Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-06-04
WOMAN IN BLACK, TERROR
OF WINCHESTER, VA, men
Annual Apparition Attacks Them
and Then Runs Away: Legend
of Fifty Years.

Winchester. Va. May 1.-THE
Woman in Black Winchester's annual
sprlngtime mystery, has made her appear
,nce as usual along with the dandcllons
and the tadpole. simultaneously night
prowling by the weak and defenseless
male IS becoming vastly unpopular for
reasons that are good and sufficient
The Woman in Black is as good n
name as any, though whether the apparl-
ton be man, woman or beast Is no small
element of the mystery. Those who have
had strange adventures with the creature
only know that the in black refers to
drapcric. ordinarily affected by those
al the feminine sex The form Is tall
and slender. the features but here enters
auother unknown quantity. The Wo-
man III Black wears veil too heavy for
human ewes To penetrate at midnight.
Such dlScouraglng conditions make Idcn-
tfcation or even classification impossible.
some say five some say as many rs
eight wears ago the Woman in Black
first began to make life a precarious adj
venture for the lInchaperoned male in
thls environ. For several weeks about
this time OF year She IS reported to he
abroad and the Winchester hubby be-
gins 10 cvince a strong Discrimination To
attend lodge meetings or sit up with
sick brother. The possibility of beng
vamped IN catch-aS-catch-Can style Is
by no means ailuring Friend wife has
but 10 adopt the attitude Of warning little
Willie against the hobgobns and hiss
III tragic accents The Woman in Black
Will get you. 10 discourage any symptoms
OF restlesSncss.
Thus far she of the sombrc raiment
has not succeeded in dragging of a VIC
tim. but there are several responsible
citizens who have had encounters which
lett them With incipent heart trouble
incidentally. there was at least one occa-
sion when the bird Of prey was compelled
20 flee from the wrath of an intended
vlctIm and seek arnlca and laudanum.
This was the outcome OF one of the
more recent episodes IN which the I'M
cannv prowler figured. Friday night a
week ago Howard Scruggs and Edward
Anderson. who are employed al a local
garage. drove up to their place Of bust
ness shortly after midnight Within
square of their destination they noticed
a figure, in black clothing leaning against
the window Of q store. Remarking that
It was late for a woman 10 he abroad.
they put the ear away and Scruggs left
Tor home.
II live near the store where the woman
was stunning. lit S.iltl. anu OuStINGl
that she was still there when | reached
my house. Partly 10 see what she looked
ike and partly because / was hungry,
changed my mind about turning in and
started for a lunchroom.
WOMAN FOLLOWS ALONG.
Il had heard lot about the woman
in black, but thought it was Just gossip.
When ! saw this creature, however, dressed
All in black and heavily yeIled | began
10 wonder if there wasn't something III
ii after al. Twas mighty sure | was in
for something when the woman fell iii
behind me and followed down the street
The idea Of having shadow like that
IL my heels began 10 make me feel creepy.
thought | would stop and sec what
would happen.
w hat time Is it, / asked
There was no answer. The woman
stopped and Just looked at me through
tha' heavy veil She was big. bigger
thau Twas. which made me believe il
WASH any woman IT all, but q man.
Nearby was an alley that led UP to
the back Of the garage Thinking the
back door Of the place was open
started up that way. picking up q piece
OF brick a | went
Along came the woman or man, what
ever il was, right behind me That
didn't suit me At all ! wasn't BIT
particular about having nv back 10 the
woman, 30 / stopped again and asked
her what she wanted. No answer. Again
started up the alley, again the woman
followed after me. That was enough
Get out Of this alley and get out