Ghosts and Legends: Duel in the Alley

Duel in the Alley, Charleston, S.C.

In 1783, Dr. Joseph Ladd arrived in Charleston and, over time, became friends with a man named Ralph Isaacs. They eventually had a falling out, which led to a duel. Dr. Ladd fired two shots into the air, and seeing this, Ralph Isaacs took careful aim and fired two shots, hitting Dr. Ladd in the knee. Dr. Ladd was taken to 59 Church Street and died two weeks later of an infection set off by the wounds. The story goes that Dr. Ladd can be heard moving around the house, walking from place to place, opening and closing doors, whistling in the mornings and afternoons, and on rainy evenings calling for Amanda, "Oh, Amanda, my love..."