Law and Magic Blog

Woman Falls To Her Death From University of Toronto Building's Roof

The Toronto Star (star.com) has this sad story about a ghost hunter originally from Indiana, who fell to her death from a University of Toronto building on September 10. Leah Kubik was looking for specters with her friend at 1 Spandina Crescent on the university campus and tried to follow him, apparently across the rooftop. She fell to the ground, several stories below, and died later at a hospital in the city.

University spokespeople say they do not understand why the pair was looking for ghosts at that particular location, which is not known for hauntings. "Richard Fiennes-Clinton, who leads ghost tours of the university's campus, said: `This particular college itself doesn't even really have any kind of substantial ghost stories to it. There's certainly a lot of other buildings around the university that do have stories.'"

Read more here.

Update: according to this article in the University of Toronto's college newspaper, The Strand, investigators are now saying Ms. Kubik and the man with her were not ghost-hunting. "Police reported that the couple had been ghost-hunting, but later withdrew the claim. Toxicology and autopsy results have not been released to the press. Neither the man nor the woman was a university student."

Thanks to Tiffany Rad for the tip.

I Don't Dream of Jeannie

A Saudi court may soon have to contend with a genie as defendant. A family living in Mahd Al Dahab says a genie, or jinn, is harassing it, throwing stones, stealing cell phones, and generally making itself annoying. Actually, there might be more than one spirit involved. The father of the family says, "A woman spoke to me first, and then a man. They said we should get out of the house." He also says these things have been going on, at increasing levels, for a couple of years.

Authorities are naturally trying to verify the claims in order to proceed, but are encountering problems. How does one track down the truth in such paranormal allegations? And if they are true, how does one sue a genie, or hold a genie criminally accountable? After all, the family is claiming "theft and harassment." And if so, what remedy would be available?

Michael Jackson "Ghosts"

It has begun. A Stockton, California, family says it sees an image of the late entertainer Michael Jackson in a tree. Others see Jesus, or the Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. Frankly, I'm not as impressed with this MJ image as I am with the CNN "Michael Jackson" ghost. And that one, I think, is a shadow of someone in the room at the end of the hall. I think I can see it reflected in the floor. At least no one (so far) is trying to make money off these images.

Update: Larry King Live's producer has investigated and says the "ghost" is either a CNN employee or the employee of another network walking in front of lighting, thus creating the "ghostly" image. But will it be long before someone suggests doing a psychic investigation to determine whether Neverland is haunted?

Milwaukee's Haunted Hotel

Members of various baseball teams that have played the Milwaukee Brewers, and have stayed at the legendary Pfister Hotel in downtown Milwaukee say that they think the place might be haunted by the ghost of its former owner, Charles Pfitzer. At least one player for the Dodgers reports that he keeps a baseball bat handy, in case he has to ward off ghosts. Now, how why a bat would be helpful against an incorporeal being I don't quite understand, but anyway.

I've stayed at the Pfister (for a law conference), and I enjoyed it very much. It's a fine hotel, and I must say that I had no paranormal experiences of any kind. I didn't know that it was supposed to be haunted at the time that I stayed there. As Ogden Nash would say, HIBK (Had I But Known!)

A Haunted House and a New Film: Is There Anything Paranormal Involved?

Joe Nickell of the Skeptical Inquirer writes about his experiences with the Hallahan House, which is the subject of a new film, A Haunting in Connecticut, scheduled to open wide this weekend. He conducted an interesting investigation of Ed and Lorraine Warren's claims about the presence of paranormal entities at the house and he reports on it in an article for SI. Note that the Discovery Channel "dramatized" this story in season one of its series "A Haunting," in the episode "Hell House."

Haunted Jail in Hackensack

Just in time for Halloween, and in memory of Harry Houdini, who escaped from his share of jail cells as a demonstration of his skills, I'm posting this report of a haunted jail in Hackensack, New Jersey. Some say they think the ghost of John Avery, a man who was hanged in the jail, has returned to the place he last saw in life. "Footsteps and moaning" have been reported. And, says one police officer, there are "smells." Since the jail has been closed for fifteen years, maybe it hasn't been cleaned regularly? Or maybe it's sewage backing up? Closed-up buildings do get nasty odors. Just a thought.

A New Skeptical Blog

The Skeptics Society has launched a new blog, Skeptics Blog, with a permanent list of bloggers, which includes Michael Shermer, Phil Plait, and Brian Dunning. Check out the introductory post and mention of a lot of interesting stuff, including a link to an article about our tendency to believe in the paranormal that features one of the bloggers, Steven Novella.

 

Creepy Tours For the Halloween Season

MSNBC.com offers this list of "spooky walking tours"--among the cities listed with such offerings are Albuquerque, Baltimore, Chicago, New Orleans, New York, and Seattle. I've visited some of the "creepy" areas in New Orleans, and have done the "spooky tour" in Baltimore, visiting Edgar Allan Poe's grave. That's interesting, but I have to say that I didn't think it was exactly "creepy." But then maybe my "creep" tolerance level is higher than the average bear's. And some of one's enjoyment depends on the skill and knowledge of the tour's guide, as well as the comfort of the transportation provided. I did think visiting Mr. Poe's grave was worth it, though. He is a great writer.

Internet Resources For Halloween

Finding Dulcinea (a great name for a website) has this guide to Halloween.

Midsomer Murders: The House in the Woods

I just got series eleven (US edition) of the Midsomer Murders, and in it is the House in the Woods, an episode featuring the murders of a couple interested in buying a rundown property near Midsomer Newton. Rumors abound that the house is haunted, apparently started by a local couple that may want to buy the house themselves. But DCI Tom Barnaby, who always has his feet firmly planted on the ground, doesn't buy the "haunted house" idea, and carries on with his investigation. This episode introduces his new sidekick, Detective Constable Ben Jones (Jason Hughes). John Nettles is always wonderful as the skeptical detective, and Jane Wymark as his wife Joyce, Laura Howard as his daughter Cully, and Barry Jackson as coroner George Bullard (who don't have enough to do) back him up in every episode.