A “Haunted House” in Somersetshire.
Great alarm has prevailed in the village of Goathurst, a few miles from Bridgwater, during the past fortnight, an idea being entertained by many of the inhabitants that a large farmhouse there, in the occupation of Mr John Shattock, a well-to-do yeoman, and the representative of the parish at the Board of Guardians, was haunted.
It was alleged that every night loud raps were heard at the front and back doors, that articles of furniture and crockery were shifted from one portion of the premises to another, and that although many of the inhabitants and some members of the county constabulary were on the watch both inside and from without, and a large mastiff was stationed just outside the front door thus rapped at, the “manifestations” continued, and no clue could be obtained as to who or what was the cause of them.
It is positively asserted by some of the more respectable inhabitants, who have assisted in the endeavour to unravel the mystery, that the knocks at the door, apparently from the outside, have been heard by them whilst they have guarded all the approaches to the premises, and that immediately on hearing these raps they have fired pistols in the direction of the door, but without effect.
The alarm was increased by a straw rick close to the dwelling-house and belonging the same owner having ignited and been totally destroyed, the ignition having taken place quite unaccountably, and whilst the neighbours and friends of the farmer were on the watch to detect, if possible, the cause of the “manifestations.”
The district superintendent of police, who visited the premises by night on two occasions, formed a certain “theory” of his own, and this has resulted in the apprehension of a girl named Ann Kidner, aged 14 years, and a domestic servant in the employ of Mr Shattock, on a charge of setting fire to her master’s ricks, one of which was wholly destroyed on Thursday night last, and another partially so on Sunday. It is suspected also that the girl, although she strongly protests her innocence, is concerned in, if not directly the cause of, the extraordinary “manifestations” that have taken place.
Bristol Times and Mirror, 18th May 1878.
A Mysterious Affair.
During the past fortnight much alarm has prevailed in this neighbourhood, the idea being entertained that the house of Mr. John Shattock, a well-to-do yeoman, is haunted. The “manifestations,” which have baffled the ingenuity of several of Mr. Shattock’s intimate friends and neighbours, who have been assisted in their investigations by several members of the county constabulary, commenced on Easter Sunday.
About eight o’clock on that evening a loud knocking was heard at the back-door, but on the door being opened almost immediately no person was visible, and two flower-pots were round on the steps. On the night of the 23rd, and again on the 25th, the same thing was repeated. Two nights afterwards, after the raps at the door, a pigs’ trough and basket containing mangold wurtzel were found at the entrance gate. On the following night (Sunday) the knocks were repeated more loudly, although then a large dog, and not a very quiet one, was stationed immediately outside the door.
On the succeeding night a police constable and several of the neighbours watched the premises, taking up positions which commanded all the approaches, and a good view of the door, some other persons remaining behind it in the passage. About ten o’clock the watchers were amazed at hearing the raps repeated without being able to see anyone, and the door was at once opened by the persons inside, who were equally at a loss to explain the mystery.
On the next night, whilst several watchers were again in attendance, and at about the same time, the knocks were again heard, and on this occasion one of the watchers (Isaac Coombs) asserted that he saw two figures flitting across a wheat field close by; but his companions failed to see anything of the kind. On the three succeeding nights, in addition to the raps, several articles, including dishes, a looking glass, and a spittoon, which had been removed from the pump-house and elsewhere, were found scattered about, some on the path, others amongst some nettles, and the remainder in a ditch.
Without entering into details it may be stated that generally on alternate nights the same sort of thing continued, the watchers being increased in number, and failing entirely to discover any cause for it. On the night of the 6th inst. a young man named Alfred Bellringer, grandson of Mr. Shattock, and who resides with the latter (the only other occupants being Mrs Shattock, her daughter, and a servant girl named Kidner), on opening the door, after hearing the raps, discharged a pistol in the direction anyone would retreat therefrom, but this seemed only to increase the excitement, which was considerable heightened on the following evening by the fact of a straw rick in the barton suddenly getting ablaze, and being destroyed, the loss amounting to about £25. This occurred about eight o’clock, whilst it was still daylight, and some of the watchers, who had just arrived to take up their respective positions, assert that no person was near the rick at the time of the outbreak.
On hearing of this, and how serious an aspect affairs had assumed, Supt. Jeffs, assisted by Acting-Sergt. Stickland, investigated the facts very closely, and on the two following nights two or three constables took part in the watching. Nothing more transpired, however, until Saturday evening, when some reed in the barton caught fire under circumstances as mysterious as those connected with the destruction of the rick two nights previously.
On the following (Sunday) evening some milk pans in the dairy were found to be covered with a large quantity of burnt paper, the milk and cream being rendered valueless in consequence. This discovery apparently strengthened a suspicion previously entertained by Supt. Jeffs, and in consequence he caused the servant-girl (Ann Kidner), fourteen years of age, to be taken into custody. On the following (Monday) morning the girl was taken to the magistrates’ clerk’s office in Bridgwater, and on the application of the Superintendent remanded in custody until Wednesday on the charge of arson.
It may be added that several of the villagers protest that she is innocent, as does the girl herself, and up to the present time her apprehension has not in consequence caused any sensible abatement of the alarm which has been excited. The probability is, however, of course that Supt. Jeffs is in possession of evidence which not only warrants the step he has taken, but will go far to clear up the mystery. — Bridgwater Mercury.
Somerset County Gazette, 18th May 1878.
Goathurst. The Haunted House.
At the Bridgwater county police-court on Thursday, Ann Kidner, a domestic servant, aged fourteen, in the employ of Mr. Shattock, of Goathurst, was charged on remand with maliciously setting fire to her master’s straw rick. Some of the circumstances are detailed in our fifth page [as the above account, to ‘on the charge of arson’].
Mr. Shattock, his daughter, and grandson (Mr. Bellringer) and P.C. Hunt were examined, and they deposed to mysterious things that had occurred at the farmhouse, such as loud rappings at the door, and some crockery ware and other articles having been shifted from the house to the outside of the door without anyone being able to discover who had done this, although the inmates and several neighbours and some police-officers had been on watch to detect it. When the straw rick caught fire in the barton no person was seen near it, but the prisoner had been there a few minutes previously.
Directly after, the mysterious “raps” were heard at the door; the prisoner was then generally found in the back kitchen, but there was a conflict of opinion even amongst the witnesses above-named as to whether it was possible for the girl to have run there so quickly.
The strongest piece of testimony against her was that since the girl had been in custody no raps have been heard at the door. There was no direct evidence against the prisoner, who was discharged, the magistrates intimating that they entertained a decided opinion as to who was the guilty party.
Bristol Times and Mirror, 17th May 1878.
Bridgwater County Police. Wednesday. – Before Mr. T. P. Broadmead, in the chair; Admiral Hickley and Captain Loraine-Grews.
The Mysterious Affair at Goathurst.
Ann Kidner, aged 14, domestic servant in the employ of Mr. John Shattock, at Goathurst, was charged, on remand, with feloniously and maliciously setting fire to a rick of straw, the property of her master, on the 11th May.
When the remand was applied for Supt. Jeffs deposed: On Saturday night I placed three constables to watch Mr. Shattock’s house, at Goathurst. I was approaching his premises about half-past nine, and met P.C. Hunt at the gate by a wheat field. From what he said to me we both examined the whole of the wheat field, but found no fresh tracks of any person having crossed it. In company with the constables I watched the premises until daylight. We then made a careful search, but no trace whatever could be found of any person having crossed the field. I saw where some straw had been burnt, about fifty yards from the prosecutor’s house. There is a stil close by, and some grass alongside of a pit there, and a path leading to the pump-house door, used chiefly by the people of the house. The straw was out in the barton on a straddle. In consequence of information I received I apprehended the prisoner on this charge.
Supt. Jeffs now stated that the case was a very peculiar one. The occurrences that had taken place at this farmhouse, and which ultimately resulted in the apprehension of the prisoner, began so far back as Easter Sunday, 21st April. On the evening of that day two very loud raps came to the front door, and on some of the inmates going out they found two flower pots on the step, and no person could be seen in any direction. Two nights afterwards the prisoner drew the attention of the prosecutor’s family to a noise she had heard outside the door, and on its being opened the flower pots were found there again. The same thing occurred on the following night. On the night of the 27th a pigs’ trough and basket containing mangold wurtzel were removed from some portion of the premises, and placed against the hatchway.
In order, if possible, to find out by whom these things were done, a watch was kept, and a sheep dog, which usually jumped at a stranger, and would even bark when members of the family approached it, was chained up close to the door. The door was again “banged” at that night, but the dog never made the least noise. The inmates went at once to the door, but could not see any person, and the prisoner was then in the back kitchen.
On the night of the 29th, a constable and several other persons were on the watch in front, and some other persons were watching at the back. A loud noise was again heard at the back door, but although a view was obtained of the whole of the back yard and premises, no person could be seen on the outside. All this convinced him (Supt. Jeffs) that the noise must have been produced by some member of the household. The “knocks” continued on other nights when the premises were also watched, and for three nights when the premises were also watched, and for three nights in succession some plates and dishes, a shaving glass and scrubbing brushes were removed from the pump-house, some of these things being found in the path, some in a ditch, and some had not being found at all.
On the evening in question, about half-past eight, a straw rick, containing about six loads, was set on fire in the barton. Two men named Haste and Andrews , were at that time in such a position that they must have seen anyone leave the barton, but they saw nothing. Frederick Collard and others had come there to watch on the outside, but they could not see anyone either go into or leave the barton.
He (Supt. Jeffs) was called out there at one o’clock that night, and instituted a careful search, but without any result. He then set a watch, with the aid of additional constables, who were placed in positions commanding a view of the house and premises, the roads and the fields at the back. He was sorry to say that his instructions were not carried out to the letter by one member of the force, but on the following Saturday night P.C. Hunt saw the prisoner come out of the house, go towards where the dog was kept, and then return. Almost immediately afterwards, he saw a quantity of reed in the barton on fire, and at once ran to put it out. No person could be seen, nor could the tracks of any other person be found. He (Supt. Jeffs) believed that it was set on fire by someone in the house, and he had got the members of the family in court to swear that they did not do it. The girl, if afforded the opportunity, would swear the same thing, but the whole of the circumstance, and her conduct generally, led him to believe she was the guilty party.
On Sunday night, in continuation of these foolish, wicked and serious practices, the milk in the dairy was found to be covered with burnt paper, although half an hour previously it was seen to be all right. The girl denied that she did it, but it was patent to him that she must have done so, and he might add that since the girl had been in custody none of these mysterious things had occurred. Mr. Shattock did not wish to injure the girl, but was anxious, of course, to have those things put a stop to.
Mr. Broadmead said he certainly thought they ought to hear the evidence, and the other magistrates being of the same opinion the following witnesses were examined:-
Mr John Shattock deposed:
– I am a yeoman residing at Cobbe’s Cross Farm, at Goathurst. On Sunday night, the 21st of April, I and the members of my family were in my house. My wife, my daughter, my grandson and the prisoner are the only persons who live in the house, but that evening I had a few friends there. A very heavy knock came at the front door about eight o’clock. My daughter went to the door, and some of my friends afterwards followed. When I went to the door, which was shut, I found two flower pots on the step. I looked up and down the road to see who put them there, but I could not find any one. It is about three yards from my sitting-room to the front door. There is no other door from the sitting-room to the front door. If the door had been knocked from the inside some of my party must have met the person coming from the door. A person leaving the front door from the outside would have to go eight yards into the road, and if followed to the hatch would continue in sight for a considerable distance. So far as I know the prisoner was in the kitchen at this time.
– On Tuesday, the 23rd of April, the prisoner said she heard some one in the front of the house. On Thursday, the 25th April, the prisoner made a similar statement to me about nine o’clock, and I went out and found some flower pots and stones on the lawn. No one was to be seen at that time. The prisoner had been in the dairy just before this. The dairy-window comes out at the end of the house and on the front of the lawn. On Saturday, the 27th April, about eight o’clock in the evening, in consequence of a communication made to me by my daughter, I went out and found a pigs’ trough and a basket containing about four mangolds. The pigs’ trough was at the end hatch of the house and the basket at the front gate. The pigs’ trough is usually kept about four or five yards from where I found it.
– On Sunday night, the 28th of April, I watched my premises from about eight o’clock until half-past nine. During the time I was watching I saw no strange people or heard anything, but about five or ten minutes after I got into the house I heard two heavy bangs at the back door. I was then in my front kitchen, and the prisoner was in the back kitchen the instant I heard the knocks. I could not see her, but it was very shortly after that I saw her in the back kitchen. I had a dog chained up within four feet of my back door that night. The dog did not bark then.
– On the 29th April there came a knock at the back door about ten o’clock; nothing was disturbed, and no person was seen to leave the premises. I went to the back kitchen and found the prisoner there. On the Tuesday night (30th April) some persons were watching the outside of my premises and some were on the inside. Just as it was getting dark, I believe, there was some knocking at the back door, during the time these persons were watching on the outside. On the 1st May a knock came at the back door about the same time. On going out I found some plates and dishes had been taken from a table in the pump-house, and placed in the path. Since that date up to Thursday night (9th May) similar occurrences have taken place with slight variation. The prisoner was on my premises on each occasion.
– About half-past eight or nine on the 9th May, I heard a cry of “fire.” I went out, but could see no one who would be likely to set anything on fire. I found my straw rick on fire in the barton, about fifty-four yards from my house. I had two men (Isaac Haste and Albert Andrews) working in an orchard about fifty yards from the rick. They were in a position to see if anyone had gone to the rick. I do not know where the prisoner was at the time of the fire. On Saturday night (11th May), about half-past eight or nine, I found some reed on fire in my barton, close to the straw rick. That was put out. When I went through the kitchen to go [to] the fire the prisoner was there. On Sunday night (12th May) some paper had apparently been burnt and put over four or five pans in the dairy. Those pans contained a quantity of milk and cream.
– The prisoner has been in my service since Lady-day last. I have accused prisoner of taking things from my cupboard, but have since forgiven her. It was on Thursday (9th May), in the morning, about eleven or twelve o’clock, that I accused the prisoner of taking things, and the straw rick was on fire the same evening. During all these knockings the dog did not bark. He is in the habit of barking when persons come round the house. I did not make any of the noises, or set fire to the rick myself.
Albert Bellringer, grandson of Mr. Shattock, deposed that he was present on the occasion spoken of by the last witness, and heard the noises. He went out, but could not see any person about. On the evening of the 30th he heard a knock at the back door, and on going out he heard a noise in the hedge, and fired a pistol in the direction the noise came from. He could not tell whether it was a man or a dog. The prisoner was in the back kitchen when he went out on that occasion. On the night of the fire he searched for tracks in the field, but although it had been raining just before, and the ground was soft, he could not find any.
Louisa Shattock, daughter of the prosecutor, also gave corroborative evidence, and added that on the 9th May the prisoner was found with half a pound of tea in her possession. It had been missed from the caddy, and she admitted having taken it from there. The prisoner drew the attention of witness to burnt paper being in the milk. The dairy windows were open, but there was lattice-work there. The pieces of burnt paper might possibly have come through the lattice work. She found some burnt paper outside the dairy door and in the pump-house. Prisoner denied that she had put the burnt paper in the milk.
P.C. Hunt deposed that he had been watching Mr. Shattock’s premises several times between the 30th April and 11th May. From his place of concealment he had a clear view of the back door leading into the court, and of the length of the barton on the opposite side to the Ham-field. He had also a view of the road. Whilst he had been so watching he had not seen any stranger coming to the premises. On Saturday night he saw the prisoner come out of the back-kitchen door towards the yard. She went towards the dog-box, and immediately after she returned he saw a cloud of smoke going over the barton. He looked towards the straddle, and saw the fire coming from the reed. It was possible the reed might have been lighted before the prisoner came out. He looked every way, but could see no one. He searched the field for tracks, and also for matches and paper, but found none.
In reply to the Bench, Supt. Jeffs said the only person who had ever seen, or fancied he had seen, anybody else whilst watching was a man named Coombs, and perhaps it was fair towards the prisoner that he should also be called.
Isaac Coombs deposed that on Tuesday evening, the 30th, he was out watching, and directly after hearing some raps at hte door Mr. Bellringer ran out of the back and fired off a pistol. Witness ran out on the road and heard something like the crackling of small sticks, as if some one was getting down over the hedge. Subsequently he saw two figures – he could not say whether of men or women – running across the wheat field.
This being all the evidence the Chairman, after a brief consultation with the other magistrates, said although they had all, he believed, formed a strong opinion as to who did the things complained of, there was no evidence to justify the committal of the prisoner, who would therefore be discharged.
Somerset County Gazette, 18th May 1878.