14: Halloween

In this episode of Oddity, we take a look at a bizarre murder case which occurred in Colorado in 1941: the tragic death of Philip Peters at the hands of a man best known as The Denver Spider Man.Sources and further reading:Wikipedia – Theodore Edward ConeysTheodore Coneys, Murderpedia: http://murderpedia.org/male.C/c/coneys-theodore.htm

A screaming skull is a human skull which, according to legend, disturbs the house in which it's kept by screaming, speaking, or causing other disturbances. In the case of a few of these skulls, they are the focus of hauntings which stop when the skull is laid to rest – but in the majority of stories, the act of removing the skull from inside the house is what sparks off the trouble.Sources and further reading: Westwood, J. and Simpson, J. 2005. The Lore of the Land.Westwood, J. and Simpson, J. 2008. Haunted England: The Penguin Book of Ghosts.Clarke, David. 1991. Ghosts and Legends of the Peak District.Roberts, Andy & Clarke, David. 'Heads and Tales: The Screaming Skulls legends of Britain', in Moore, Steve (ed). (1996) Fortean Studies. Volume 3. John Brown Publishing. London. pp.147-150. In Calvariae Disjecta: The Many Hauntings of Burton Agnes Hall.Wikipedia - Screaming Skulls, Red Barn Murder, Appley Bridge'Screaming Skulls', Paranormal Database: http://paranormaldatabase.com/reports/skulls.php'The Cursed Skull of Tunstead Farm', Ludchurch blog: https://ludchurchmyblog.wordpress.com/places-of-interest-in-cheshire/the-cursed-skull-of-tunstead-farm/'The Ghost of Ripley's Believe It Or Not Museum', Lancashire Folk: https://lancashirefolk.com/2013/11/27/the-ghost-of-ripleys-believe-it-or-not-museum/'The Pack Horse Inn History', Affetside Village website: http://affetside.org.uk/pub_history.htm'Legend of the Screaming Skull', Real British Ghosts: http://www.real-british-ghosts.com/screaming-skull.html

The historic market town of Pontefract is perhaps best known for its liquorice. But since the late 60s, the town has also been known for something not quite as sweet. In this episode of Oddity, we take a look at the famous 30 East Drive haunting, and its supposed resident Black Monk.Sources and further reading:  Wikipedia - When The Lights Went Out The Black Monk of Pontefract, Ghost Story.co.uk: http://www.ghost-story.co.uk/index.php/poltergiests/273-the-black-monk-of-pontefract-yorkshire-uk 30 East Drive website: http://www.30eastdrive.com/  'Poltergeist: A Classic Study in Destructive Hauntings", 1981, Colin Wilson, p. 146-7

Here in the UK, badly behaved children might discover that on Christmas morning, Father Christmas has left them lumps of coal or raw potatoes instead of toys and sweets. But in some other parts of Europe, the punishment for misbehaving is a whole lot worse. Saint Nicholas still brings presents for the good children, but naughty kids should, frankly, be terrified. Legend says that they're in for a visit from Saint Nick's less friendly companion - Krampus. Sources and further reading:'The Changing Mask of Krampus', Al Ridenour, Fortean Times, FT 348. Wikipedia - Krampus / Companions of Saint Nicholas Street Parade to Mark Latest Krampus Run, Whitby Gazette: http://www.whitbygazette.co.uk/news/street-parade-to-mark-latest-krampus-run-1-8737926 9 Facts About Krampus, Mental Floss: http://mentalfloss.com/article/71999/9-facts-about-krampus-st-nicks-demonic-companion How to Blend in at an Alpine Krampus Parade: https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-to-blend-in-at-an-alpine-krampus-parade Krampus Run around the Munich Christmas Market, Muenchen.de: http://www.muenchen.de/int/en/events/christmas-market/krampus-run.html Austrian town reassures asylum-seekers over unusual Christmas tradition, Telegraph: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/austria/12024686/Austrian-town-reassures-asylum-seekers-over-unusual-Christmas-tradition.html

In 1978, a young woman went to the papers with a strange tale. She had fallen through a hole in Crystal Palace Park, and stumbled upon a train carriage full of skeletons. But how did this story come about?Sources and further reading:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CrystalPalacepneumatic_railway / Crystal Palace Park / The Crystal Palace / Crystal Palace Dinosaurs / Church Hill Tunnel Crystal Palace Pneumatic Railway: Lost Tunnels & Creepy Urban Legends, Urban Ghosts: https://www.urbanghostsmedia.com/2014/10/crystal-palace-pneumatic-railway-lost-tunnels-urban-legends/ Crystal Palace Skeletons, Silent Thrill: https://silentthrill.wordpress.com/2015/11/08/crystal-palace-skeletons/ Tunnel Vision, Subterranea Britannica: http://www.subbrit.org.uk/tunnelbase/sites/p/paxton/index.shtml 'The Crystal Palace Skeletons', Tom Brown, Fortean Times, FT 315.

In late 1948, a man was found dead on a beach in Australia. His identity, and how he died, have remained a mystery for almost seventy years. Could a piece of paper found in his pocket shed light on the case?Sources and further reading: Wikipedia - Tamam Shud 'Tamam Shud', Roy Bainton, Fortean Times 351. The Body on Somerton Beach, Smithsonian Mag: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-body-on-somerton-beach-50795611/ On The Trail Of The Somerton Man, Huffington Post: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/derek-abbott/on-the-trail-of-the-somerb7310672.html

This Halloween episode of Oddity is a trick or treat assortment of seasonal folklore and urban legends, from vampire pumpkins to razor blades in apples.

Werewolves, UFOs, Bigfoot, British Big Cats, a hellhound, ghosts, plus a pig man, Black Eyed Kids and the Slenderman... Despite its status as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Cannock Chase seems to be somewhat of a magnet for weirdness!Sources and further reading:'Werewolves in Staffordshire', BBC website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/content/articles/2009/09/29/werewolvesinstaffs_feature.shtml'Lee Brickley's New Book On The Pig Man Sheds Light On The Legend', Huffington Post: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/25/lee-brickley-pig-mann3654175.html'British Bigfoot', Cryptomundo: http://cryptomundo.com/bigfoot-report/british-bigfoot/'A Critical Look At The Black Eyed Child Of Cannock’s Chase', Hayley Is A Ghost: http://hayleyisaghost.co.uk/cannocks-chase-black-eyed/'A British Slenderman? I Don’t Think So…', Hayley Is A Ghost: http://hayleyisaghost.co.uk/british-slenderman/'The Man-Monkey of Bridge 39', Man-Beast UK: http://manbeastuk.blogspot.co.uk/2008/04/man-monkey-of-bridge-39.html'Black Eyed Child returns to haunt Cannock Chase', Birmingham Mail: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/black-eyed-child-returns-haunt-7846214'Spooky Slender Men spotted in Cannock', Birmingham Mail: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/spooky-slender-men-spotted-cannock-8505191"Fortean Traveller 87: Cannock Chase", Lee Brickley, Fortean Times 306, October 2013.

In 1855, a group gathered in a rented house on Campo Lane in Sheffield. They were there to investigate a haunting, but one of the group would soon be dead...Sources and further reading:"Scared to Death", David Clarke, Fortean Times 284, p. 34 - 39Wikipedia - Spring-Heeled Jack'Scared To Death', Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/scared-to-death-heart-attack/'Spring Heeled-Jack and the Terrified Child', Mike Dash's blog: http://blogs.forteana.org/node/105

Friday the 13th is often seen as an unlucky day. In this Oddity minisode, we explore some of the strange and unusual things that have occurred on this date.