London Monster

In the late 18th century more than 30 reports were made in London of a monster of a man who followed women in the dark and then attacked them slicing through the backs of their dresses with a sharp knife whilst screaming obscenities and throwing artificial flowers in their face. The “London Monster” became the cause of terror amongst Londoners and eventually a 100 pound reward was offered for this capture.

In time a man named Rhynwick Williams was accused of the crime because he had attempted to stab his fiancee and he was an artificial flower maker. Despite there being no evidence that he was the monster, he was found guilty and put in jail for six years. No one knows whether the monster was real or just a case of mass hysteria or whether he did exist in the form of Williams.