George the ghost exposed – he is David, 14.
One of the world’s most publicised ghosts was unmasked last week. For 18 months George, as he was known to his fans, has haunted a stone cottage in the old-world village of Stow-on-the-Wold, Glos. Stories and articles about him appeared all over the world. A TV programme was devoted to his activities. Priests were called in to advise on the best methods of dealing with him.
But I can now reveal that “George” was really 14-year-old David Pethrick, who lives in the cottage with his parents. The truth came out two nights ago, at a seance to which a team of “People” investigators had been invited. As “George” went through his eerie routine I suddenly shone a torch on young David, who was sitting in a corner of the living-room. And I caught him doing a daring ventriloquist act behind a handkerchief.
George the Ghost first appeared during the big freeze-up of 1963, when pools of water appeared on the floor of the cottage. One night soon afterwards, as David and his parents, Mr Stanley Pethrick, 59, a carpenter, and his wife Nancy, 49, sat in the firelight they heard tapping noises.
A high-pitched voice, apparently from nowhere, started singing “Pop Goes the Weasel.” Later, crude drawings and messages appeared on the wall of Mr and Mrs Pethrick’s bedroom. Furniture moved of its own accord. Paper was ripped from the walls. Once, when Mrs Pethrick was tucking up David in bed, a stick appeared from beneath the blanket and struck her on the wrist. Messages scrawled in spooky writing on odd scraps of paper were found in the cottage.
Mr and Mrs Pethrick sought the advice of a local clergyman, the Rev. Henry Cheales, who called at the cottage to hear George for himself. Afterwards he said: “There is definitely a ‘presence’ here. I have advised the Pethricks to be kind to him, otherwise he might get violent.”
When the “People” team went along, accompanied by Brigadier Frank Spedding, an authority on the supernatural, George was too shy to appear at first. But photographer Pat Scott felt something rubbing his leg, fired a photographic flash – and saw David’s foot disappearing under the table. Then David suggested he should move to a seat on the far side of the room. He also suggested that the room was too crowded, and that some of us, including Brigadier Spedding should leave. Almost at once George began to speak.
Mrs Pethrick invited him to sing, and he obliged with “Pat-a-cake.” At this point I switched on my torch. David stopped singing immediately, and stuffed his handkerchief into his pocket. “It wasn’t me – honest,” he stammered.
But a few minutes later, when I took David to one side, he admitted the voice was his. “I don’t know why I do it,” he said. “Most of the time I hardly realise myself that the voice is mine. Sometimes I feel that a ghost is inside me.”
David denied that he was responsible for moving furniture or writing messages.
But Brigadier Spedding, who listened to David’s performance through a window, and later questioned David and his parents, said: “From all the evidence I do not feel there is anything supernatural in this house.”
Said the Rev. Mr. Cheales: “To be blunt, I now think that David is responsible for many of the things which were attributed to George.”
Mr Pethrick said: “At first I was convinced that George was a spirit. Now I am not so sure. But if it is my son I shall be greatly surprised.”
Mrs Nancy Petrick said: “George really does exist. Nothing will shake me from that conviction.”
The People, 10th May 1964.