Magonia - No 55 - 1996 03

Magazine Overview

Magonia 55 (March 1996)

This issue of Magonia, titled "Interpreting Contemporary Vision and Belief," features a critical examination of the alien abduction phenomenon and its potential impact, alongside an exploration of folklore surrounding suicide hotspots. The cover prominently highlights "Bogeymen," with Kevin McClure expressing anger over how abduction researchers are treating children. Other features include an article by Mick Goss on spooky events at Beachy Head, a "Letters" section discussing the "Gill explanation" under attack, and "Book Reviews."

Editorial and Obituaries

The issue opens with a poignant obituary for Roger Sandell, a member of the editorial panel who passed away on January 20th at the age of 51. The editor, John Rimmer, reflects on Sandell's profound impact on Magonia and his unique approach to studying forteana and ufology through a historical and social context. Sandell's work on topics like the Kennedy assassination and the Satanic panic is highlighted, emphasizing his ability to connect contemporary issues with historical perspectives. His deep knowledge, photographic memory, and rational approach are fondly remembered, as is his humanity and sense of humor.

Bogeymen: The Dangers of Abduction Research on Children

Kevin McClure's lead article, "Bogeymen," offers a scathing critique of contemporary alien abduction research, particularly its focus on children. McClure expresses anger at what he perceives as the potential damage caused by researchers who treat abduction accounts as objective fact, especially when dealing with young abductees. He quotes extensively from prominent researchers like David Jacobs, Budd Hopkins, John Mack, and Jenny Randles, noting Randles's more cautious approach to regression hypnosis.

McClure draws a parallel between the dynamics of abduction narratives and the horrific abuse detailed in the Rosemary West trial, suggesting that abduction accounts can normalize or even justify extreme forms of control and abuse for children. He argues that researchers have moved beyond a simple witness-researcher relationship to assert the role of children in a "weird and perverse world of alien abductions." McClure highlights how abduction narratives often describe children being subjected to physical and sexual abuse, with no escape, leading them to believe such experiences are normal.

He criticizes the assertion that abductions are a programmed event with a beginning, middle, and end, suggesting that researchers are in the "end-point" of this program. McClure questions the publishers and editors who readily disseminate graphic accounts of child abuse, even when presented within the context of UFO phenomena. He challenges the notion that abduction experiences improve lives, stating that abductees often wish they had never happened and fear future occurrences.

McClure asserts that there is no physical evidence to support abduction claims, including implants, cup and scoop marks, or missing pregnancies. He dismisses the idea of 'secrets' held by researchers as a means of corroboration, given the widespread publicity surrounding abduction experiences. He criticizes researchers for not looking for parallels to the accounts they collect and for presenting a narrative that, if true, would imply a predetermined and inescapable fate for abductees and their descendants.

McClure concludes by issuing a challenge to researchers who promote alien abduction as a physical reality: to provide tangible evidence or refrain from publishing material that suggests such events occur, emphasizing the potential danger to children and the need to prioritize their well-being over the standing of ufology.

Jumpers and the Killer Monk of Beachy Head

Michael Goss's article, "Jumpers and the Killer Monk of Beachy Head," investigates the phenomenon of suicide clusters, focusing on the notorious location of Beachy Head in Sussex, United Kingdom. Goss begins by describing "Suicides' Bridge" in North London, a place colloquially known for its high suicide rate, and explores how such locations gain notoriety through popular credence and repetition.

He contrasts this with Beachy Head, a high cliff with a sheer drop, which has a significantly high suicide rate. Goss notes that while practical recommendations for suicide (accessibility, sheer drop) are present, the sheer number of incidents suggests a deeper, possibly metaphysical, cause. He references Dr. Jacqueline Simpson, who points out that similar locations do not always exhibit the same pattern, suggesting that more than just physical characteristics are at play.

Goss delves into the folklore surrounding Beachy Head, particularly the legend of the "Killer Monk." This legend attributes the suicides to the vengeful spirit of a monk whose monastery was sacked by Henry VIII. The monk is said to lure susceptible victims to their deaths. Goss traces the origins of this legend, noting that while Elliott O'Donnell, a prolific author of ghost stories, mentioned a "filmy-white female figure" at Beachy Head, he found no direct reference to a "Killer Monk" in O'Donnell's work. However, he suggests that popular magazines may have promoted this image, possibly based on an incident involving a medium named Ray de Vekey in 1953, who claimed to see a monk-like figure luring people to the cliff edge.

The article highlights the psychological aspect of suicide, suggesting that the mystery intensifies when suicides cluster in specific places. It touches upon historical beliefs that suicide was prompted by external, disembodied influences, such as demonic spirits or ghosts. Goss also discusses the role of suggestion and how the notoriety of a place can influence individuals, even those not initially contemplating suicide.

Goss expresses his personal experience of being told as a child that Beachy Head was "the place people jump off to commit suicide," a statement that conditioned his feelings towards the location. He questions the scenario and seeks to understand the reasons behind the high suicide rate, noting that police confirm its prevalence.

He quotes figures from 1976 indicating an average of ten deaths per year at Beachy Head, with six being clear cases of suicide. The article concludes by exploring the idea that the "Killer Monk" legend provides a comprehensible personification of evil, assigning a cause to acts of self-murder that might otherwise be seen as isolated mysteries.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Magonia strongly adopts a critical stance towards the prevailing narratives within the alien abduction research community, particularly concerning their methodology and ethical implications, especially regarding children. The magazine appears to champion skepticism and rigorous evidence-based inquiry, contrasting it with what it perceives as speculative and potentially harmful storytelling. The exploration of the Beachy Head suicides, while delving into folklore, also implicitly questions simplistic explanations for complex human behavior, suggesting a need for deeper understanding beyond sensational narratives. The obituary for Roger Sandell underscores the magazine's commitment to historical context and rational analysis in understanding anomalous phenomena. The overall editorial stance leans towards a cautious, evidence-driven approach, prioritizing the well-being of individuals, especially children, over the sensational aspects of ufology and related fields.

This issue of Magonia, number 55, is a collection of articles and book reviews focusing on paranormal phenomena, folklore, and historical mysteries. It includes discussions on modern legends, UFO sightings, alleged supernatural events, and critiques of various books in the field. The magazine also features a historical retrospective on its own past debates.

The Killer Monk of Beachy Head

The lead article examines the 'Killer Monk' legend of Beachy Head, a modern folklore figure that emerged around 1953. The author notes that despite its dramatic potential, the legend has not penetrated deeply into Sussex folklore. The story is seen as a symbolic expression of a desire to blame suicide on external, supernatural influences, rather than an explanation for the area's high suicide rate. The author suggests it might be a recent invention, possibly linked to the de Vekey seance, and that it utilizes traditional motifs of the Dissolution and the concept of vengeful spirits.

The article draws parallels between the Killer Monk and other 'maniac' figures in contemporary legends, such as the 'Platform Maniac' associated with the London Underground. It also references the 1979 movie 'The Golden Gate Murders,' which explored the idea of external entities being responsible for suicides at famous landmarks. The author concludes that the Monk legend, while melodramatic, ultimately fails to explain the phenomenon it purports to address, serving instead as a testament to the belief that extreme actions like suicide must have supernatural causes.

Cat Scares and Satanism

Several letters discuss recent 'cat scares.' One letter from Gareth J. Medway details a report from the South Avon Mercury about catnappers in Portishead, allegedly stealing cats for their pelts or for medical research. Mrs. Stoat, a local resident, believes a national organization is involved and warns pet owners to be vigilant. Medway also references a New York Times index entry about 'Cat mutilation deaths' in Tustin, California, where pet owners attributed the deaths to Satanic cults, but authorities suspected urban coyotes. Medway recounts a story from Pagan News about a cat found sacrificed in Clevedon, which was initially blamed on Satanists but later revealed to be a natural death with a subsequent 'Viking funeral.'

The Father Gill UFO Case

Two letters address Martin Kottmeyer's article on the Father Gill UFO case in Papua New Guinea. Thomas E. Bullard challenges Kottmeyer's interpretation, suggesting that the 'boat theory' has too many inconsistencies. Bullard points out that Father Gill described the object as being in the sky and that the witnesses' sketches are similar to Adamski's spaceship, not a boat. He questions the meaning of the rods on the drawings.

Philip J. Klass also disputes Kottmeyer's characterization of his views. Klass clarifies that he believes the incident was a 'practical joke that went astray,' not necessarily a hoax initiated by Gill. He suggests that Gill was likely pulling Cruttwell's leg and that Cruttwell, being deeply interested in UFOs, took the story too seriously. Klass believes Gill did not intend to create a hoax.

Book Reviews

Several books are reviewed:

• 'UFOs: Psychic Close Encounters' by Albert Budden: Reviewed by Peter Rogerson, this book is described as a 'chaotic pot-pourri of science, speculative, science and downright pseudo-science.' Budden links electromagnetic fields to various phenomena, including ghosts and psychokinesis. Rogerson likens Budden's ideas to Baron Karl von Reichenbach's 'Odic Force' and the 'Total Allergy Syndrome' movement, noting that Budden suggests psychokinesis assembled the Roswell crash.

• 'Eccentric and Bizarre Behaviours' by Louis Franzini and John M. Grossberg: Reviewed by John Rimmer, this book offers an overview of behavioral disorders, including 'auto-erotic asphyxia' and 'Capgrass Delusion.' Rimmer notes that the book provides insight into the lengths people go to for attention and suggests that phenomena like the abduction syndrome might be culturally-bound behavioral anomalies.

• 'Witch Children; from Salem witch-hunts to modern courtrooms' by Hans Sebald: Reviewed by Gareth J. Medway, this book draws parallels between modern Satanism cases and historical witch-hunts. Sebald examines a 1629 case from Bamberg, Germany, involving a boy who confessed to worshipping the devil and flying through the air. Medway notes that Sebald suggests modern child therapists sometimes interpret nursery rhymes as evidence of Satanic ritual.

• 'Shingle Street: flame, chemical and psychological warfare in 1940 and the nazi invasion that never was' by James Hayward: Reviewed by Peter Rogerson, this book explores legends surrounding Shingle Street, including a failed Nazi invasion or a friendly-fire incident. Rogerson suggests that the story illustrates how 'eyewitness' accounts can emerge to support a narrative, similar to the Roswell rumors.

• 'Secrets of Ancient and Sacred Places' by Paul Deveraux: Reviewed by John Harney, this book examines UNESCO World Heritage sites, focusing on alignments and their potential ritual significance. It discusses mysterious lights seen at some sites, including Hessdalen, Norway, and Mount Taishan, China. Harney notes the book is well-illustrated and accessible.

• 'Earth Mysteries' by Philip Heselton: Reviewed by John Rimmer, this book provides an overview of earth mysteries, including leys, terrestrial zodiacs, and feng-shui, with a focus on folklore connections to EM sites. Rimmer notes that the book emphasizes spiritual manifestations and contrasts with more scientifically oriented approaches in the field.

• 'Flying Saucers are Everywhere' by Tom McHugh: Reviewed by John Rimmer, this book is heavily criticized as a 'pathetic, lame-brained waste of time, money and paper.' Rimmer finds the humor forced and the content lacking substance.

25 Years Ago

This section reflects on Magonia's (or its predecessor MUFOB's) content from 25 years prior, in 1970. It mentions the publication of John Keel's 'Operation Trojan Horse' and an article on enhancing UFO photographs. The section highlights a debate on 'New Ufology' and the magazine's evolving stance, noting an article titled 'The UFO is alive and well and living in fairyland' and another on 'hoaxes and hoaxers.' It also recalls a letter from Fred O. Gardner expressing outrage at the magazine's skeptical attitude and a drawing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the nature of modern legends and their relationship to folklore and psychological phenomena, particularly concerning suicide and fear. The magazine continues to explore UFO sightings with a critical eye, examining evidence and challenging simplistic explanations. There is a consistent interest in historical mysteries and alleged paranormal events, often juxtaposed with scientific or skeptical viewpoints. The book reviews indicate a broad scope of interest within the paranormal and fringe science communities. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, encouraging readers to question narratives and seek evidence, while also acknowledging the enduring appeal of unexplained phenomena and the power of folklore.