Halloween is a time to dress up and pretend ghosts exist, but there is no pretending at Ottawa old Nicholas Street Jail, where a spirit wanders the corridors of death row.

On February 11, 1869, Patrick James Whalen was executed. After living on death row for over 10 months, Whelan was hanged in front of 5,000 spectators.

He had been convicted on circumstantial evidence for the murder of Thomas D'Arcy McGee, one of the fathers of confederation.

Whelan always proclaimed to be innocent, one of the reasons it's believed his spirit lives on.

The County Jail was opened in 1862 and served as a maximum security holding facility for about 110 years. In 1972, the jail was closed after being condemned.

In 1973, the building was turned over to Hostelling International and became the Ottawa International Hostel.

There have been a lot of strange happenings reported at the hostel. Sounds of clanging chains have been heard several times on death row.

"Superstition had it that hangings should always take place on the 13th day of month at the 13th hour," says Wendy Hunter, manager of the youth hostel. "Patrick Whelan was hanged on the 11th hour of the 11th day." She says it's another reason behind the belief in Whelan's living spirit.

There are all kinds of unexplained situations that have occurred at the hostel - from money flipping out of the till to people mysteriously feeling a hand on their shoulder.

Whelan's last wish was to have his body sent back to his wife in Montreal. A wish promised but not granted.

"He was found buried out back when they began building Waller Street," says Hunter.