Remember that famous hit by the ‘Rolling Stones’?  A fantasy figure who could do superhuman things, the song title was actually based on a figure who terrorized Victorian society, and those beyond it, but was never apprehended – Spring Heeled Jack.

This figure first attracted real attention in London, in September 1837, when a businessman, on returning home from work, saw a ‘creature’  – human like, with glowing eyes and pointed ears – leaping effortlessly over a ten-foot cemetery fence, to confront him, before turning tail and running.  This was followed by an attack on a group of one man and three women, one of whom, Polly Adams, didn’t manage to get away, and had her blouse torn off, her breasts savaged and her stomach clawed.

The next incidents came in October of the same year. First, a woman called Mary Stevens was assaulted – Jack sprang from an alley, kissed her on the lips and ran his hands over her blouse. She screamed and he disappeared, only to reappear next day, causing  a carriage to crash when he leapt out in front of the horses.  Witnesses claim he escaped by leaping a nine-foot wall in a single bound.  Footprints were found, some three inches deep – suggesting some kind of spring mechanism in the shoes – and the name ‘Spring heeled Jack’ was born.

Many more attacks occurred over the following months, and the population of London became fearful.  On Feb 20, 1838, he leapt out in front of 18 year old Lucy Scales, spitting ‘blue fire’ in her face, which blinded’ her and on Feb 22 he attacked Jane Alsop, also 18. Again, he spat blue fire, but Jane was saved by one of her sisters.

Jane described him as – Wearing a large helmet, in a sort of costume that felt like oilskin.  His cape was just like that of a policeman – his hands as cold as ice, and like very powerful claws.  The most frightening thing about him was his eyes, which shine like balls of fire’

Jack is said to have escaped by leaping onto the rooftops.  Next day, a Mr Ashworth’s servant boy opened the door to a figure with ‘glowing orange eyes and clawed hands’, who turned and ran off, leaping over the houses on Commercial road. The boy had noticed a ‘W’ on Jack’s shirt, which led police to suspect the Marquis of Waterford, a peer known for his cruel sense of humour.