One of the strangest historical folklore beings has to be that of the suburban ghost, of these, the entity that was Spring Heeled Jack emerged, to dig into the legend we have to back go into the dimly lit streets of the London area in the year of 1838........
The Globe 11th January 1838;
The Ghost Story.
The Lord Mayor received the following communications on the subject of what took place at the Mansion House on Monday relative to the individual who is said to be occupied in winning a wager by appearing in various terrific characters at night in the villages around the metropolis :-
"In the neighbourhood of Hornsey, where I have residence, some scoundrel has been alarming the inhabitants, in these disguises; and I heard yesterday, in our newsroom at Guildhall from one of the deputies, that the same thing has been played near Kingston; and from a respectable person in Cheapside that Hertfordshire has been similarly visited.
It is stated that some individual drives about with a livery servant in a cab, and throwing off a cloak appears in those frightful forms, and is to win a wager by the joke -- if it be a joke -- one that is very likely to produce catastrophes.
I should rather inclined to think it is some determined thief, who visits houses in the absence of the heads of the families, and who seeks by this method of at once paralyzing the energies of the servants to obtain and escape with his booty on easy terms. Your obedient servant, Thomas Lott."
"I am induced to address your Lordship on the subject of the Peckham Ghost, to which I perceive, by this morning's papers, your attention has been called.
Some weeks ago an old female domestic, who lived in my service many years, and who now resides in respectable circumstances, as the wife of a decent tradesman at Hammersmith, called upon me, and, in the course of conversation, informed me that the females of Hammersmith and its vicinity feared to walk abroad after nightfall, in consequence of the molestations of a ghost or monster to which they were exposed.
At first I thought this visitation in the 19th century so near the metropolis, and with such a well organised police as we now have, too absurd for belief; but, on further inquiry, I ascertained that several young women had really been frightened into fits -- dangerous fits -- and some of them had been severely wounded by a sort of claws the miscreant wore on his hands.
I expressed my surprise that the attention of the police had not been called to this nuisance. My informant assured me, that repeatedly their vigilance had been aroused on the subject, but the fellow of fellows had been ardroit enough to elude capture. I have then reliance on the witness I allude to that I have no doubt she reported facts. Yours ect ect, Annon."
Reports of this monster were coming in thick and fast, "An Inhabitant of Stockwell" maintained that Jack was scaring people in Stockwell, Brixton, Camberwell, and Vauxhall, and not only this, he was also responsible for several deaths! Rumour was also rife in St. John's Wood, he had been seen dressed in mail and as a bear promising to kill at least six women.
A devil, ghost or bear was seen in Blackheath and Lewisham, women and children were frightened to go outside in the dark. It was a terrifying thought that you could come face to face with "a figure clad in a bear skin, which, upon being drawn aside, exhibited a human body in a suit of mail, and with a longhorn, the emblem of the King of Hell himself."
Another such attack was reported in The Weekly Chronicle, Sunday, 11th February 1838;
"The Suburban Ghost.
Sir, notwithstanding the publicity given to the pranks of that scoundrel denominated 'Spring Heeled Jack,' as a caution to himself, but more especially to the weak minded and nervous portion of the community, that fatal consequences might not ensue; yet the evil is still unabated, and the villain, whoever he may be, allowed to practice his nightly trick with impunity.
Yesterday evening at about quarter past ten o'clock, as my two daughters, the one 11 and the other 15 years of age, were returning home with the house maid from a visit to their aunts in the New Road, and were within about 300 yards of their home, they were -- so they say -- accosted by a tall man in a cloak, who attempted to take liberties with them indiscriminately. My servant had no sooner remonstrated with the beastly vagabond, when he immediately threw off his cloak, and exhibited the form of a human skeleton, which frightened my children so much that they are now confined very ill to their beds.
He had not the courage to follow them any distance, or most probably he would have been secured, but darted across the fields towards Maiden Lane. Can you inform me whether it is true that the Lord Mayor has originated a fund towards his prosecution in the event of capture? I remain your obedient servant, James H. Wilkinson, Cleveland Terrace, Copenhagen Fields, Islington."
The story that really caught the public imagination happened on the night of the 21st February 1838. This concerned the daughters of Mr Alsop of Bear Bind Cottage, Old Ford, in particular Miss Jane Alsop. The details were taken by Mr Hardwick of the Lambeth Street Police Office, the particulars of which were published in The Patriot, 22nd February 1838;
"Miss Jane Alsop, a young lady 18 years of age, stated that at about quarter to nine o'clock on the proceeding night she heard a violent ringing at the gate in front of the house, and on going to the door to see what was the matter, she saw a man standing outside, of whom she inquired what was the matter, and requested he would not ring so loud. The person instantly replied, that he was a policeman, and said 'For God's sake bring me a light, for we have caught Spring Heeled Jack, here, in the lane.'
She returned into the house and brought a candle, and handed it to the person, who appeared enveloped in a large cloak, and whom she at first really believed to be a policeman. The instant she had done so, however, he threw off his outer garment, and applying the lighted candle to his breast, presented a most hideous and frightful appearance, and vomited forth a quantity of blue and white flame from his mouth, and his eyes resembled red balls of fire.
From the hasty glance which her fright enabled her to get of his person, she observed that he wore a large helmet, and his dress, which appeared to fit him very tight, seemed to her to resemble white oil skin. Without uttering a sentence he darted at her, and catching her partly by her dress and the back part of her neck, placed her head under one of his arms, and commenced tearing her gown with his claws, which she was certain were of some metallic substance.
She screamed out as loud as she could for assistance, and by considerable exertion got from him and ran towards the house to get in. Her assailant, however, followed her, and caught her on the steps leading to the hall door, when he again used considerable violence, tore her neck and arms with his claws, as well as a quantity of hair from her head; but she was at length rescued from his grasp by one of her sisters.
Miss Alsop added, that she had suffered considerably all night from the shock she had sustained, and was then in extreme pain, both from the injury done to her arm, and the wounds and scratches inflicted by the miscreant about her shoulders and neck, with his claws or hands.
Miss Mary Alsop, a younger sister, said that, on hearing the screams of her sister Jane, she went to the door, and saw a figure, as above described, ill using her sister. She was so alarmed at his appearance, that she was afraid to approach or render any assistance.
Mrs Harrison said, that hearing the screams of both her sisters, first of Jane, and then of Mary, she ran to the door, and found the person before described in the act of dragging her sister Jane down the stone steps from the door with considerable violence. She got hold of her sister, and by some means or other, which she could scarcely describe, succeeded in getting her inside the door and closing it. At this time her sister's dress was nearly torn off her; both her combs dragged out of her head, as well as a quantity of her hair torn away. The fellow notwithstanding the outrage he had committed, knocked loudly two or three times at the door, and it was only their calling loudly for the police from the upper windows that he left the place."
This was a very serious assault, Mr Alsop was languishing in bed with a rheumatic condition, he thought there must have been more than one person involved, and put up a ten guinea reward.
The police had not been idle, several officer of K Division communicated their findings to the attack on Jane Alsop at Old Ford. Whilst they all agreed Miss Alsop had been the victim of a violent attack, they thought that she had been mistaken in her description of the perpetrator because of the shock she had suffered. They put it down to "drunken frolics" of three young men who would soon be apprehended. They even went so far as to question Miss Alsop's reasoning behind giving such "a melodramatic or exaggerated description."
Soon Jack was again up to his tricks, this time at 2, Turner Street off the Commercial Road in Whitechapel, London Evening Standard, Monday 26th February 1838;
"About eight o'clock a person called and inquired for Mr Ashworth, but before the boy who opened the door could give an answer, 'Jack' had thrown off his cloak and presented a most hideous appearance. The screams of the poor lad having alarmed the family, the villain unable to accomplish any further mischief, succeeded in effecting his escape."
Spring Heeled Jack fever was now firmly established, vicious young men were out at night frightening people by shouting "I am Spring Heeled Jack" at women and children before punching or otherwise assaulting them. A lady was attacked near the Royal College of Surgeons and received a nasty blow to the mouth, also a strange man entered the White Lion pub on the corner of Vere Street and Clare Market. On seeing a Mrs Hiams watching him curiously, he suddenly exclaimed "I am Spring Heeled Jack' and pulled out a cudgel aimed a blow at her but missed, he then took to his heels and disappeared.
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| Clare Market. |
The police, in the meantime, had arrested two men for the attack on Miss Alsop, but had to let them go for lack of evidence. Mr Hardwick of the Lambeth Police Office was once more on the case, investigating a nasty attack, this time in Green Dragon Alley, Limehouse. The witnesses were a respectable butcher, his sister and an eighteen year old woman, the Morning Post of the 7th March 1838 takes up the story;
"Miss Scales stated that on the evening of Wednesday last, at about half past eight o'clock, she and her sister were returning from the house of their brother, and while passing along Green Dragon Alley, they observed some person standing in an angle in the passage. She was in advance of her sister, at the time, and just as she came up to the person, who was enveloped in a large cloak, he spurted a quantity of blue flame right in her face, which deprived her of sight, and so alarmed her that she instantly dropped to the ground, and was seized with violent fits, which continued for several hours.
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| Green Dragon Alley. |
In reply to a question from Mr Hardwick, Miss Scales said that on approaching the individual she thought it was a woman, from the head dress being apparently a bonnet, or something of that description, but she was afterwards satisfied that it was a man."
The creature was described as a tall thin man of a gentlemanly disposition, wearing a large cloak and something like a lady's bonnet, he carried something which resembled a bull's eye lantern, and the blue flame exiting from his mouth was very bright, it flashed so that her sister could only get a glimpse before being dazzled. Hearing the shrieks, their brother Mr Scales, ran up the alleyway only to see the creature moving away, during the whole event the creature did not speak or lay hands on either woman.
According to Mr Scales, his sisters had just been reading an account in the newspaper of the most recent Spring Heeled Jack episode, which seemed to alarm them. Police officer Lea had observed an experiment at the London Hospital that morning concerning the blue flame, he said, "lights like those described could be produced by blowing through a tube in which spirits of wine, sulphur, and another ingredient were deposited and ignited." Mr Hardwick observed that this attack was probably by the same man as attacked Miss Alsop.
Within the week Spring Heeled Jack was back, this time his victim was a 13 year old boy in Great Marylebone Street. He was just minding his own business when two men in large cloaks came up to him, extended their arms to reveal their faces smeared in red ochre, the boy then screamed and fainted, such was the terror felt on the streets. The men ran off before anyone could respond.
A couple of weeks later on the 30th March PC Markham S24 was in Kentish Town when he saw women and children running towards him shouting "Here's Spring Heeled Jack!" Gathering up all of his courage he pulled out his truncheon and waited for the monster to show himself, it wasn't long before the monster was pointed out.
Markham could make out some sort of blue around the creatures mouth, he also had an unnatural look about him. The sturdy policeman then went up to the monster, grabbed him by the collar and marched him off. At the station his mask was taken from him and he ended up cooling his (spring) heels in a cell, after hearing pleas that he didn't mean any harm he was sent on his way with a caution.
On the 1st April a story concerning a sailor who was arrested wearing a cloak and a lady's bonnet was published in Bell's New Weekly Messenger, the description is very close to the one given by the Scales sisters, and yet there is no mention of it;
"Inspector Simmons stated, that on the night proceeding, while going his usual rounds, he observed the prisoner pass along Woolmore Street, Poplar, with a bonnet and cloak on, and having no doubt from the awkwardness of his gait and figure, that he belonged to a different sex from that which his outward appearance indicated: he in consequence went up to him, and finding that his suspicions were well founded, he felt it to be his duty to take him to the Station House.
On questioning him, he, the prisoner, said that he had merely put the cloak and bonnet on for a lark, and that both belonged to his woman. He had caused inquiries to be made about him, and his opinion was that his intention was harmless. The sailor was severely reprimanded, and told, silly as the trick was, it might prove serious in the present times, when so many women and children were scared into fits by Spring Heeled Jack."
The thought that the famous story of Spring Heeled Jack in Green Dragon Alley was nothing more than a cross dressing sailor giving two sister a fright is superb, although a terrifying experience for the ladies, no real harm was done, my heart goes out to the poor sailor who was also named in the article.
A few days later the Morning Post gave the splendid news that Spring Heeled Jack had been captured. James Painter (18) had been sallying forth around Kilburn wearing a white sheet and a hideous mask with a long beard. After one prank he was recognised by a local water carrier as being in the employ of a Mr Chater.
When approached on the matter by a lady he had frightened Painter was insolent and threatened to set the dogs on her, Painter was arrested and severely reprimanded, being told if he carried on in this way he would end up In Newgate, he was fined £4, not a small amount in 1838!
Through April and May Jack was springing up in various places, in Southend a miscreant attacked the wife of a preventive man by grabbing her legs as she walked past along the cliffs, she was subjected to a violent assault and managed to escape by the skin of his teeth.
He was at work again on the 23rd May, this time in Whitby, North Yorkshire, a woman was attacked in Grape Lane by a man dressed like a bear with sharp claws, she was cut and her clothes torn in a terrible way, her cries alerted some locals, but the creature escaped.
Three days later another attack was perpetrated in Carshalton, Surrey, this time it was a 14 year old boy, he was on his way to work at six o'clock one morning when he was pursued by "a scoundrel in some awful disguise, who jumped on his back and gave him such a shock that his reason has left him," the creature escaped again.
As the Weekly Chronicle, Sunday 7th October 1838 observed, this monster had created a Spring Heeled nuisance, three men, William, Frederick and Charles Robson were charged under the following circumstances;
"Samuel Watts stated that that he was in Park Road, Dalston, between eleven and twelve o'clock on Saturday night, when he perceived the first prisoner (who is nearly six feet high) stalking along in the garb of a female, with false curls, and all the little ornaments necessary to complete the metamorphosis. He felt the utmost astonishment and alarm at such a rencontre, and was about to beat a retreat, when the prisoner sprang upon him, and threw him into a pool by the roadside, where he lay roaring for help until the arrival of the police.
Sergeant Millichap N6, stated that he perceived information from some gentlemen residing in Park Road, that some strange appearance was haunting their lane, and that their bells had been rung, and sundry other pranks committed that frightened the neighbourhood. Witness proceeded in pursuit, and in a short time came up to the elder prisoner, who on seeing him commenced a most unmerciful attack upon him, and gave him such a pummelling as he had never had in his life before. Two of his brother officers came up, and at the call of his assailant the other two prisoners and a third gentleman came to his aid and a regular battle took place, which ended in the capture of the prisoners."
On being asked why he was in female attire the prisoner said he was on his way to a party and wanted to surprise his friends, they had no idea that their behaviour would land them in trouble, he was fined 60s, his two brothers 20s each.
With the close of 1838 the tales of Spring Heeled Jack thinned out, but they didn't go away, this legend refused to die. In mid 1839 Jack's presence was felt in Dover, wandering around scaring the inhabitants, eventually Jack made a mistake, it was around midnight on the 19th November when the demon presented himself in front of PC Cole, who promptly then took the creature to the nearest police station.
Early the next morning the rumours had done the rounds and a small crowd showed up at the station to see if it was true, had Spring Heeled Jack been caught at last? The monster had been dressed in a short red jacket, a light blue frock coat, a woman's night cap, a piece of old crepe for a veil, muslin trousers scalloped at the edges and a substantial pair of boots.
Upon peeling back the costume a young lady was revealed, her name was Kate Adams and she had dressed in such an odd way to surprise her brother who was coming home from being at sea. She promised faithfully never to do such a thing again, she was let off with a caution.
During 1840 the first Penny Dreadful on Spring Heeled Jack appeared, in this publication Jack was a monster who did all the things that were mentioned in the press, an absolute menace to society, this would change during future rewrites making him a champion of women and justice for all, like some latter day Batman.
In April 1841 Jack was in Camden, it was said he would dress in a large blue cloak and with dark glasses would attack women at night, hiding in doorways on Camden High Street and badly lit places such as College Grove. The Morning Herald, Thursday 8th April 1841 describes his modus operandi;
"The miscreant jumps from his hiding place, and stretching out his arms under his cloak, makes that article of clothing have the appearance of a huge pair of black wings, which completely blocks the thoroughfare. He then envelopes the frightened victim in the folds of his cloak and commits the most disgusting assaults upon her."
A horrific assault indeed, this happened to a poor lady near the St Pancras Workhouse, she put up a fierce struggle and got away, she was chased to the Elephant & Castle public house where she found sanctuary, she was then escorted home by some of the patrons.
In October 1841 it was the turn of Tottenham and Edmonton to feel the fear of Spring Heeled Jack, he was seen by several witnesses breathing fire. A PC Panchett N336, saw a figure answering the description of Jack throwing fire from his hands into the road, Panchett chased the creature but lost him in the graveyard. A family living at Bruce Castle, Tottenham were disturbed by their front door being burst open, a figure breathing fire was seen, but the cries of his family stopped the man giving chase.
A man called Richard Bradford was severely reprimanded in February 1845 for impersonating Spring Heeled Jack, he wore a gown, shawl and other attachments and frightened people in the Hanwell and Ealing area.
In September 1845 an extraordinary event took place involving a fifty year old man called Purdy, Mr Purdy had been suffering from pleurisy and an inflammation of the lungs. He was being looked after by his wife, one night she fell asleep and Mr Purdy in his delirium thought his donkey had escaped, he climbed out of bed in only his nightshirt and went outside.
As he was wandering around the outhouses a woman saw him and screamed for assistance, to her rescue came a young man called Henry Noble who, thinking it was Spring Heeled Jack in person, beat the poor old man mercilessly, Mr Purdy died the next day. Noble was arrested but the inquest showed that Mr Purdy had died of his illness not the beating, the verdict was natural causes and a very lucky Mr Noble was discharged.
In March 1847 Jack was in Teignmouth, and he was causing great excitement. This Jack spent his time frightening women and even "rough handling" them, suspicion soon fell on Captain Finch, a respectable 60 year old man in ill health, hardly a spring chicken nevermind a spring Jack! The evidence against him was put forward by a young woman, she was a servant to a lady and said that she had been assaulted twice by a man dressed in a skin coat, skull cap, horns and a mask. As things stood the Captain was not prepared to tarnish the woman's reputation for the sake of his own, evidence was put forward and the old soldier refused to refute it, he was fined 17s for each assault.
Moving with the times, we next encounter Spring Heeled Jack on a train. It is January 1849 and a butcher from Tynemouth was awaiting his train north from Newcastle, realising he was missing his train he made an audacious leap onto the foot rail of a carriage as the train sped past. He clung on desperately, terrified that he may fall, finally with the last of his strength he pulled himself up to the window, his frightened white face was pressed up against the glass, showing a disturbing sight with the darkness of night behind him.
The guard pointing exclaimed "Spring Heeled Jack! Where did you drop from?" to which the man replied "North Shields." The guard assisted the man into the carriage and to safety, the butcher then paid his fare and was deposited at Morpeth station.
Through the early 1870's another suburban ghost which actually predates the Spring Heeled Jack legend was making a resurgence, this was the Peckham Ghost, which I will cover in another post.
In 1877 Jack makes his first appearance in Aldershot, according to the South London Press of Saturday 21st April, he "makes bounds of a dozen feet high, according to the alarmed sentinels, and is brilliant on the exterior with phosphorus."
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| Jack Jumping On Newport Arch - Illustrated Police News - Saturday 3rd November 1877 |
Playing with the army is dangerous, but this did not deter Spring Heeled Jack from his nocturnal games, the army took this very seriously indeed, Morning Advertiser, Monday 7th October 1878;
"About 18 months ago he caused great annoyance to sentries, guards and the military authorities, who ineffectually employed civil and military police to capture him. His modus Operandi was to pay nocturnal visits to sentries planted at the outskirts of the camp, suddenly pounce on them, and run away with their hats, and sometimes with their rifles, after submitting them to rough treatment. He has frightened sentries off their posts, and although he has been several times fired at he has not been hit. The quitting of his post by a sentry is considered a great military crime, and some of those found guilty of it have been punished in accordance with the degree of the offence.
Those who have seen Spring Heeled Jack say that he is a tall, powerful athlete, and endowed with extraordinary pedestrian qualifications. During the last week he has been very active in the neighbourhood of the Queen's Pavilion -- so much so, that three men of the 41st Regiment on Wednesday last, were confined in the guard room through his foolish pranks. One of them, Private Jackson, fired at him, after having challenged him four times without receiving a reply. The bullet missed its aim. After an investigation Jackson and the other prisoners were released."
The creature was not finished playing with the army, with the removal of the 60th Rifles from Aldershot to Colchester Jack followed and carried on attacking the sentries, so much so one soldier was hospitalised fearing his mental health would not recover. The senties were doubled.
Whilst at Colchester it was rumoured that an officer of the 3rd Battalion, 60th Rifles was bayoneted by a jumpy sentry. A week later it was reported that the Spring Heeled Jack pranks had been carried out by bored officers, one official stated "these pranks have brought about, unfortunately, a series of evils for which a bayonet wound in the leg is not adequate punishment." The battalion commanding officer Colonel W. Leigh Pemberton stated that no such wound has been reported and any journal which states to the contrary is mistaken.
Far be it from me to suggest a face saving exercise, but Jack did leave the army alone after this event, but he did spring up again two years later in Herne Hill. This caused several news reports to call out these pranksters as "imbeciles" and suggests that firearms should be carried to put an end to this blight forever.
Throughout the 1880's Jack was seen in various places, Deptford had a mysterious man in a white sheet frightening folk in 1882, Windsor had quite a time in 1885, according to the London Evening Standard of Friday 23rd January;
"...a Windsor police constable, while walking down Thames Street, was startled by someone springing on his back. He fell and rolled in the mud, and on rising attempted to secure his assailant, who proved to be a tall, athletic young man, about six feet high, residing in a village near the Royal Borough. The man escaped but was soon captured by the police."
He was cautioned and released. Liverpool had some trouble with folks dressing up and jumping out on unsuspecting women and children in 1887, but they must have got bored with it, as there was no more reports, although Jack got a boost when the book "Spring Heeled Jack: The Terror Of London." was reprinted. In 1888, before another more terrifying "Jack" got to work a Jack of the Spring Heeled variety was spotted in Kensal Green, the Globe, Saturday 21st January:
"Spring Heeled Jack is described as being habited in what is commonly known a black and tan tights. On his head he wears a black skull cap and his face is presumably chalked, while his eyes are encircled by a couple of black rings.
He startles people -- possibly robbing them if the chance offers -- he watches for an unprotected female or child walking along a lonely road, and wearing noiseless boots he suddenly springs in front of them, and at the same time utters a dismal groan. Should his victim refuse to be frightened by this sudden apparition, his black arms are raised and rings of a phosphorescent hue are exhibited.
This is usually sufficient to terrify the pedestrian, but the appearance of one of the sterner sex has a similar effect on the spirit, for this would be supernatural being immediately decamps over the nearest hedge or into an empty house should there be one handy. It is supposed that this individual is a resident in the neighbourhood. 'Vigilance committees' of young men have been organised, but up to the present all attempts to bring the ghost to book have resulted in failure."
With the dawn of a new century the superstitions of the old one became a form of entertainment, in May 1903 a stage production was produced and toured around the country, this brought Jack back into the public eye, notwithstanding obvious hoaxes such as a letter purporting to be from Spring Heeled Jack, concerning the proposed murder of sixteen factory girls in the next few months, this letter was actually written by one of the girls who didn't want to go back to work!
A more traditional approach was mentioned in the Northern Daily Telegraph, Thursday 22nd September 1904;
"The district of Everton, in Liverpool, is scared by the singular antics of a ghost, to whom the name of Spring Heeled Jack has been given, because of the facility with which he has escaped, by huge springs, all attempts of his would be captors to arrest him. William Henry Street is the scene of his exploits, and crowds of people assemble nightly to see them, but only a few have done so yet. He is said to pay particular attention to ladies."
Two months later the horrible sprite was in the Dover area frightening children in St Margarets, he picked on women out alone and quickly disappeared when men came into view. One girl got quite a fright, Morning Leader, Friday 18th November 1904;
"Last night a young girl, a visitor to the village, was terribly frightened by the apparition just beyond the village street on her way to the house where she was staying. Her screams were heard by a villager named Mrs Finnis.
Mrs Finnis says that on hearing the shrieks she ran out of her house and down the road. It was dusk at the time. She found the girl in a hysterical and half fainted state.Through the gloom she distinctly saw a tall figure in white. It moved quickly down the road making a mysterious noise. Suddenly the figure leaped over the hedge so lightly and easily that it must have been on springs. 'Of course,' said Mrs Finnis, 'knew it was only some man fooling, but it is an abominable and dangerous thing to do.'
Another person stated that the ghost was seen in the churchyard, where it sprang over the tombstones. The affair has roused so much indignation in the village that parties of men have been organised, and commencing on Wednesday night, go out in search of the ghost, who will certainly meet with very rough treatment if he falls into their hands.
They were out again last night. The men are mostly provided with stout sticks, several carry bullseye lanterns, and it is stated that one man provided himself with a gun. The parties go out in small numbers, mostly in twos or threes, in the hope that they might come upon the practical fool unawares."
He was never caught, the years went by and the legend of Spring Heeled Jack faded into distant memory..............
In modern times several songs have been written on Spring Heeled Jack by bands such as The Flying Pencils, Lemon Demon, Zombina & The Skeletones, Jolene Ska and John Harle & Marc Almond. There has also been several short films produced, and two feature films, one in 1950 the other in 2008.
