On the night of 14 July 1911, PC Hosea Pope of the Monmouthshire Constabulary went to deal with James Wise, a heavy drinker who had threatened police officers if they arrested him again. Wise had been seen outside the Ivorites Inn at Aberbeeg at about 10.15 that evening saying that if Pope would not leave him alone he would do something to him. During the arrest, near the gate of the school, Wise wrenched his arm free and struck the officer. Pope managed to secure one handcuff before he was knocked down, and he died soon afterwards. He was 33. Wise was convicted of manslaughter. PC Pope is commemorated by the Police Memorial Trust.
The ghost story is a separate thing. The Great British Ghost Tour records that a figure wearing a cloak and a tall hat, "similar to Guy Fawkes", has been seen walking the road between Aberbeeg and Cwm. Some people have suggested that it is Hosea Pope, though the source does not say why. The source marks the sighting as unconfirmed and gives no date or witness.
Hosea Pope was a real man who died doing his job, and his family's loss is on record. This entry records the road ghost because it is reported, but the identification is only a suggestion and should not be taken as a tradition about him.
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