The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

THE HOOK

A YOUNG MAN AND HIS FIANCE DECIDED TO PASS AN EVENING
PARKED ON TOP OF LOVER'S MOUNTAIN. WHILE ATTEMPTING
TO FIND SOME MOOD MUSIC ON THE RADIO, THE YOUNG MAN
TUNED IN THE LOCAL NEWS. IT WAS REPORTED THAT A
PSYCHOPATHIC MURDERER HAD ESCAPED FROM THE NEARBY
PENITENTIARY. THE RADIO ANNOUNCER WARNED ALL PEOPLE
IN THE AREA TO BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL AS THE ESCAPEE WAS
CONSIDERED EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. A DESCRIPTION OF THE
KILLER WAS GIVEN. HE HAD LOST THE LOWER PORTION OF AN
ARM, AND IT HAD BEEN REPLACED BY A CLAW.
UPON HEARING THE NEWS REPORT, THE YOUNG LADY BECAME
FRIGHTENED AND INSISTED ON BEING TAKEN RIGHT HOME. THIS
ANGERED HER FIANCE WHO SAID SHE WAS ACTING CHILDISH.
SHE PERSISTED, AN ARGUMENT ENSUED, AND THE COUPLE LEFT
LOVERS' MOUNTAIN ANGRY WITH ONE ANOTHER. NOT A WORD
WAS SAID ON THE WAY HOME.
ON ARRIVING AT HER HOME, THE YOUNG LADY LET HERSELF
OUT OF THE CAR AND RAN UP THE WALK TO HER PORCH. WHEN
SHE REACHED THE PORCH, SHE TURNED TO SAY SOMETHING TO
HER INTENDED. WHEN SHE LOOKED AT THE CAR, SHE FAINTED.
SEEING THIS, THE YOUNG MAN RUSHED OUT OF THE CAR TO HER
SIDE. WHEN HE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO REVIVE HER, HE
ASKED HER WHAT HAD HAPPENED. SHE WEAKLY TURNED AND LOOKED
AT THE CAR. HE IMMEDIATELY PALED FOR ON THE HANDLE OF
THE CAR DOOR WAS HANGING A CLAW.

Submitter comment: INFORMANT HEARD STORY ON A VISIT TO CALIFORNIA.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 10-24-1965