The Phantom Barber

On a dark, sultry night in June of 1942, a mysterious figure broke into a Catholic boarding school and clipped the hair of two young girls while they slept. Though the person left no trace behind, the phantom barber struck terror in the hearts of residents living in the small coastal town of Pascagoula, Mississippi.

Author Sandra Moncrief grew up in Pascagoula, a fishing village on the Mississippi Gulf shore, which served as a hub for US naval shipbuilding during World War II. Throughout her childhood, Moncrief’s mother and grandmother recounted the strange incident, and, at the urging of a college professor, she decided to investigate.

In this riveting exploration of a perplexing crime in a quiet southern community, Moncrief introduces readers to William Dolan—the man who was arrested, convicted, and ultimately served time.

But as Moncrief digs deep into the story, she shines a light on the protestations of innocence raised by Dolan’s daughter and wife and the strange circumstances around his death—and invites readers to judge for themselves whether or not he was the culprit.