Letters from Toulouse in France inform us, that a young woman now of that city, but born in a village called Grand-Mall in the same Diocese, is haunted by an invisible man, which has almost frighted her out of her wits. She is about 25 years of age, and the daughter of an attorney. Her uncle, who is also an attorney, has often question’d this spirit; but it would return no answer. At length the young woman herself was prevailed upon to speak to it. The questions asked it were, What was its name, and whether it was a gentleman? At which it answered with a knock under the table. She asked it again, Whether it was a marquess, count, baron or knight? At the word knight it knocked again.
Great numbers of people flock to see this young woman, and return very well pleased with the politeness and good breeding of this spirit, which answers in words to every thing the young woman asks; but ’tis dumb to every body else. A certain priest being asked to come and exorcise this spirit, made answer, That he had a shrewd suspicion that this same spirit came to be exorcised by the flesh, and desired the friends of the young woman to take care that her marriage was not spoiled.
Gloucester Journal, 5th December 1732.