The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

LUKE THE SPOOK

A BOY AND GIRL WERE ON THEIR WAY HOME FROM A
DATE WHEN THEIR CAR RAN OUT
OF GAS IN THE WOODS. THE BOY TOLD THE GIRL TO LOCK THE DOOR WHILE
HE GOT SOME GAS. HE SAID TO BE SURE THE DOORS WERE LOCKED BECAUSE MMTHESE ARE THE WOODS WHERE LUKE THE SPOOK LIVES.
AN HOUR PASSED AND THE
BOY DID NOT RETURN. IT WAS SILENT EXCEPT
FOR THE NOISE OF A BRANCH BANGING
ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR. ANOTHER HOUR WENT BY WHEN A MOTORIST STOPPED
NEXT TO THE CAR AND KNOCKED ON THE WINDOW.
THE GIRL OPENED THE DOOR AND THE
MOTORIST POINTED TO WHAT THE GIRL THOUGHT
WAS A BRANCH. HER BOYFRIEND'S
THROAT HAD BEEN SLIT AND HE WAS HANGING
UPSIDE DOWN FROM A TREE AND HIS
BLOOD WAS DRIPPING ON THE ROOF OF THE CAR.

Submitter comment: I HAVE HEARD MANY VARIATIONS OF THIS STORY
SINCE I MOVED TO MICHIGAN FROM
NEW ORLEANS AND EACH OF THESE SEEMS TO BE LOCALIZED. IN NEW ORLEANS
IT WAS IN THE WOODS, UP HERE IT WAS IN AN ALLEY.
IN NEW ORLEANS IT WAS THE
BLOOD ON THE ROOF, UP HERE IT WAS HIS RING SCRAPING THE ROOF, BUT THE
GENERAL STORYLINE WAS THE SAME.

Where learned: LOUISIANA ; New Orleans

Date learned: 00001960S