Via Newspapers.com

As I have mentioned before, my beloved “Illustrated Police News” is an unexpected source of nifty little ghost stories, such as this item in the September 4, 1897 issue:

The good folk of Halton Holegate, a village near Spilsby, in Lincolnshire, are excited over a ghost story. For some time rumours have been afloat of human bones having been discovered under the brick floor of a farm near the village, of strange, unearthly tappings having been heard, and of the appearance of a ghostly visitor as the precursor of these happenings. 

The farmstead, where the weird sounds are said to have been heard and the ghost is said to have been seen, stands some distance from the high road, and is occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Wilson and a man-servant. Mrs. Wilson has been seen, and has told the following remarkable story: 

"We came here on Lady Day last. The first night or so we heard very strange noises about midnight, as though someone was knocking at the door and walls.

“Once it seemed as though someone was moving all the things about in a hurry downstairs. Another time the noise was like a heavy picture falling from the wall, but in the morning I found everything as right as it was the night before.

“The servant man left, saying he dared not stop, and we had to get another. Then about six weeks ago, I saw something.  Before getting into bed, my husband having retired before me, I went downstairs to see the cow, and just as I was about to go up again I saw an old man standing at the top looking at me. He was standing as though he was very round-shouldered. How I got past I can't say, but I darted past him into the bed-room and slammed the door.

Afterwards I felt that someone was behind me; I turned round sharply,and there again stood the same old man. He quickly vanished, but I am quite certain I saw him. I have also seen him several times since, though not quite so distinctly.”

Mrs. Wilson next conducted her interviewer to the sitting-room, where a gruesome discovery had been made.

The floor in one corner had been very uneven, and a day or two ago Mrs. Wilson took up the bricks with the intention of relaying them. No sooner had she done this than a most disagreeable odour was emitted.  Her suspicions being aroused, she called her husband, and the two commenced a minute examination.

Three or four bones were soon turned over, together with a gold ring and several pieces of old black silk. All these had evidently been buried in quicklime. Asked what her own opinion of the affair was, Mrs. Wilson confidently asserted her belief that at some time or other foul play had taken place.

She was fully persuaded in her own mind with regard to the apparition, and though it was suggested she might have been mistaken, she disdained the idea as being beneath notice.  Dr. Gay, a local medical man, to whom the bones have been submitted, states that they are undoubtedly human, but he believes them to be nearly 100 years old.

The story made headlines in newspapers as far away as New Zealand, but I was unable to find any follow-ups.

Via Newspapers.com

As I have mentioned before, the “Illustrated Police News” periodically featured nifty little ghost stories.  The following example appeared in their January 8, 1898 issue:

The people of Buckingham and neighbourhood are troubled at the appearance of a ghost, the truth of which is vouched for by a well-known farmer living in the neighbourhood.

About six miles from the outskirts of the town there stands a weather-beaten hand-post at the corner of four cross-roads, and also a small plantation of young oak saplings at the terminus. Near to this spot some few nights ago the farmer referred to, accompanied by a friend, was driving his horse and trap along the roadway. The night was well advanced and dark, when suddenly the farmer saw standing a few yards in front of him. a black object. 

"What's that?" he said to his friend, and aloud to the figure, "Hullo! there; move on, please." 

There was no answer, and the figure remained almost motionless. It was completely enveloped in a long black sheet, and had the ghastly appearance of a headless woman. Simultaneously the horse saw it, and trembled like a leaf, as if paralysed with fear.

Again the farmer cried, "What do you do there? Move on, please." But there was no response, and the apparition remained still. The horse became restive, and commenced backing into a ditch. 

At this stage the driver's companion got down, took the reins, and endeavoured to back by the spot. Then for a minute or so their queer visitant disappeared. As the trap again faced the roadway the occupants were greatly alarmed at the further appearance of the black, sombre figure a few yards ahead of them, in the same motionless position as before. 

Their situation was now getting positively serious. The farmer, whose presence of mind had stood him in good stead, now finding his nerve on the point of giving way, asked the apparition in the name of God to speak. Then it was that the spectre slowly glided away, and appeared to float through the thick-set bordered hedge. The animal at once galloped off at a rattling pace towards the village they were bound for. Other people in the district have related their experiences, and the belief now prevails that there is a ghost to be seen, and not a little surprising the spot referred to has been less frequented of late.

Via Newspapers.com

Here is yet another little ghost story from the “Illustrated Police News,” December 30, 1882:

A most singular occurrence took place a few days back at a village near Charlton. We have received the intelligence from an acquaintance of ours staying in the village at the time, from which we print the following: 

Some seven years back a young lady of the village, about eighteen years of age, and who was well known to the villagers roundabout for her affability and generous disposition, fell desperately in love with a young person about her own age. The love was as readily returned, and the two soon after were frequently seen in each other's society, and a more happy, and congenial couple could not be conceived.

Some six or eight months rolled on in this happy condition when the young man received a letter from his parents in Canada urging his immediate attendance in consequence of his father's serious illness, and other affairs that had to receive prompt attention. From time to time letters were interchanged between the lovers, in which she received information of his father's extreme delicate slate of health which rendered him incapable of managing his business affairs, which of necessity involved upon his sons. Some few years had now rolled over, and, as the fates had decreed, with no apparent hope of her lover's return, when all of a sudden the communications from Canada ceased, and though she had written several letters in succession urgently requesting to know what strange mishap had occurred that was the occasion of not writing, she fully and strenuously believed in her lover's faith; but still receiving no reply, it worked desperate havoc upon a sensitive and not over-strong constitution.  The neighbours one and all perceived the painful alteration in her appearance, and many and varied were the conjectures brought to bear upon the subject, and one, which some time afterwards seemed to bear much truth upon the matter, was that the brother to the intended of the young lady had intercepted by some means their communications. This was in part vouched for by a person who had resided some time in Canada, and who was well acquainted with the brothers and their affairs, so much so that he had heard from the younger brother that he had received no communication from England for some time past.  That the elder was disliked in the family in consequence of his dissolute habits was likewise confirmed, and also that the younger son was retained to manage the father's business, who, I should have stated, had died some three years back. 

Matters had now grown so serious that the lady was advised a change of scenery, that the recollection of the past might be somewhat expelled. This she objected to, and called to her bedside a brother for whom she had every confidence and affection, to whom she related the following story: 

She had for three nights in succession dreamt that she saw Charles (her lover) at a favourite resort of theirs called Swallow-lane in the form of a skeleton, and lying on the ground was his wounded brother. Charles stated he had received a letter from her (this she declared to her brother was false), urging him to meet her on a certain date at their old trysting place. He then related how his brother had pounced upon and slain him, but not before he had wounded his brother, and with the same weapon. Here the sister said the voice of the spirit became indistinct, but, as far as she could understand, it was to the following effect: 

She saw the outstretched figure of her lover's brother raise himself from the ground, and was soon lost to view, Then the spectre figure said, ‘Meet me, love, at Swallow-lane on such an evening, that such may be confirmed, which I have revealed to you through a dream. Farewell, farewell,' and the figure vanished. 

The young lady then, lifting herself from her pillow, addressed her brother and said, ‘Dear brother, I must go there, I must go.  Will you accompany me, that I may be satisfied in this mystery?’ 

The brother accompanied his sister to the old and familiar spot specified in her dream. The evening was lovely and warm, and all that could be wished for, but a cold chill seized the maiden's frame as they approached the spot, where they saw a skeleton form, as predicted; and the brother lying on the ground was not only perceived by the girl, but by the brother likewise, who declares he saw it, but no sound reached his ears. 

Soon after this the frail construction of the lady weakened by degrees and passed away. The brother of the broken-hearted girl has made for Canada. Swallow-lane is well known to the neighbours roundabout, and many hundreds have visited the spot of late, but without eliciting any proof to unravel this strange and mysterious story.

It would be interesting to know what the brother found when he arrived in Canada, but, as is usually the case, there were no follow-ups to the story.

Via Newspapers.com

One of the many delightful things about the “Illustrated Police News” is that they often varied their reports of ‘orrible murders, gruesome deaths, and assorted wickedness with some nifty little ghost stories.  This short but extremely weird little tale appeared in the March 30, 1878 issue:

A singular scene was witnessed a few days ago at Bennington. As a young couple were standing at the altar of St. Mary's Church to go through the marriage ceremony, the proceedings were brought to an abrupt termination by that which all rational people must of necessity deem most preposterous and ridiculous. It appears that the whole wedding party was composed of spiritualists. All of a sudden the bridegroom became deadly pale, trembled, and pointed to a shadowy form, which he asserted arose between himself and the woman he was about to espouse. Like her, it was dressed in full bridal costume. The features were those of a young lady whom he, the bridegroom, had courted some four years, and who had but recently died. The loving bride, the bridegroom's best man, and indeed the whole wedding party, declared most positively that the spirit of the departed stood there to forbid the ceremony from being completed, and the effect was so tremendous and overpowering that the loving bride withdrew from the altar, and refused to have any further share in the proceedings.

Via Newspapers.com

One little-known fact about the “Illustrated Police News” (AKA “the slightly-warped blogger’s best friend”) is that along with the usual ‘orrible murders, grisly suicides, and other lurid news items, it was a regular source of “true” ghost tales, usually with a crime angle. One such spectral cautionary tale appeared in the February 5, 1876 issue:

The large illustration in the centre of the front-page of this week’s POLICE NEWS represents the scene of a murder, which took place in a village in Warwickshire, the details of the tragedy have been narrated at many a fireside in the county.

The two murderers represented in our illustration were aware that their victim would pass through the village in question, they therefore concealed themselves till he arrived, whereupon they rushed out from their hiding place and slew their victim, after which they proceeded to rifle his pockets. It is said (and is, moreover, implicitly believed by the natives of the place and surrounding districts) that while thus engaged a grim spectre, in the shape of Death or a skeleton, appeared to the guilty men, who were panic-stricken at the awful figure presented to their wonder-struck eyes--their hearts seemed to sink within them. The figure stood on an old rustic wooden bridge, and seemed by its presence to warn them that the time of retribution was near at hand. The murderers were so overcome that they fled from the spot. Their movements, however, had not escaped the notice of a lad who, concealed in a waggon, had been a silent witness of the crime. The boy immediately raised an alarm and the whole village was aroused, the villagers gave chase, night crept over the scene, the moon, which had been clear and cloudless, became suddenly obscured. The murderers grew desperate, and ran they knew not whither. In the extremity of their fear they rushed madly on, and at length found themselves chin deep in water and entangled amongst weeds and brushwood. In vain did they endeavour to release themselves. The villagers, who had given up the search, discovered the dead bodies of the assassins next morning floating on the surface of the stream.

Now, it’s possible that you are tempted to leave a comment asking, “Undine, if the murderers both died, how does anyone know what they saw?”

Hush. Don’t spoil a good ghost story.

via British Newspaper Archive

Valentine's Day is just around the corner.  It's that time when we all turn our attention to such ultra-romantic topics as suicide, murder, assault, revenge, and homicidal clowns.

You guessed it.  It's time to look at love, Illustrated Police News style!

The IPN loved their duels.  And if they were fights to the death over the affections of some lady or gentleman, so much the better:






Jealousy was also a popular theme:










Not even churches were safe:



Neither were the schools:




In the world of the Illustrated Police News, you always had to beware of those vengeful clowns:



Not to mention the lovesick fishmongers:


Or the wrath of Mother Nature!



This lady took a deadly retaliation against her husband's passionate liaison with a dressmaker's dummy:


Two "love birds" have just a bit too much fun at Covent Garden:



Naturally, French counts were hardly immune to the charms of Love, IPN Style:


Neither were the gypsies:




Or the recently-deceased, for that matter:


But, at least, everyone had a happy ending after the marriage ceremony, right?

Well.













This image says it all:

Happy Valentine's Day, gang!

Back in February, I did a post showcasing those fearless, irrepressible Ladies of the Illustrated Police News.  I had fun putting it together, and it seemed to go over well--I had no idea there was such a market for Victorian women with horsewhips--so I couldn't resist presenting a sequel.  As I have said before, the Illustrated Police News is the lazy blogger's gift that keeps on giving.  It's time to overturn some more stereotypes of the meek, helpless, strait-laced Victorian female!

The ladies of the IPN didn't pull any punches!











The ladies of the IPN had pioneering child-care methods!







The ladies of the IPN were career women going into business for themselves!







The ladies of the IPN were brave!













The ladies of the IPN were plucky!






The ladies of the IPN were heroic!



The ladies of the IPN were incorrigible!



The ladies of the IPN were scandalous!



The ladies of the IPN were lively!







The ladies of the IPN were powerful!


The ladies of the IPN were troublesome!




The ladies of the IPN were life-savers!




It never paid to cross the ladies of the IPN!
















The ladies of the IPN scoffed at mere prison walls!




The ladies of the IPN stared Death right in the face!



The ladies of the IPN knew how to travel in style!





The ladies of the IPN knew what was important in life!



The ladies of the IPN knew how to stay cool!



And, of course, the ladies of the IPN had an unbeatable way with words.



The ladies of the IPN:  Not even the bears could resist them.





[Note:  All images via the invaluable British Newspaper Archive.]