Phantom Stalkers: The Halifax Slasher and The Hammersmith Ghost

In eighteenth and nineteenth century England, two phantom stalkers terrorized the public and captured the collective imagination to the point of violence. However, violent outcomes and legal consequences notwithstanding, neither phantom was ever anything more than a figment of people’s imaginations.

References

Associated Press. 1938. "Roving bands, armed with clubs, hunt Halifax Slasher." Sheboygan Press, November 29: 1.

Daily Echo. 1938. "Halifax 'Slasher' a myth." Daily Echo, December 2: 14.

Daily Record. 1938. "Maniac slasher terrorises women." Daily Record, November 28: 1.

—. 1938. "Police say there is no slasher." Daily Record, December 2: 1.

Daily Telegraph. 1938. "Man slashed in street." Daily Telegraph (London, UK), November 25: 16.

Dorset Echo. 1938. "Slasher strikes for the 11th time." Dorset Echo, November 28: 1.

Feikert-Ahalt, Clare. 2015. The Case of a Ghost Haunted England for Over Two Hundred Years. October 30. Accessed July 1, 2026. https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2015/10/the-case-of-a-ghost-haunted-england-for-over-two-hundred-years/.

Herald Express. 1938. "Halifax 'Slasher' strikes again." Herald Express, November 28: 1.

Kirby, R.S. 1804. Kirby's Wonderful and Scientific Museum: or Magazine of Remarkable Characters. London, UK: Lond House Yard.

McArdle, Helen. 2022. "Panic around needle spiking amounts to psychogenic illness." The Herald, December 10: 20.

Mitchell, Edwin Valentine. 1926. "Francis Smith: Condemned to death for the murder of a supposed ghost." In The Newgate calendar: Comprising interesting memoirs of the most notorious characters who have been convicted of outrages on the laws of England, by Edwin Valentine Mitchell. Garden City, NY: Garden City Publishing Company.

South Wales Evening Post. 1938. "Halifax still fears 'The Slasher'." South Wales Evening Post, December 1: 1.

Telegraph and Argus. 1927. "Dresses slashed with razor." Telegraph and Argus, February 16: 7.

The Guardian. 1938. "Girl on mischief charge." The Guardian, December 14: 3.

Western Mail. 1938. "Silent attacker alarms town; police reward offer." Western Mail, November 26: 7.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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