Bigfoot Or Pervert?

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Bigfoot Chicks, Melissa Adair. As serious researchers, the Bigfoot Chicks are committed to seeking the truth regarding the Bigfoot mystery. You can visit their blog at bigfootchicks.blogspot.com.

It is terrifying to be a lone woman walking down a city street at night and discover that you're being stalked by someone. It would be difficult to keep your wits about you and to try to see as much detail as possible when the stalker came into view. The following account from 1914 describes a "wild man" who harassed women walking by themselves. As this creature was described as a "wild man", it falls under the category of a possible "Bigfoot". As the descriptions of the assailant very greatly, and most likely have been sensationalized, it's hard to know for sure if the "wild man" was an unknown creature, or just a pervert. I'm leaning towards pervert.

THE LIMA NEWS
Lima, Ohio, Saturday, January 10, 1914

VIGILANTES TRY FOR "WILD MAN"

WOMEN ABROAD AT NIGHT ARE FRIGHTENED BY QUEER PERSON

New York, Jan. 9. - Alarmed by the repeated reports that a "wild man" is terrorizing lone women by night, that young men of the Church of the Holy Child Jesus at Richmond Hill, have organized a vigilance band to seize the mysterious person.

According to the stories of the women he is said to have accosted, he invariably wears a long tan overcoat. Under it is something that looks like a woman's garment. Some say the marauder has a beard. Others say he is clean shaven. At the approach of a man he takes to his heels. He is reported to have been seen in several parts of the town on the same night.

The women of Richmond Hill are so nervous that the local police say they think some of the reported appearances are hallucinations. Mrs. Martin J. Sgier, wife of Dr. Sgier, says, however, that she is positive the fellow frightened her and if the Vigilance Committee catches him she will appear in court as a complainant.

The "wild man" has made a specialty of harassing the woman members of the congregation of the Church of the Holy Child Jesus of which Father Nummey is rector. The attendance at early mass, held before daybreak when the phantom is most active, fell off so that Father Nummey complained to the Mayor that the police were not doing their duty. Detective Hoffman was assigned to stop the annoyance, but did not succeed.