Lambeth.
Maria Horgan, 20, described as a servant, was charged before Mr Lushington with stealing a watch and chain, the property of George Wells. The facts in connection with the case were very extraordinary. Detective sergeant Ham, of the P division, stated that for some weeks past a deal of excitement had been caused in the neighbourhood of prosecutor’s house (135, Camberwell-road) by the report that a “ghost” was committing all sorts of damage. Flower-pots were thrown about, trees damaged, and persons struck by all kinds of missiles, without the originator of the mischief being discovered.
Detectives Puttock and Neville were instructed to investigate the matter, and on Monday they went to the prosecutor’s house. The mother of the prosecutor had shortly before been struck by a flower-pot on the arm and injured. A vine was found torn down and a water-pipe cut. The prisoner appeared in a very excited state, and showed a bruise on her forehead which she said had been inflicted by a man she found concealed in the washhouse. The detectives searched the place, but failed to find any trace of a man.
During the time they were searching, flower-pots were thrown about in a most mysterious manner, and then the prisoner screamed out and begged to be allowed to leave the house, as she was afraid to stay. Her mistress told her not to be afraid, as she would be protected. She, however, made earnest appeals to be allowed to leave. Just at this time a watch and chain were missed from the breakfast-room, and the detectives having a suspicion about prisoner’s conduct, followed her upstairs. She ran into a bed-room, quickly followed by detective Puttock, who discovered the watch and chain concealed in the bed. the prisoner was then taken into custody.
Martha Platt, a young girl, also in the service of Mr Wells, said her mistress gave her the watch to hang up in the breakfast parlour, and she did so. The prisoner was there at the time, and shortly afterwards the watch and chain were gone. At that time the detectives and her master’s son were looking about the garden for the man prisoner had said she had been struck by. On Sunday morning prisoner came to her and said, “I must do something to make missus believe somebody has got into the house.” The prisoner then opened the kitchen window as though it had been forced, and told witness to scream out and call the young master. witness went upstiars and called him. Prisoner told her not to say anything about what was done, and to throw some flower-pots down ,so as to alarm the house. She declined to do so. On Monday the prisoner said, “I must do something else to make missus think a man is in the place;” and then, taking up the head of a broom, struck herself several heavy blows on the forehead, causing bruises. She afterwards struck herself with a flower pot, and cut her forehead. Shortly afterwards she rushed in from the wash-house screaming, and said a man concealed in the wash-house had struck her.
It was further stated that she had only been in the service of Mr Wells about six weeks, and for the past fortnight great damage had been done by flower pots and other things being thrown about. The back gate of the garden had several times been left open, and the key was missing. A great deal of alarm had been caused by the extraordinary noises and other things, of which, no doubt, prisoner was the origin.
Prisoner, who declined to ask any questions of the witnesses, denied the robbery; but she said she had nothing to say with regard to the other evidence.
Mr Lushinton fully committed her for trial.
Morning Post, 21st November 1872.
The Camberwell Ghost.
The case of what has been known in the district as “the Camberwell ghost” came before the Lambeth (London) police magistrate on Wednesday. Serjeant-detective Ham stated that for some weeks there had been much excitement in the neighbourhood of th ehouse of Mr. Geo. Wells, 135, Camberwell road, by the report that a “ghost” was committing all sorts of damage. Flower pots were thrown about, trees in the garden damaged, several persons struck by all kinds of missiles, and the offenders invisible. [then largely as above].
Ballymena Observer, 30th November 1872.