The Tyrone Mystery Man
My apologies
for the lack of material over the last few weeks; long hours at a dull job
combined with the malaise caused by the long hours at a dull job have seriously
derailed my routine. Anyway, as a peace offering, I’m posting a couple of
phantom attacker reports from January 1942. Enjoy!
A series of
nocturnal and mysterious incidents which have occurred in Fintona and district
recently have plunged the peaceful town into a state of extreme fear and dread.
The first incident occurred to a maid who was on her way home at night from her
employer’s house, and when passing through Kiln Street a light was shone
suddenly on her face and she was struck on the cheek. The frightened girl
returned to her employer’s house, where she was provided with an escort, but
the mysterious assailant had disappeared.
Next the
mystery man was seen in the hours of darkness, to enter and leave a local
ambulance on several occasions, although the doors had not been opened. On one
occasion the mysterious visitor, wearing a long light-coloured coat, was
observed standing against a high hedge, but when the person to whom he appeared
flashed a strong torch on his face the light failed to reveal anyone.
On resident
declares that he saw the same figure in broad daylight walking right through an
iron shed and entering by and emerging from unbroken walls.
He has been
seen in several streets of the town, but he does not confine his activities to
these, as his latest exploit was to pull a lady of her bicycle on the Barr
Road, and when she called to her husband, who was ahead of her, no man could be
discovered although a thorough search was made.
One of the
most fantastic versions is that he has appeared on several occasions with the
light coat but appeared to have no head at all. Many ladies are afraid to go
out after dark.
Two weeks
later, the Derry Journal provided the following update.
Latest
reports show that there is still no solution to the mysterious happenings in
the district by the appearance of a tall man with long white coat, whose doings
have been agitating the public for several weeks. One resident thought he had
discovered a clue to the hiding place of the mystery man when he noticed that
straw provided for livestock had been carried away. This was traced to a vacant
cottage in Ecclesville Demesne, where a bed of straw was found, but there is no
sign of a man in the vicinity.
It would seem
that the mysterious visitor has been guilty of minor assaults on his victims.
A report has
come to hand that the mystery man was set upon by a resident of Tonagh, who got
the better of the fight and left him hors-de-combat on the roadside. The Tonagh
man went to a house for assistance to bring him to a place of detention, but
when he returned the mystery man could not be found.
While no one
yet would appear to have got a close-up view of his face, in every instance he
is described as tall, with a light-coloured overcoat, muddy boots and a cap.
Sources:
- Derry Journal, 2 & 16 January 1942
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