, 2017 [3 favorites]

That was a great read! I've always wanted to hang out in a graveyard impersonating ghosts, but I would only do it for peaceful purposes.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 3:46 PM on October 25, 2017