The Hammersmith Ghost

In late 1803 and early 1804, the suburb of Hammersmith in London was terrorized by a “ghost” in white that attacked passersby. On January 3, 1804, Francis Smith, searching for the ghost, shot and killed Thomas Millwood, an innocent plasterer wearing white work clothes. The resulting trial became a landmark in English law.

The Terror

In late 1803, reports of a ghost spread as a figure in white appeared and attacked people at night, with several injured and some dying of fright.

The Apparition

Witnesses described a tall figure in white, sometimes with horns and glowing eyes, that appeared suddenly and caused great fear throughout the community.

The Victims

The “ghost” attacked women walking alone, men passing by, and terrified children, with some victims having heart attacks as the community became traumatized.

The Search

Local men organized armed patrols that formed ghost hunting parties roaming at night, with Francis Smith joining them, determined to catch the ghost and armed with a shotgun.

The Tragedy

On January 3, 1804, Francis Smith patrolled and saw a figure in white, challenged him twice, received no response, and fired his weapon, killing the man.

Thomas Millwood

The victim was a local plasterer walking home from work, wearing white work clothes, entirely innocent, and in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The Trial

Francis Smith was tried for murder, claimed self-defense believing Millwood was the ghost, with the jury initially finding manslaughter, but the judge insisted on a murder verdict.

Legal Precedent

The case established that honest belief isn’t always a defense, even genuine fear doesn’t justify killing, set the reasonable person standard, and is still cited in law today.

The Real Ghost

After the shooting, a local shoemaker confessed that John Graham was the “ghost” who wore a sheet to frighten people, did it to scare his apprentice’s girlfriend, and saw his prank have fatal consequences.

The Sentence

Smith received a death sentence (later commuted), served one year in prison, was widely considered unfortunate, had public sympathy for him, while Graham was charged separately.

Cultural Impact

The case influenced English self-defense law, ghost hunting regulations, public understanding of panic, later legal cases, and fiction and drama.

Significance

The Hammersmith Ghost is significant for documenting mass hysteria, establishing legal precedent, showing tragic consequences, exposing human nature, and its historical importance.

Legacy

The Hammersmith Ghost case illustrates how mass panic and belief in the supernatural can have deadly real-world consequences. It remains cited in legal contexts regarding self-defense and reasonable belief.