A knocking ghost!
To the Editor.
Sir, – That the peasantry of Suffolk were famed of old in the use of superstitious observances, and a belief in supernatural appearances, is not so much to be wondered at; but that it should still continue in this enlightened age may justly excite your surpise. The following relation will, however, shew that such is still the fact.
In a village no great distance from Bury, the cottagers have, for some weeks, been seriously alarmed by knockings in an upper apartment where two children slept, less frequent at first, but of late, regularly every evening at about the same time.
These knockings commenced soon after the children were placed in bed, which, to appearance, excited so much alarm in the youngest child (a girl of about six years of age), as to cause violent excitement, which produced convulsive fits.
The parent becoming alarmed, applied to the Clergyman of the parish for advice and assistance, thinking, no doubt, he would be able to exorcise or conjure down this troublesome intruder. The reverend gentleman, being probably unacquainted with the forms of exorcism used in former times, pursued a much more judicious course in thoroughly investigating the matter.
For this purpose he repaired to the cottage in question, accompanied by an experienced medical practitioner, at a time when these knockings and excitements were reported to take place, and very soon discovered, by the confession of the youthful sinner, that she herself caused the knockings, and that her convulsive fits were a wicked imposition upon the public, who were beginning to assemble in numbers to witness them.
I beg you will insert the above, that the simple and credulous may not so easily become the dupes of imposters of this kind.
Your’s, etc., A.P.
Bury and Norwich Post, March 2nd 1842.