MARGIE’S KITCHEN JEZABEL SAUCE
The Hair- Cutting Intruder Who Terrorized a Town
by Darlene Parman
The Disturbing Tale of the Phantom Barber
Few things in life are scarier than knowing someone has broken into your home. In an instant, your sanctuary has been violated, and you worry about a return appearance in which they could steal from you or even harm you. During the early 1940s, the community in Pascagoula, Mississippi, was terrorized by a mysterious home intruder who was not after the wealth or health of the locals. Instead, this person was after something we always keep close to us. In mid-June 1942, 11-year-old Mary Evelyn Briggs and 12-year- old Edna Marie Hydel were sound asleep in their room within the Our Lady of Victories convent. Mary Evelyn woke up to a nightmarish sight. “I saw the figure of a kinda short, fat man bending over me with something shiny in his hand, and he was fooling with my hair. When he saw me open my eyes, he said, ‘Shhh.’ I yelled, and he jumped out the window,” stated Mary Evelyn. Although the two girls were unharmed, Mary Evelyn started the next morning with fewer inches of hair. Shortly after, 6-year-old Carol Peattie woke up to find somebody had chopped her hair while she slept. The only evidence left behind was a cut screen window and a sandy footprint. Before the end of June, an adult fell victim to the phantom barber while she slept beside her husband. During this time, the suspicion that the barber was using chloroform to keep his victims still started to spread. Local businesses and law enforcement offered a reward of $400 (about $8,000 today) for information that would lead to the “barber’s” arrest. Earlier in the month, an intruder with a lead pipe had attacked a couple in their home. Police theorized the barber was behind the attack, giving them a serious crime to work with. They would go on to arrest 57-year-old William A. Dolan, an individual the community detested due to his pro-German views. He stood trial, was found guilty, and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He maintained his innocence throughout his life and was released early after passing a lie detector test.
Here I share recipes my late, wonderful, gorgeous momma, Margie Trammell, cooked up to spread her love to family and friends. I sincerely hope you enjoy these recipes yourself and get to spread the love by sharing them with your family and friends. With the Holiday season upon us, here is a Southern appetizer to have ready in your refrigerator whenever you host. This is a perfect addition to football games, cocktail parties, or casual get-togethers. Margie kept Jezabel sauce on hand at all times, along with red or green pepper jelly and cream cheese. She was always prepared for company.
Ingredients
• 1 (10-oz) jar apple jelly • 1 (10-oz) jar pineapple fruit preserves • 1 (8-oz) jar prepared horseradish
• 1 tbsp ground dry mustard • 1 tsp cracked black pepper • 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper (optional)
Directions 1. In a small bowl, mix together apple jelly, pineapple fruit preserves, prepared horseradish, ground dry mustard, cracked black pepper, and crushed red pepper. 2. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours, or overnight, before serving. 3. Take out a cake of cream cheese and cover with Jezabel sauce. Serve with your favorite crackers or toast rounds! With the slight kick from the horseradish and the sweetness from the preserves, you have a sauce that’ll dress up any meat, cheese, or charcuterie board. 4. Put leftovers in a tightly sealed jar in the refrigerator. But it won’t last long! If you want us to share a recipe in Margie’s Kitchen, please email it to Info@ParmanLaw.com. We’ll feature it in our newsletter or on our website!
The Phantom Barber effectively disappeared after Dolan’s arrest, never to silently cut the hair of unsuspecting people again.
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