GRISLY SCENE IN WHITECHAPEL

Shocking reports have reached this office of macabre proceedings in Whitechapel last Tuesday night. According to reliable sources, Professor Julius Smith once again gathered a motley crew of questionable characters outside a run-down lodging house. Readers may recall this so-called academic has been frequently seen cavorting with spiritualists, mediums and other disreputable types.

This time, the Professor led his misfit followers upstairs where they discovered an elderly foreigner identified as a Mr. Matthew Pook writhing in anguish upon the bed, garbed only in an Oriental Fez! According towitnesses, Mr. Pook appeared to be under some evil enchantment, his body decrepit and withered as if having aged severely in a matter of days.

When later questioned, Professor Smith rambled about curses and dark forces afflicting his acquaintance, but isn't it more likely this was the result of some wicked ritual or foreign magic? Perhaps a primitive hex gone wrong?

One lady in the Professor's company was even physically repelled when handling the mysterious Fez, as if possessed by an evil spirit! As these misguided souls pondered their next action, the poor wretch loosed an ungodly scream and the candles were suddenly snuffed out by unseen hands!

Dark supernatural forces seem to be at play here and experts agree Professor Smith likely meddled in affairs men ought not trifle with. Concerned citizens should steer clear of any association with this misguided scholar before he brings more evil and misfortune to our community. You've been warned!