Washington Irving - legend of sleepy hollow

The story of "The legend of the Sleepy Hollow" belongs to american fiction in which young constable Ichabod Crane investigates a series of murders that allegedly did a legendary Headless Horseman. Crane´s superordinates did not really like his modern methods of investigation therefore they better sent him to secluded village called Sleepy Hollow where three victims were found decapitated. Local people believe that the heads that had disapeard were taken by a Headless Horseman, a Hessian mercenary who lost his head during some battle by his own sword. His sculp is taken from his grave. In order to gain it, he comes from hell. Constable Crane does not believe in legends and ghosts, he thinks that the assassin is a man of flesh and blood and decides to discover him. Another man is killed that night. Mr. Massbath became a fourth victim of Headless Horseman. His orphaned son is determined to revenge his death and help constable. There was another one person who wanted to help constable with investigation, Katrina van Tassel a daughter of local farmer Baltus Van Tassel whom constable fell in love with. The notice of magistrate Philipse makes Crane reveals the truth that the murderee widow Winship was pregnant. With a help of Katrina, he knew a lot about local kinships. He witnessed Samuel Phillips chopping head off by a Headless Horseman.