This doesn’t sound otherworldly given the letters. But it’s interesting that it’s in Montrouge, where we have nearby examples, and that the stone throwing is clearly connected with spiritualism anyway.
Another case of mysterious stone-throwing in France.
The police baffled.
To the Editor of the “Spiritual Magazine.”
Sir, – I should be glad to add to the many interesting accounts of stone-throwing which have already appeared in your valuable Magazine, one which is given in the Revue Spirite for October last, in a communication addressed to La Societe Anonyme of Paris, bearing the signature of three respectable inhabitants of Paris-Vaugirard.
In the month of January last a persecution commenced of a M.Guenot, a gardener, living at No. 61, Grande Rue, Montrouge, with a quantity of stones being thrown into his garden. M. Guenot is much esteemed in his neighbourhood as an honest and a laborious man. The garden, which is situated behind the house is a large rectangular parallelogram 300 metres long (338 yards) and 200 broad (225 yards), surrounded by a wall 14 feet high. The house stands detached at an elevation of 15 metres (50 feet) above the adjacent ground. On the opposite side of the street are houses of respectable freeholders, contiguous to which is a large scavengers’ yard containing a number of dung carts each having a driver. Behind these houses are extensive kitchen gardens. To the east of M. Guenot’s house is a young ladies’ boarding school; to the west are other gardens. The stones always come from the scavengers’ yard and from the gardens behind the opposite houses.
M. Guenot at once informed the commissary of police at Montrouge and Vanvres, of the attack which had been made upon him; a careful inspection was made of the premises. Subsequently four of the drivers of the dung carts were arrested, and subjected to a searching examination; but after four days confinement in the central depot, they were liberated, as the police had themselves seen in broad daylight 16 heavy stones, very thick glass bottles, and flints weighing a kilogramme (2 3/4 lbs) fall, without being able to determine the points from whence they came.
The great objects of the attack were the bell glasses and glass frames in the garden, all of which were smashed to pieces. A few of the windows were also broken in the school-house adjacent. Some of the missiles were projected with such force as to leave a mark on the wall like that produced by a small cannon ball. It was obvious that no unaided human power could have produced such a result; but neither ballista nor any other machine could be found. And even supposing it possible that some ill-disposed persons were capable of throwing these missiles night and day during five months, for the purpose of tormenting a neighbour, such a phenomenon of malevolence would be as strange as the appearance of the projectiles. It will also be remembered that police were posted at different distances during the day, rendering it impossible that any machine could be set up and removed in the time observed to be occupied by the flight of the projectiles, which one after another broke the glasses and frames, and which came over the house, at an elevation, as we have said, of 50 feet above the opposite ground.
A son of M. Guenot, 16 years of age, was struck 27 times; not however with the heavy bottles and stones, but with small gravel and rubbish, sufficient to draw blood from his face and forehead. On the 24th June, at five o’clock in the morning, he received, for the last time, a blow from a flint which laid his temple open.
As the elder son was carrying away three bell glasses to a place of safety, a large pebble struck the glasses, smashing them into bits, but without touching him. Ultimately every glass and frame was broken to atoms.
The door of the cellar was burst in, and a quarter cask of wine broken up. The contents of another cask already broached was poured out on the floor; at the same time the harness of the horse was cut to pieces. The police observed that the leather, which was two centimetres (3/4 inch) thick, showed that it must have been cut with a very sharp instrument, applied with great force, and at one blow. Experiments tried with various tools produced no such results; it required repeated blows, with the leather on a block, to sever it; yet the harness which was thus destroyed hung from a screw ring seven feet from the ground.
Many anonymous letters were found deposited under the door of the house which contained menaces couched in gross, if not obscene language, and accurate descriptions of what had occurred, with details of what would occur. One letter stated that they were paid for their work, and gave the names of three of the authorities of Montrouge who had furnished 8,500 francs (£340) for procuring these annoyances to M. Guenot; and that a further sum of 2,500 francs (£100) would be forthcoming if they succeeded in killing the horse and its master.
This is the substance of what occurred during six months. The whole neighbourhood witnessed the flight of stones and empty bottles from different centres. M. Guenot appealed to a court of justice, fresh researches were made, but with no better result than at first.
Each night M. Guenot and the members of his family took in turns to watch with fire-arms loaded. A part of the land remained uncultivated. At length M. Guenot’s courage failed; despairing of relief he was driven to the verge of madness. When his excitement was at its height, he received a visit from MM. Cochard and Nolet, father and son, known Spiritualists; they explained to him, to his sorrowing wife, and desponding family their views as to what they believed to be the cause of this persistent persecution, viz. : that in a preceding state of existence the spirits who had thus wrought all this mischief, had themselves suffered from members of M. Guenot’s family, and had now found an opportunity to take revenge.
The recommendation which those gentlemen offered was, that the family should unite fervently in offering up prayers at nine o’clock every night, not only for relief from their own suffering, but also on behalf of those who had inflicted it on them. They further promised that other spirit-circles would unite their supplications to the same effect. “Pray, pardon, and rest in peace,” said MM Cochard and Niolet; “resume your labour, and be assured you will be no more troubled or alarmed.”
Without entering into the vexed question of pre-existence, it is sufficient here to record that, after the visit of MM. Cochard and Niolet, and the adoption by Guenot’s family of their truly Christian instruction, all disturbance ceased at Montrouge. According to the testimony of those gentlemen it would be difficult to recognise in the open and contented expression in the active and healthy aspect of M. Guenot, the man who two months before presented all the fearful traits of incipient madness – watchfulness – suspicion – discontent – attenuated form and haggard aspect, and who never ceased to utter frightful imprecations and maledictions against the disturbers of his peace and destroyers of his property.
But Spiritualism in its highest form had entered No. 61, Grande Rue, Montrouge, and we have it on record that contemporaneously with the spirit of prayer, of pardon, and of love, the whole aspect of life in that home once so desolate is now entirely changed, and has become the abode of prosperity, happiness and peace.
Your obedt. Servant, Rich. Beamish. Woollton Lawn, Southampton, October 1872.