THE DEFIANCE WEREWOLF: Complete 1972 ‘The Blade‘ Newspaper Transcript
Werewolf Case in Defiance Not Viewed Lightly by Police
Chief Cites Concern Over Reported Sightings of Large Beast, Attack
By James Stegall, Blade Staff Writer
DEFIANCE, O. — Some people here are jokingly referring to it as the case of the werewolf. But Defiance police are serious about it.
Three persons have told police they saw a large beast that resembled a werewolf lurking along railroad tracks near downtown Defiance in the last week.
In each case, it was spotted during the early morning hours. One man, a train crewman switching trains, said he was approached from behind and was struck on the shoulder with a piece of 2-by-4 lumber. When he ran, the “werewolf” disappeared into nearby brush.
In another reported incident, the “werewolf” was seen by another train crewman about 3 a.m. Police say the third report came from a motorist who said it ran in front of his car about 4 a.m. and then quickly disappeared.
“We didn’t release it to the news media when we got the first report about a week ago,” Police Chief Donald Breckler said. “But now we’re taking it seriously. We’re concerned for the safety of our people.”
Chief Breckler said descriptions of the “werewolf” given by the three persons are similar, though vague.
“‘Very hairy’ is the first description given by each person who saw it,” Chief Breckler said. “I think it’s a person wearing some disguise, such as a mask — but there’s a lot of natural hair too.”
“I’m inclined to think it might be a local person,” he added. “None of the other area towns have had anything like this. And in each case, he has been seen in the same area of our town.”
The creature was said to wear dark clothing. Early reports described it as ranging from seven to nine feet tall.
“But that was a little exaggerated,” the chief said.
Two of the trainmen who reported seeing the “werewolf” work in the area during the early morning hours. Both are from Toledo. The third complaint came from a local grocery store employee, Chief Breckler said.
“If his motive is robbery,” he added, “he’s not picking on the type of person that would have a lot of money. We don’t know what his motive is.”
Defiance Werewolf Case (continued)
A railroad agent at the Norfolk & Western depot on Fifth Street said the switching crewmen from Toledo are the only persons who have spotted the “werewolf.”
The agent, who did not identify himself, said that none of the other crewmen in the area seemed disturbed by the reports.
“We don’t think it’s a prank,” Chief Breckler said. “He’s coming at people with a club in his hand. We think it’s to the safety of our people to be concerned.”
Creature Described as Having Fangs
Two N&W brakemen interviewed at the Summer Street rail yard today said the creature “had huge hairy feet, fangs, and ran from side to side like a caveman in the movies.”
Ted Davis and Tom Jones, crewmen on the N&W local freight that serves Defiance on an overnight run, said the large figure, which they estimated between six and eight feet tall, appeared twice under a full moon.
“When we leave here the moon is usually about a quarter full, but about 4 a.m., when we’re working Defiance, the moon is full,” Mr. Davis explained.
The creature was first seen July 25, and then again last Sunday, both men said. When he first confronted Mr. Davis, the creature ran away before Davis could say anything.
“I was connecting an air hose between two cars and was looking down. I saw these huge hairy feet, then looked up and he was standing there with a big stick over his shoulder,” Mr. Davis said. “When I started to say something, he took off for the woods.”
Both Mr. Davis and Mr. Jones saw the blue-jean-clad figure again last Sunday morning in the yards. The creature was standing in weeds near the main track.
“At first I thought the whole thing was a big joke,” Mr. Jones said, “but when I saw how hairy and woolly it was, that was enough for me.”
He said he had laughed at Mr. Davis earlier in the week, but when he could account for all the railroad workers at the time, he knew it wasn’t a crewman’s joke.
When it took off, Mr. Jones said he and Mr. Davis also heard screams from a car stopped on a nearby road.
“That thing’s going to hurt somebody someday,” he said.
Defiance Residents Suspicious of Their Werewolf
‘Creature’ Believed Human in Disguise
The “werewolf” of Defiance may not be some kind of weird animal after all.
“It’s now being referred to by citizens as a disguised human,” police said.
Reaction has varied to reports of such a large, hairy creature lurking along railroad tracks just two blocks from downtown.
Some people expressed fear, but most residents of the neighborhood along the Norfolk & Western tracks think the “thing” is “just some nut running loose.”
Two N&W train crewmen and a truck driver told police they were approached by a beastly-looking creature that was very hairy and had fangs. One man said it hit him on the shoulder with a board.
In each case, the “werewolf” was seen in the early hours of the morning, between 1 and 4 a.m.
At first, police were skeptical, but Chief Breckler said he became concerned for public safety when a new witness claimed the “werewolf” tried to assault him.
Police also do not understand why the creature is so bold — all appearances have been in a two-block area near the police station and several factories operating through the night.
“I haven’t heard anybody talking about it,” said resident Richard Ott. “But I make sure my doors are locked at night.”
“It just doesn’t sound like something that would happen in this neighborhood,” said Kathy Kehnast. “This is probably the safest neighborhood around.”
“I don’t think the adults are scared, but it’s scared a lot of children,” another man said. “I’ve got kids, and they’re on the lookout for him.”
“If I see him — the werewolf — the police are going to find out who he is,” said Rupert Figg. “That’s because they’ll have to take him to the hospital to get the buckshot out.”
Day-shift workers at the yard seemed unconcerned, though night workers were less amused.
“If he’s going to get you, he’s going to get you,” said Will Brown, who cleans out boxcars.
Brown added that he occasionally heard talk of the creature among trainmen but said the topic was “more popular outside the rail yards.”
“They say he has hair all over and he’s about seven feet tall,” Brown said. “From what I’ve heard, I can say this guy is ugly as hell.”
Chief Breckler speculated that the “disguised person” might either live nearby or be “riding in on one of the trains each night from another town.”
“We don’t want to scare people or give them the idea that some kind of monster is on the loose,” Breckler said. “But maybe he’ll come back, and maybe we’ll apprehend him.”
Tiffin Man Reports Sighting North of Town
Meanwhile, a Seneca County sheriff’s deputy reported that Harold Annon of 155 Thomas Street, Tiffin, claimed to have seen an “ape-like animal” while walking along a wooded area on River Road north of Tiffin.
Annon said the “ape” was “covered with hair and had wolfish ears and fangs.” He estimated it stood six or seven feet tall and was hunched over.
He said he ran for his car and drove off when the “ape” saw him.
Seneca County game warden Weldon Neff investigated the area around 6 p.m. but found no tracks or signs of disturbance.
SOURCES: https://tinyurl.com/y3dtkx4v, https://tinyurl.com/y2q2c8tl, https://tinyurl.com/y5l89z25
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