Basic History of the Old City Jail:
Charleston authors/historians/tour guides Mark R. Jones and Rebel Sinclair hosted this
investigation, and provided historical context. The first structures were erected on the site in
1738, as the property was used as a workhouse for slaves and makeshift hospital for "paupers,
vagrants, and beggars." Criminals were kept separate from non-offenders, and were punished with
shackles, whippings, and deprivation of food and water. As the operation expanded over the years,
and numerous structures were built then demolished, or burned, tortures and executions at the
site increased. These included being burned at the stake, branded, drawn and quartered, or having
one's ear nailed to a post (until the ear was finally sliced off; often used for horse thieves).
The present structure was built in 1790 as a jail and asylum. Though it was intended to hold
around 128 prisoners, over 300 were frequently kept there. In some rooms, prisoners were locked
in cages, barely the size of a person's body, packed in like sardines. Disease was rampant, and
tortures continued. Rapes of both men and women were common. During its operation until 1939,
over 10,000 people died on the property.
Notable inmates include numerous pirates, Civil War soldiers (including survivors of the 54th
Mass., as seen in the movie GLORY) and serial killers John and Lavinia Fisher. The Fishers ran a
boarding house and murdered many patrons, motivated by robbery. Lavinia Fisher is widely
considered the first known female serial killer in America. The Fishers were kept at the jail until
their hanging on February 18, 1820.
Some Anomalies Reported at the
Old City Jail Through the Years:
1. During renovation in 2000, though the building was locked for months to seal off lead paint
contamination, bare footprints were found in the dust. Afterward, several workers saw the
apparition of a jailer with rifle on the third floor. He passed through bars, heading toward them,
before vanishing.
2. Sounds of dumbwaiter passing through floors are heard, though it is no longer operational. In
particular, this happened April of 2006 by Rebel Sinclair and guests of a 10pm tour.
3. Jewelry and other objects frequently disappear. For example, a woman's ring vanished inside
May of 2006. A man's handkerchief (with personal meaning) vanished June of 2006. Neither
object has been found to date.
4. In the basement, a man had his sunglasses knocked off by a violent, unseen force.
5. In the basement, during 90 degree temperatures, breath can be seen as a cloud of fog
6. Alarms set/reset themselves frequently.
7. A black man, in ragged clothing, has been clearly seen wandering halls. The first sighting was
February of 2002, latest was June, 2006.
8. There are numerous cell phone disruptions, including calls from unknown numbers and
batteries draining then charging up again.
9. Doors are found open after being closed. A heavy iron door fell off its hinges for no apparent
reason during a tour in February of 2005.
10. The "crane of pain," a torture apparatus reproduction consisting of ropes, has been found with
ropes intertwined without explanation.
11. Many visitors have captured EVP with video cameras.
12. A Charleston police officer investigating an alarm in 2006 found the back door open. He went
inside with a gun drawn, and ascended the spiral stair case. Upon reaching the third floor, he
reported a strange sensation, as though his "arms were wrapped in plastic wrap."
13. Several guides and visitors have complained of a choking feeling, and shortness of breath,
while on the main staircase.
14. Visitors involved in corrections often become queasy and complain of a foul odor.
15. One guide felt a rope "snake" around her ankles.
16. Numerous visitors have been pushed and shoved by unseen forces.
L.E.M.U.R.'s Investigation Times:
- Thursday, January 18, 2007, approx. 9-10pm:
Preliminary walk-through with Joshua P. Warren, Lauren Munson, Angella Blanton, Mark R.
Jones and Rebel Sinclair
Friday, January 19, 2007, approx. 11pm-5am
First night of full investigation, with approx. 20 people, including L.E.M.U.R. Affiliates
Saturday, January 20, 2007, approx. 11pm-2am
Second night of full investigation, with approx. 20 people, including L.E.M.U.R. Affiliates
Average temp for the weekend: 53 degrees F
Average humidity for the weekend: 60 percent
Weather was clear
Throughout our course of investigations, the following instruments were primarily employed:
1. Tri-Field Natural EM Meters, Models 1 and 2: These devices are designed to pick up changes in
extremely weak DC or "natural" electric fields (as small as 3 volts per meter or v/m), magnetic
fields in the microtesla range (as small as 0.05 percent of the earth's magnetic field when an
antenna is used), combinations in variations of electric and magnetic (or electromagnetic) fields,
and energy in the radio/microwave range spanning from 100,000 to 2.5 billion oscillations per
second (100 KHz to 2.5 GHz) with minimum and maximum detectable signal strengths of 0.01
milliwatt/cm squared and 1 milliwatt/cm squared respectively. The advantage of the Model 2 is an
input jack for a coil antenna to be used for measuring magnetic fields.
2. Dr. Gauss/Gauss Master EMF meters calibrated for 50/60 Hz AC and sensitive from 1/10 mG to
10 mG.
3. A handheld Electrosmog Multidetector II Prof I sensitive to either electric or magnetic fields
ranging from 5-500 Hz as the ELF (Extreme Low Frequency) setting or 500 and above on the VLF
(Very Low Frequency) setting.
4. A handheld, non-contact infrared thermometer to register surface temperatures instantly in
fahrenheit.
5. Digital still cameras and Sony Digital 8 HandiCams capable of sensing into the near-infrared
range.
6. A digital volt meter sensitive to milliVolts, both AC and DC.
7. Electrostatic detector capable of measuring up to 5,000 volts and identifying polarity.
8. Geiger counters sensitive enough to measure microRem and detecting x-rays, alpha, beta, and
gamma radiation.
9. Paranormal PC (PPC) system, recording seven fields of data simultaneously: 1) motion-sensitive
IR video 2) audio 3) electrostatic deviation 4) artificial EMF deviation 5) magnetic & geomagnetic
deviation 6) temperature 7) luminosity
Methodology:
After gathering historic data, we spent the weekend taking control readings and weighing them
against anomalies. As our first visit to the Old City Jail, this can be considered a preliminary
investigation.
Principal Results from our Research thus Far:
1. On Friday, January 19, 2007:
a) The Paranormal PC was set up in the room called "The Octagon," where some of the worst
criminals, including the Fishers, were kept. After running undisturbed for an hour, it recorded
substantial deviations in magnetism with no evidence of conventional cause.
b) The Tri-Field Natural EM Meter Model 2, with coil antenna inserted, measured frequent
magnetic surges, throughout the building, that maxed out the scale. Therefore, we cannot deduce
the maximum amount being produced, but they were at least 1-10 microteslas in magnitude.
However, the electric component was very weak, and virtually undetectable. To see if the
magnetic surges were being caused by some geomagnetic conditions, we tested various places
outside the building. The farther we got from the structure, the weaker the surges until they did
not appear at all. We therefore feel confident in ruling out any geologic elements, and also checked
current data regarding the kp index, for possible disturbance from solar flares and atmospheric
conditions. However, all was calm there. We confirmed the Tri-Field was working properly by
testing it at various other sites throughout the weekend (such as the Provost Dungeon beneath the
Old Exchange downtown) to find all was normal. These unusual magnetic surges, seeming almost
like transient pulses emanating from stationary walls, were some of the most perplexing elements
documented at the Old City Jail.
c) Numerous people witnessed "orb-like" anomalies with their naked eyes. And others, primarily
females, witnessed cloudy forms, either black or white, swiftly moving down halls. This was most
prominent in the basement, and led to an outstanding event around 4-4:30am Saturday morning.
Around ten people, including Mark R. Jones and Rebel Sinclair, monitored the basement as the
author operated a strobe light. Suddenly, one observer exclaimed she saw a shadowy, humanoid
form. Others gasped as they saw it, as well, and were overcome with emotion. The author shut off
the strobe light, at which time he witnessed a dark silhouette block light entering the building
through a few long, vertical cracks on the facing wall. When he turned the strobe back on, there
was nothing visible blocking his view of the light.
d) Brian Irish later discovered he captured an EVP-like anomaly. A voice cried "help me" in one of
the rooms. This is documented in a video production Irish has produced, along with some visual
anomalies he captured, and should be available online at some point.
e) There were several minor mechanical malfunctions, such as lights, lanterns, and cameras not
operating properly.
2. On Saturday, January 20, 2007:
a) Though the investigation was set to begin at 11pm, the author, along with Brian Irish, Lauren
Munson, and Geri Jordan accompanied Rebel Sinclair and Mark R. Jones to the jail around 6pm to
set up the Paranormal PC in The Octagon, allowing it to run undisturbed, in a sealed room, until
11pm.
b) Around 9pm, the author received a disturbing call from Rebel Sinclair. One of the Jail's most
prominent features is a large set of iron keys on a loop, hanging on the wall. The keys, believed to
be authentic to the Jail, had vanished. Sinclair was notified by a tour guide who was conducting
tours that evening. Sinclair was trying to deduce when the keys had disappeared, and asked if
anyone had noticed them at the jail when we set up the PPC three hours earlier. Lauren Munson
clearly, and distinctly remembered them being on the wall. We therefore deduced they must have
vanished between 6pm and 9pm. Did someone on a tour snatch them, had someone broken in to
steal them, and possibly stolen the PPC as well, or was something of a more paranormal nature
happening?
At 11pm, when the entire team met again at the Jail, the author quizzed the team, asking if anyone
knew anything about the disappearance of the keys. No one did, and everyone was disheartened to
feel that someone may have stolen them. But who was the culprit? The PPC was undisturbed, yet
something very strange happened around 11:14pm: for a few seconds, it recorded massive surges of
magnetism, ions and a temperature spike to 687 degrees F! We do not know if this is an isolated
equipment problem or something that passed through the room.
At the conclusion of the weekend, the keys were still gone. However, they showed up the following
Tuesday, January 23. That morning, they were found, wrapped in a plastic bag, shoved through
the mail slot of the office for the art school that owns, and sometimes uses, the building for
various projects. They were retrieved by Chloe, the lady who runs the office. There was no
explanation as to where they had been, and it remains a mystery to this day. Furthermore, in the
meantime, Sinclair learned the keys were not even authentic. The entire situation is bizarre. Even
though there are suspicions as to who may have taken the keys and why, the mystery stands. Was
someone trying to frame L.E.M.U.R. as thieves?
c) Around midnight, the author and several other team members heard the distinct sound of
chains being dragged across the floor of The Octagon. All lights were turned on, and though
nothing was seen, the sound was extremely pronounced. It lasted less than 30 seconds, and no one
was able to document the sound. It never occurred again.
d) The rest of the night was spent in The Octagon, as the magnetic surges continued. Several
people described seeing a shadowy form perhaps "trying to materialize," but nothing of substance
ever occurred.
Side Notes:
a) During the hour we spent at the Provost Dungeon, located at
b) The author and colleagues also informally visited The Blind Tiger tavern, at
c) The author and colleagues also informally visited the Southend Brewery & Smokehouse, at
d) The author and Lauren Munson visited Fort Sumter, site where the American Civil War began,
on Sunday, January 21, 2007.
Concluding Overview:
Though visual manifestations are limited at this location, strong physical forces (perhaps related
to the magnetic surges) are prominent. And when anomalies manifest audibly, they are extremely
distinct. As a preliminary investigation, we found the experience valuable. We certainly consider
the site haunted, meaning it regularly houses/produces a wide range of anomalous activity, and
plan to focus our efforts more for future investigations.
Future Plans:
L.E.M.U.R.'s Expedition into the Bermuda Triangle, and at various haunts in the Bahamas, is
scheduled to leave from Charleston October of 2007. We may have an opportunity to visit the jail
again around that time.
| L.E.M.U.R. League of Energy Materialization & Unexplained phenomena Research Asheville, North Carolina |
| Conducted January 18-20, 2007 Written by Joshua P. Warren on behalf of L.E.M.U.R. Background facts compliments of Rebel Sinclair, Mark R. Jones, and Micah A. Hanks February 27, 2007 *Report will be updated as new information is received and confirmed |
| Location: Old City Jail 21 Magazine & 17 Franklin Streets Charleston, South Carolina Concept: L.E.M.U.R. was given the distinct privilege of being the first team to formally & officially investigate this remarkable site for ghostly anomalies. It was attended by the author, Brian Irish, Micah Hanks, Chris McCollum, Casey Fox, and numerous L.E.M.U.R. Affiliates. It was only open to Members and Affiliates. |
| Jail Paranormal Investigation |
| Summertime, by Cat Anderson. Anderson was a graduate of the Jenkins' Orphanage. He played first trumpet for Duke Ellington for over 20 years. He also led his own band. This is one of the greatest versions of the most famous song from Gershwin's 'Porgy and Bess' , which is set in Charleston. |
