Boo's Bulletin

Happy Valentine's Day and welcome to the February 2009 edition of Boo's Bulletin.

CAPER is excited to announce that 2009 marks our 5 year anniversary.  Please plan on joining us in April for our 5 anniversary celebration.  Keep watching Boo's Bulletin and checking our calendar for more details.

We are happy to announce an addition to our family.  Please join us in welcoming Helen Ryan to the group.  Among her many talents, Helen is an artist who will bring a critical eye and a fresh look to our investigations. 

Our website will be getting a face lift over the next couple of months.  We'll be updating our member's page, adding an articles page and just making some changes in general.  Keep checking back to see what changes we have made.

CAPER is now using ClickBook to book consultations and investigations.  If you would like to book a meeting with us click here. 

Do you have any questions or comments for us?  Do you have a suggestion about a program that we should put on or more information that you would like to have?  Would you like us to come and speak at an event?  You can send us an email at help@caper.pararesearch.org or give us a call at 513.407.4242.  Who knows, your question may appear in a future edition of Boo's Bulletin.

Have you ever wanted to know how we became ghost hunters or how we do what we do?  Then join us on Friday March 13 at 7:00 pm when we present "Meet the Ghost Hunters".  The program will take place at the town hall in on St. Rt. 128.  Check the website for time and directions.

After our presentation at the Historical Society join us along with Miamitown Ghost Tours for their ghost walk. Starting at 9:00pm you will hear the haunted stories of Miamitown. You'll also be able to use our ghosthunting equipment while on the tour. Cost is $10. Registration is required so contact Miamitown Ghost Tours at 513-807-7195 or visit their website for more details.  **This event will be weather permitting.**

In this edition of the newsletter we have an article about the St. Valentine's Day Massacre by Michele Hale, an article about the by Matt Hoskins and an article on the Singapore Theory most recently made popular by the TV show Ghost Hunters International by Joy Naylor.  So sit back, indulge in some Valentine's Day sweets and enjoy.

• St. Valentine's Day Massacre

  On February 14, 1929 six members of “Bugs” Moran’s gang and Dr. Reinhardt Schwimmer were lined up against the back wall of the SMC Cartage Company in Chicago’s north side.  They were then killed in a volley of Thompson sub-machine gun fire.  Two of the men doing the shooting were dressed up as Chicago police officers.  The only survivor was a German Shepherd belonging to John May.  The shepherd was tied to the bumper of one of the cars.  When the real police arrived on the scene, they first heard the dog howling.

   

  This bloody display of revenge was caused by a build up of hostilities between Al Capone and Bugs Moran.  Capone had vowed revenge against Bugs for killing one of his top men.

   

  The building where the massacre took place was torn down and some of the bricks were used in a nightclub before it closed.  The owner then sold the bricks for $1000 a piece.  He soon began getting the bricks back and was told that they were cursed.  Supposedly the bricks had brought nothing but bad luck to those who had purchased one.

   

  Al Capone eventually spent time in Eastern State Penitentiary where he claimed to be haunted by the ghost of Jimmy Clark, one of the men killed in the massacre.  It is said that the ghost followed Al back to Chicago and was even seen by one of his other men.

   

  The former sight of the SMC Cartage Company is also supposed to haunted.  There have been reports of machine gun fire and screaming being heard in the area, and people walking by the area report a feeling of dread or fear.  Even dogs have been know to react negatively by running away or barking ferociously at something that is not there.
  
  

  If you are ever in Chicago I recommend taking the Chicago Hauntings Tour.  One of the stops is the location of the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.  For more information check out their website here.

  
  Michele Hale
  Director

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• screaming bridge of maude hughes

  A spooky deserted bridge, a horrible accident, and ghostly figures returning to the site of their untimely demise. No, it’s not a movie premise it’s the Screaming Bridge of Maud Hughes Road. A road located in Liberty Township. The story starts on October 24, 1909. A passing freight train exploded on the road, killing two of the engineers and wounding many others. To this day people claim to see the two engineers walking the road as if looking for something. Something it seems they will never find.

   

  We have reports of the accident actually happening, but as with any “haunted road” story, a number of urban legends have sprung up around it. Supposedly a fighting couple were traveling the road when, according to what story you hear, the woman was pushed, or fell off the bridge. Reports say that on certain nights when the road is deserted, you can still hear the couple arguing, followed by screams. This legend has given the bridge the nickname “Screaming Bridge.” It should be noted that there is no evidence to support this story, just like the many others that take place here, some involving the tragic death of a infant. These can not be proven. But the site remains popular for paranormal thrill seeking. Who knows, perhaps one night you will see the two engineers walking the side of the road, wandering through eternity. I wouldn’t recommend stopping.

  Matt Hoskins
  Lead Investigator

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• Singapore theory

  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

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  The name “Singapore Theory’ coined by TAPS is nothing new in the paranormal field. Also know as Paranormal Stimuli, Theory of Familiarization, and Relative Time to Object Theory is not widely practiced. The theory is based on familiarization. Investigators try playing music or bring an object from the time period of the location they’re investigating. The ghost that supposedly haunts the location will interact more, because the ghost can relate to the specific object or music.
  
  Let me describe for you my experience with this theory. I first learned about this theory in 1998 at a conference in Gettysburg. Putting the theory to the test that evening we went to the battlefield and began. Alice Whitehall, who used this theory to contact spirits, sits down on the battlefield and plays the mountain dulcimer.  As we were filming this experiment we could see from the viewfinder a bright orb begin to move about Alice. Now this orb moves around in and out of the viewfinder, and then it circles and moves from her front, what appears to go through her chest and out her back. Now at the time the orb enters her chest she makes a small pause in her playing. We don’t say what we are witnessing on the viewfinder. She finishes that particular song and states that she is not feeling well and will not continue. We bring her over to the camera and tell her what we witness and play it back for her. She can’t believe what she sees.
  
  Since that incident over 10 years ago Alice continues to use her form of communication with the spirits. She has had tremendous success with her music and the reaction she gets from the spirits is amazing. Her experiences have been documented in her book, In Tune with Spirits. Alice has led the way in using music during investigations and has shown that it does draw the spirits to the source of the music. I have seen orbs begin to appear and almost envelop her. She feels this is her way of bringing a little peace to those spirits she encounters.
  
  It is my belief that this can improve communication with the other side. As they say music soothes the soul. I know I’d like it if someone took the time to make me feel more comfortable on the other side. I just might give him or her a positive word or two. So next time you’re doing an EVP session give it a try – you’ll never know what may happen.
  
  
  Joy Naylor
  Director
  

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