Compelled by jasmine to shoplift

Shirley Cromartie was working as a housekeeper at President Nixon's Key Biscayne retreat when, in 1971, she was arrested for shoplifting. She admitted to the crime but insisted that it hadn't been her fault. She explained that a mysterious woman wearing a wig had approached her in the store's parking lot, asked her the time, and had then released a "jasmine-like scent" from her left hand. Cromartie immediately fell into a trance, and the woman instructed her to steal four dresses, which Cromartie proceeded to do.

A medical expert testified that he believed Cromartie was telling the truth.

The Philadelphia Inquirer - Oct 23, 1971

An odd story. But what are we to make of it? There's a couple of possible theories:

Theory 1: Ms. Cromartie got caught shoplifting and made up a b.s. story to explain away her actions.

Theory 2: She was totally nuts.

Theory 3: She had an encounter with an extraterrestrial! UFOlogist John Keel, author of The Mothman Prophecies, advanced this theory. He speculated that the mysterious, wig-wearing woman was actually a "woman in black" (the female counterpart of a "man in black"). He noted that "Women in Black" cases often describe them as wearing wigs, and the aliens are fond of asking people what time it is.

But why would an alien being bother to make a housekeeper shoplift some dresses? Keel speculated, "perhaps this was not some small demonstration for the benefit of President Nixon, similar to the power failures that seemed to follow President Johnson in 1967. (The lights failed wherever he went ... from Washington to Johnson City, Texas, to Hawaii)."

More info: mysteriousuniverse.org

Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 18, 2016 - Comments (5)
Category: Crime, Paranormal, 1970s

Negative ESP

Some people who take ESP tests score so badly that ESP researchers have theorized that their low scores can't be attributable to chance alone. These low-scorers must be using "Negative ESP' to avoid getting correct answers.

This phenomenon is also known as "psi-missing." You can find a discussion of it in the Introduction to Parapsychology textbook.

I realize now that this must be why I manage to ALWAYS pick the slowest checkout line at the grocery store. It's not bad luck. I've got Negative ESP!

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - Jan 19, 1972

Posted By: Alex - Wed May 11, 2016 - Comments (9)
Category: Paranormal, Psychology

The Kabalarian Philosophy

Their page.

Their entry at THE SKEPTIC'S DICTIONARY lets us know: "Since the death of Mr. Parker in 1964, the Kabalarians, headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., have been led by Ivon Shearing who was sentenced to five years in prison in 1997 for sexually abusing several teenage girls over a twenty-five year period."

Posted By: Paul - Sun Mar 13, 2016 - Comments (3)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, Lies, Dishonesty and Cheating, Paranormal, Religion, Myths and Fairytales, 1930s

The Nude Vampire

As you might expect from the title, this trailer contains a small amount of mild chestal exposure, more-or-less consistent with the tamest of HBO programs.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 21, 2015 - Comments (3)
Category: Ineptness, Crudity, Talentlessness, Kitsch, and Bad Art, Movies, Paranormal, 1970s

Supernatural Dating Society

The Amazing Kreskin's Supernatural Dating Society hopes to serve as a love connection for all those with an interest in "visitations by aliens, haunted houses, extra sensory perception, astrology, mind control, curses, spirit healing, vampires, zombies, prophecy, contacting the dead, mind reading and anything in between."

Posted By: Alex - Mon May 25, 2015 - Comments (3)
Category: Paranormal, Love & Romance

Ouija Board, 1968

Parker Brothers bought the commercial rights to the Ouija Board in 1966. Based on this 1968 ad, I'm guessing that they were wary of marketing it as a device for communicating with dead people. Instead, they tried to sell it as a kind of Magic 8-Ball. But really, who would ask a Ouija board such boring questions?

Posted By: Alex - Fri Feb 20, 2015 - Comments (16)
Category: Paranormal, Advertising, 1960s

Cow Ghost Terrorizes Town

Rogue cows are an old theme here on WU. This one apparently went rogue in the afterlife. As reported by the New York World - Aug 9, 1896.



[via Kay Massingill]

Posted By: Alex - Sun May 18, 2014 - Comments (6)
Category: Animals, Paranormal, Nineteenth Century

Ingo Swann

Somehow we let seven months slip by without commeorating the death of famed "remote viewing" expert Ingo Swann.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 21, 2013 - Comments (4)
Category: Death, Eccentrics, New Age, Paranormal

Flora Marian Spore

Original story here.

The woman depicted above went from female dentist to occult artist. Not the most common career path. She turned out many paintings "inspired" by ghosts.

Unfortunately, despite a fairly substantial career, none of her paintings seem to have survived or been recorded, except for the one depicted below.



Photo from the blog of Jim Linderman.

Wikipedia entry.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 16, 2012 - Comments (10)
Category: Art, Outsider Art, New Age, Paranormal, Unsolved Mysteries, 1920s

Magical Lust Stone

This is a magical Javanese stone, which can be used to arouse your target from a distance. The magical Stone of Lust can be used by both men and women to influence their target, so that to cause them to lustfully chase you!


The power of the stone will make your target go sexually crazy over you, as it influences them to be sexually intimate with you.


The magical stone vibrates on its own accord when steeped into any kind of liquid. The same affect will occur as your target will feel a vibration erotic-like sensation in his/her genital area.

Although, you can use this item from a distance the person you are targeting must be in close proximity.


It is a very simple magical item to use, as you are only required to recite a short mantra to activate its power.


The following virtues of this item presented below:

Sexually arouse your target from a distance
Make your target go sexually crazy over you and become passionate towards you
This magical stone vibrates when immersed into any kind of liquids
Easy to use Javanese magical stone

Get yours here for only $192.17!

Posted By: Paul - Mon Jun 25, 2012 - Comments (10)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, New Age, Paranormal, Sexuality, Superstition