In the summer of 1942, the town of Pascagoula, Mississippi, was gripped by fear due to a series of bizarre crimes committed by an individual known as the “Phantom Barber”. This mysterious figure broke into homes, not to steal valuables, but to cut locks of hair from sleeping women and girls.
Pascagoula was a town experiencing rapid growth, with its population increasing from around 5,000 to 15,000 due to the nearby Ingalls Shipyard, which was building warships for World War II. This influx of people, combined with the anxieties of wartime, created an atmosphere of paranoia and distrust. The Army had instituted blackout regulations, which, while intended to protect the town, inadvertently provided cover for the Phantom Barber’s nighttime activities.
The First Victims
The first known victims were two young girls, Mary Evelyn Briggs and Edna Marie Hydel, who shared a room at the Our Lady of Victories convent. Mary Evelyn described the intruder as a “short, fat man”. She awoke to see him bending over her with something shiny in his hand. Both girls had locks of hair cut, and the window screen of their room had been sliced open. Bloodhounds followed the intruder’s trail, but lost the scent at the edge of the woods.
The Phantom Barber struck again a few days later, targeting six-year-old Carol Peattie. Like the previous victims, she had locks of hair cut, and her bedroom window screen was found to be cut. A sandy footprint was found on a bed in the room.
Escalating Attacks
The community’s unease grew with each incident. Residents began nailing their windows shut for protection. The attacks escalated beyond hair cutting when the intruder broke into the home of Terril and Lillian Heidelberg and attacked them with an iron pipe. The Heidelbergs were injured, but survived. The police were unsure whether this was the same person as the Phantom Barber, since the method of attack differed.
Then, Mrs. R.E. Taylor became another victim. She was awakened by a sickening smell, thought to be chloroform, and found her hair had been cut. Although fictional portrayals suggest that chloroform can quickly render someone unconscious, it is necessary to inhale it for several minutes to have that effect. The use of chloroform in these attacks is not confirmed.
Suspects and Theories
The community’s fear led to significant disruptions. Men refused to work night shifts at the shipyard, and women avoided going out at night. The police offered a $300 reward for information. Eventually, a suspect, William Dolan, a 57-year-old German-educated chemist, was arrested in connection with the attack on the Heidelbergs. Hair and barber scissors were found at his home. Dolan was charged with attempted murder, and it was theorised that he was the Phantom Barber, using the hair cutting to undermine morale. He was known for having German sympathies at a time when war hung heavily on the public mind.
Dolan was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, he maintained his innocence. After serving six years, he passed a polygraph test and was released on limited suspension. His suspension was later changed to indefinite, and he was eventually pardoned.
The Mystery Remains
After his pardon, Dolan moved away from Pascagoula, then disappeared. A body was found in the Mississippi River, which was mistakenly identified as Dolan. Later, it was discovered that the man buried was not Dolan. The real Dolan had been arrested for vagrancy in California, but was then released.
Despite Dolan’s pardon, many still believed he was the Phantom Barber because the hair cuttings stopped after his arrest. However, many questions remain unanswered. Was Dolan truly the Phantom Barber or was he framed? Was the Phantom Barber someone else, perhaps a local resident with a bizarre obsession, or was he involved in wartime sabotage? Some speculated that the Phantom Barber may have been trying to scare people away from the shipyard.
Conclusion
The true identity of the Phantom Barber remains unknown. Despite the arrest and conviction of William Dolan, the lack of a clear motive and the questions surrounding Dolan’s true guilt ensure that the case of the Phantom Barber continues to fascinate and puzzle people. The Phantom Barber of Pascagoula remains a dark mystery in the town’s history, a strange and unsettling tale of fear, paranoia, and unanswered questions.
Comments and Reactions