The Two Headed Man
On a quiet country road, just around a curve, there is a gate that looks like it leads to wide open field. Beyond the gate, and technically trespassing, there is a small, hidden, and undoubtedly odd cluster of graves. A mixture of dead vegetation, cacti, and broken bottles surround the grave of William M. Dehorn.
William Dehorn was born on May 11, 1872, and died November 24, 1944. His gravestone reads: “HERE LIES A MAN WITH SPECIAL GOD GIVEN POWER WHO HAVE HEALED AND READ THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. HE WAS A FAITHFUL SERVANT OF GOD TO THE END. AGE 72”.
To make Dehorn’s grave all the more peculiar, Dehorn’s grave does not face east, though the other grave markers around him, do. You actually have to walk around his stone, and trample some of the vegetation to be able to properly read the writing on his marker.
Naturally, the legend of Dehorn has prompted a wide variety of ghost stories, and is a popular site for the paranormal curious and teenagers alike. The story of Dehorn’s grave has also found its way from oral story and legend passed down between generations to the likes of the internet and places like Topix, Reddit, and Facebook, most of which offer different theories, or share their own experiences of visiting the Dehorn gravesite.
Reddit offered the best and most coherent account and short synopsis of the Dehorn legend that I was able to find:
“Of the old urban legends in Woodruff County, a few are told more often than others. First, there was once a man that lived in the area in the late 1800s-early 1900s named DeHorn. DeHorn was considered a very intelligent minister during his lifetime. However, many believed that he explored a dark side and was involved with black magic among other things. Some of his actions convinced the townspeople that he was capable of supernatural powers, and they captured him and hung him from a large tree in Woodruff County. That tree is still there today, as is his tombstone just under it. Upon his execution, DeHorn requested for his stone to be facing the West so he did not have to see Jesus return to Earth. It is said that on full moon nights DeHorn’s grave will glow a dim green. It is said that no matter how hard you throw a glass bottle at the stone, it will not break. There is also a very creepy saying on the stone, and I cannot believe I don’t remember what it says.”
Guest1154 wrote on one thread of Topix:
“Dehorns grave is suppose to be sitting the oppisite of others because we was know as the two headed man but Ive never seen his spirit would probably crap down both legs ...”
Someone else named old timer came to Dehorn’s defense, appearing to have possibly known Dehorn personally:
“mr dehorn was a good person he helped out a lot of people find things that they had lost and livestock that had gotten out he had visitors from all over come and talk with him some from out of state he also assisted the sheriff back in the day find a drowning victim in the white river im not disputing anybodys claim of wierd things happening at the cementary by grays because ive heard of some wierd things myself from people i know and trust”
When someone else on the forum asked about Dehorn, never having heard of him, old timer replied again:
“mr dehorn was a man that lived back in the early to mid 1900s he was said to be able to tell people where lost items were or where livestock that had gotten out of their pens could be found he could do other things as well his grave is at the cementary is east of grays across from the tower the woodruff county historical society done a story about him a few years back you can find out more about him by getting in touch with them but they say that strange things happen at the cementary so be careful if you visit!”
Another thread references another peculiar experience, but to be far, even if I were the most docile ghost, I would still be upset if someone peed on my marker.
Arkansasdd shared:
“me and some buddy's went out there, multiple times. the first time, my buddy took a pee on his grave, and as he went, two candles lit up. everything was dead around it. expect a couple cacti. when the candles lit. we took off running. my buddy got in the truck and he was pail with a huge hand print on his arm. the second time, we went and my tahoe wouldn't start. we had to push it out of sight before we could get it started. again, my buddy was pail with handprints everywhere”
So what do you think is true? Have you ever seen anything out at Mr. Dehorn's grave? Felt something? Does he really have one foot in our world and one foot in another?