Author: Scott Maruna
Tuesday, 28 January 2003 - 03:54 pm |        |
Greetings, I am a researcher author who has just finished up the definitive work on the Mattoon Gasser case and hope it is a valuable addition to the true crime libraries out there. To get more information on the book, please see www.swampgasbooks.com...
If you have any information on any other mysterious "gassings" please let me know...thanks |
Author: Mark Andrew Pardoe
Tuesday, 28 January 2003 - 07:14 pm | |
It sounds more like an episode of "The Goons Show". Where is Mattoon (if it is a place)?
Cheers, Mark whose just fallen in the water |
Author: Jeff Murrish
Tuesday, 28 January 2003 - 07:36 pm | |
| Sounds like the flatulent college roomate I once had. We used to have a "no smoking" sign in the room! |
Author: Dan Norder
Tuesday, 28 January 2003 - 08:45 pm | |
Hi Scott-
I had heard of this for years, and saw an article about it in a somewhat recent issue of Fortean Times or Strange Mag or something. It's possible you wrote that, I don't know, because your name sounds vaguely familiar.
Of course you are probably aware of the current vampire craze in Malawi, Africa. Many of the reports there have these supposed vampires gassing people to put them asleep. I can forward you the news clippings I've gathered if you'd like.
I'd have to dig through my clippings and notes to get specific examples, but I know there are lots of other "gassings" related to other outbreaks of hysteria and superstition.
I'm working on my own book, unrelated to Jack the Ripper or gassers. I'd like to track down a reference I've heard rumored to be in one of the books listed on the Swamp Gas Book Co. page... At first I thought you published all those, but I see you're just recommending them. Do you own copies? If so, I'd appreciate you looking something up for me.
Dan
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Author: James Jeffrey Paul
Tuesday, 28 January 2003 - 11:38 pm | |
Scott--I'm just starting research on a book AND a novel about the Atlanta "Ripper" of 1911-1912. Didn't the authorities conclude that the "Mad Gasser" was an imaginary creature, an urban legend, really?
PLEASE post more material about the book HERE on this site! We want to buy the book! |
Author: Scott Maruna
Wednesday, 29 January 2003 - 10:24 am | |
Well, the "authorities" did conclude it to be mass hysteria, yes...but, the "authorities" were a police chief that was under intense fire for not being able to apprehend the gasser - his initial proclomation of "hysteria" was one of convenience to him and his department and it, along with a threat to arrest anyone who reported any further gassings without submitting to a medical exam (that had already been shown not to find any residue internally from the gassing)did manage to end the "gasser incident". This initial labeling was made official when an study was published in a scientific journal proclaiming it to be mass hysteria a few months after it occurred. What is never mentioned though is that the study was done by a FRESHMAN undergraduate student at the University of Illinois and made its way into the journal only through the support of a professor of his. This student did not interview any of the victims! Who did he interview? The police!
I have gone to Mattoon Illinois and did intensive research and interviewing of the most senior of senior citizens who remember it and have managed to track down and identify not only the actual gas used by the gasser, but who it was and why he did it. |
Author: James Jeffrey Paul
Wednesday, 29 January 2003 - 10:33 am | |
Scott--Please post more about the book here. Very worthwhile (if unorthodox) project!
BTW, was the gasser overly fond of beans?
HAH HAH HAH! Sorry--terribly juvenile and obvious, but TOO good to resist. |
Author: Dan Norder
Thursday, 30 January 2003 - 01:11 am | |
I don't think that pointing out that the police and a freshman college student thought it was hysteria makes it any less likely to be so. The conclusion we come to should be based upon the facts of the case alone, not the personalities involved.
Up until this point I've never seen any evidence that would lead me to conclude that there actually was a gasser. Now, on the other hand, if there is good evidence that I just have never seen before, I would certainly change my mind. After all, there have been some cases where I thought stories were complete made up nonsense, only to discover that there was some truth behind them after all.
Dan
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