The Only Case Where the Testimony of a Ghost Was Used to Convict a Murderer - Atlas Obscura
  • Places
    • Top Destinations
    • Latest Places
    • Most Popular Places
    • Random Place
    • Lists
    • Itineraries
    • Add a Place
    • Download the App

    Latest Places

    View All Places »
    The Liberty Bridge replaced the destroyed Ferenc József Bridge in 1946.
    Budapest, Hungary

    Ruins of the Ferenc József Bridge

    47.4859, 19.0539
    Trail marker
    Rochester, Indiana

    First Death Marker on the Trail of Death

    40.9940, -86.2387
    Hunebed D27
    Borger, Netherlands

    Hunebed D27

    52.9307, 6.7987
    Grotta Tanaccia
    San Marino, San Marino

    Grotta Tanaccia

    43.9266, 12.4531

    Top Destinations

    View All Destinations »

    Countries

    • Australia
    • Canada
    • China
    • France
    • Germany
    • India
    • Italy
    • Japan

    Cities

    • Amsterdam
    • Barcelona
    • Beijing
    • Berlin
    • Boston
    • Budapest
    • Chicago
    • London
    • Los Angeles
    • Mexico City
    • Montreal
    • Moscow
    • New Orleans
    • New York City
    • Paris
    • Philadelphia
    • Rome
    • San Francisco
    • Seattle
    • Stockholm
    • Tokyo
    • Toronto
    • Vienna
    • Washington, D.C.
  • Foods

    Latest Places to Eat & Drink

    View All Places to Eat »

    Steaming Tender Restaurant

     Tiptree Jam Museum entrance.

    Tiptree Jam Museum

     The Reading Room blends the intimacy of an inviting bar with the inviting solace of a good bookstore.

    The Reading Room

     Building

    The Mountain House

     The pond.

    Jolly's Mill Pond
  • Stories
    • Recent Stories
    • All Stories
    • Video
    • Podcast

    Most Recent Stories

    View All Stories »
    The Hunterian Museum in London.

    Where to See the World’s Most Famous Preserved Body Parts

     Old Tonopah Cemetery.

    Atlas Obscura’s Guide to America’s Most Haunted Cemeteries

     Chattanooga Whiskey started distilling here in 2015.

    It All Comes Together in Chattanooga

    Sponsored By Chattanooga Tourism
     The Clown Motel’s “IT” room.

    The Best Haunted Hotels to Book for a Spooky Getaway
  • Newsletters
  • Sign In Join
  • Sign In
    Join
Places near me Random place
Stories Feature The Only Case Where the Testimony of a Ghost Was Used to Convict a Murderer

The Only Case Where the Testimony of a Ghost Was Used to Convict a Murderer

A graphic history of an unsettling 1897 murder case in West Virginia.

by Jamison Odone, Atlas Obscura November 29, 2016
Share this Article
Copy Link Facebook Reddit Pinterest WhatsApp Messages
Email Print
Add Atlas Obscura as a Preferred source on Google
The Only Case Where the Testimony of a Ghost Was Used to Convict a Murderer
Read next

See What People of 1967 Imagined the World Would Be Like in 1999

Spoiler: lots of egg chairs, turtlenecks, and computer servants.
ghostslegendsfeatures
Using an ad blocker?

We depend on ad revenue to craft and curate stories about the world’s hidden wonders. Consider supporting our work by becoming a member for as little as $5 a month.

Support Us
Keep Exploring
ghosts

The Silver Arrow, the Real Ghost Train Haunting the Stockholm Metro

Eric Grundhauser October 7, 2015
Old Tonopah Cemetery.
cemeteries

Atlas Obscura’s Guide to America’s Most Haunted Cemeteries

Not all the dead rest easy. These 13 American cemeteries have the ghost stories to prove it.
Holyn Thigpen October 9, 2026
The Clown Motel’s “IT” room.
murder

The Best Haunted Hotels to Book for a Spooky Getaway

From an inn with secret cellars to a clown motel next to a graveyard, these 12 hotels don’t just have history — they have houseguests who never checked out.
Holyn Thigpen September 30, 2026
Vanishing hitchhiker legends are just the latest version of a folktale that may go back millennia—and continues to spread and evolve.
ghosts

The Vanishing Hitchhiker Legend Is an Ancient Tale That Keeps Evolving

The classic creepy story—a driver offers a lift to a stranger who is not of this world—has deep roots and a long reach.
Mark Hay October 10, 2024
Video • AO Docs

The Abandoned 'Ghost Mansion' of Northern Italy

2:59
Video

In Naples, Praying With Skulls Is an Ancient Tradition

7:28
Video

The Ghosts that Haunt Tonopah

5:59
Sponsored By Travel Nevada
Video

How the Fictional Town of Sleepy Hollow Became Real

3:09
ATLAS OBSCURA BOOKS
An Explorer's Guide to the Hidden Wonders of the United States
Introducing Our Newest Book: America Obscura. Available Nov 10, 2026
Amazon Barnes & Noble
America Obscura Book

Become an Atlas Obscura Member

Join our community of curious explorers.

Learn More
From Around the Web

Get Our Email Newsletter

Thanks for subscribing! View all newsletters »

Follow Us

Get the app

Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
Download the App

Places

  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place

Editorial

  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters

Trips

  • All Trips

Community

  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us

Company

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All rights reserved.

Thanks for sharing!

Follow us on Twitter to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders.

Like us on Facebook to get the latest on the world's hidden wonders.

Follow us on Twitter Like us on Facebook
America Obscura Cover

Preorder America Obscura Today!

A road trip into the hidden heart of America—a love letter to the strange, fantastic, and beautiful corners of the United States. Available Nov 10, 2026.
Preorder Now!
America Obscura Cover

We'd Like You to Like Us

Like Atlas Obscura and get our latest and greatest stories in your Facebook feed.
No Thanks
aoc-full-screen aoc-heart-solid aoc-compass aoc-flipboard aoc-globe aoc-pocket aoc-share aoc-cancel aoc-video aoc-building aoc-clock aoc-clipboard aoc-help aoc-arrow-right aoc-arrow-left aoc-ticket aoc-place-entry aoc-facebook aoc-instagram aoc-facebook-share aoc-reddit aoc-rss aoc-twitter aoc-accommodation aoc-activity-level aoc-add-a-photo aoc-add-box aoc-add-shape aoc-arrow-forward aoc-been-here aoc-chat-bubbles aoc-close aoc-expand-more aoc-expand-less aoc-forum-flag aoc-group-size aoc-heart-outline aoc-heart-solid aoc-home aoc-important aoc-knife-fork aoc-library-books aoc-link aoc-list-circle-bullets aoc-list aoc-location-add aoc-location aoc-mail aoc-map aoc-menu aoc-more-horizontal aoc-my-location aoc-near-me aoc-notifications-alert aoc-notifications-mentions aoc-notifications-muted aoc-notifications-tracking aoc-open-in-new aoc-pencil aoc-person aoc-pinned aoc-plane-takeoff aoc-plane passport-plane aoc-print aoc-reply aoc-search aoc-shuffle aoc-star aoc-subject aoc-trip-style aoc-unpinned aoc-send aoc-phone aoc-apps aoc-lock aoc-verified aoc-headphones aoc-pinterest aoc-whatsapp aoc-whatsapp-share aoc-chat-bubbles aoc-google-color

Sign up for the Atlas Obscura Daily Newsletter

A daily dose of hidden gems to visit, extraordinary places to eat and wondrous stories from around the world.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.