Scratching Fanny of Cock Lane

In early 1762, London was gripped by stories of a ghost on Cock Lane that communicated through scratching noises and accused a man of murder. The case attracted Samuel Johnson and other notable investigators before being exposed as fraud.

The Setting

Richard Parsons lived on Cock Lane with his wife and daughter Elizabeth. A man named William Kent and his common-law wife Fanny had previously lodged with them. After Fanny died, scratching noises began.

The Ghost

The scratching centered on eleven-year-old Elizabeth. She claimed the ghost was Fanny, communicating through a code: one scratch for yes, two for no. The ghost accused William Kent of poisoning her.

The Sensation

Word spread rapidly. Crowds gathered at Cock Lane. Kent faced public hostility. The story was covered extensively in newspapers. The ghost became the talk of London.

The Investigation

Dr. Samuel Johnson led an investigative committee. They observed Elizabeth carefully. When she was separated from the bed where the scratching occurred, the sounds stopped. Eventually, she was caught producing the noises herself.

The Exposure

Elizabeth was found hiding a board that she used to make scratching sounds. Her father had orchestrated the fraud to damage Kent over a financial dispute. Richard Parsons was pilloried.

Assessment

The Cock Lane Ghost remains a famous example of how alleged paranormal phenomena can be manufactured for personal motives. It also shows how investigation can expose fraud when conducted properly.