A ghost on the “rampage”.
It seems that a widow named Mrs Green, living at Springfield, Kentucky, has for some time past been pestered by the attentions of a ghost, who, with singular bad taste, commenced this system of annoyance only three months after the death of her husband. It is, however, only fair on the ghost to say that he appears to be deeply smitten with Mrs Green and to suffer much mental anguish, for, besides emitting singular and disagreeable seounds all night, he rumbles about the house all day, making a noise like that of a horse rolling on the floor or pawing violently on the carpet.
He has several times appeared to the bereaved lady and her friends, and appears to be a medium-sized ghost, wearing slippers, and half hidden in a white gauzy gloud. On the 30th of June, however, the conduct of this enamoured ghost led to a most mysterious and “crowning development” – namely, the ghost of Mr Green, who, justly incensed at the attentions paid by his brother ghost to his widow, suddenly made his appearance. Mrs Green was at the time in the cellar when she saw the late Mr Green, or to speak more correctly, half of the deceased gentleman, for only his lower limbs and feet were visible (easily recognisable by the peculiar cut of his trousers), and a cold hand was laid on her shoulder.
“In the name of goodness, Dick,” exclaimed Mrs Green, “what do you want?” Thus addressed, Mr Green’s ghost became very communicative, expressing his intention at once and decidedly to put a stop to the other ghost’s proceedings. He also sent a few messages on business matters to his friends, and vanished, repeating the word “friend” three times.
Since then Mrs Green has heard such frightful knockings and groanings that there can be little doubt that Mr Green’s ghost is constantly punching the other ghost’s head. – Pall Mall Gazette.
Ulster Examiner and Northern Star, 7th August 1874.