The Serial Killer in the London Blitz

Via Google

During the London Blitz, England bravely resisted the Nazis' unrelenting advance. In bomb-ravaged London, daily existence was a perpetual struggle. It got worse because to Gordon Frederick Cummins. Gordon Frederick Cummins terrorised London for six days while under the shelter of the curfew's mandatory darkness. Seven different ladies were attacked in total. 4 of them passed away. Cummins was assigned to the Aircraft Reception Center in northern London after joining the Royal Air Force. He spent a week hunting in the city, primarily targeting prostitutes.

Via Google

His first casualty Evelyn Hamilton was raped, mugged, strangled, and dumped in the street. Evelyn Oately's slashed body was discovered in just under 24 hours. A can opener that was used in the assault was found next to her deformed corpse. The handle of the can opener had a fingerprint on it. The body of Margaret Florence Lowe was discovered the following day with her internal organs torn out of her abdomen. Then, cops discovered Doris Jouannet, a fourth consecutive dead prostitute.

Via Google

Cummins waited a day to attack on Friday the 13th to become a cliché of horror. Cummins did not commit any murders that night, in contrast to Jason Voorhees. When a night porter shone his spotlight on Cummins in the midst of an attack, 32-year-old Mary Haywood was spared. Cummins escaped from the fight while still wearing his duty respirator. The serial number was linked to Cummins by the authorities. Cummins was given a death sentence after having his prints compared to those on the can opener. On June 25, 1942, the newly named "Blackout Ripper" was put to death. 

The Lincoln Assassination’s Forgotten Victim

Via Pinterest

One of the most tragic occasions in American history was the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. That evening, Booth's accomplices targeted high-ranking officials in the American government, including Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward. Clara Harris was one unfortunate casualty who was not planned. She too passed away as a result of a distant connection to the Lincoln murder. On that April evening in 1865, Clara Harris was not even meant to be at Ford's Theatre. As requested by First Lady Mary Todd Lincoln, she attended with her then-boyfriend, Major Henry Rathbone. The audience members were in a festive mood due to the recent Civil War triumph. However, as history is well aware, the joy was short-lived when John Wilkes Booth broke into the president's box and fatally shot him. Rathbone grabbed Boothe's arm in an effort to stop the murderer, but Booth stabbed him. Booth escaped while still holding the bloody dagger.

Via Google

Years later, Clara Harris and Henry Rathbone married. Unable to part with her blood-stained dress, Clara had preserved it behind a walled off closet. She believed it might summon Lincoln’s ghost. Spirits talked to Rathbone too. Guilt driven for not stopping the tragedy, Rathbone heard voices in the walls. They blamed him for Lincoln’s death and ordered him to avenge the fallen president. With a murder straight out of The Shining, Rathbone recreated the assassination on Christmas Eve in 1883. He shot Clara and stabbed himself with a knife. Clara died. He then attempted to attack his children before groundskeepers could pull him off. Henry spent the rest of his life in an asylum.

Let us know which of the above creepiest stories makes you chill in the comments!