The Tref Eglwys Ghost.
About five or six weeks ago, the neighbourhood of Llawrglyn, in the parish of Tref Eglwys, Montgomeryshire, was thrown into a state of alarm by the most appalling visitation that could well have happened in a civilized country. The work of devastation which has been committed at a farm house, called Gwernau, is almost incredible: and when it is announced that property to the amount of at least £10 has been injured or destroyed on the premises by an invisible agent in the shape of a “ghost or goblin damned,” of course the fact becomes more terrific and alarming.
Two circumstances connected with that locality, viz. the fact that a child had been murdered there some years ago, and that a well known witch lived in the neighbourhood, served not a little to increase the consternation.
Plates were heard rattling about the shelves; covers were laid for guests that were not expected; the servant girl’s clothes were seen dropping from her person as if by magic; the family wardrobe was rummaged and destroyed; all the bread that was in the house was ground to powder; a whole pailful of butter was displaced and thrown into the butter milk; and nothing, in fact, could exceed the terror which prevailed among the inmates.
They had but recently taken possession of the farm; and being religiously disposed, prayers were offered up on Sunday in all the surrounding meeting houses for the afflicted family; and the minsters, in their addresses, seemed as it were tongue bound. Mr D Williams, a Calvinistic Methodist preacher, approached the house, but was so horror-struck, that he could not be prevailed upon to enter it. But Mr H. Rowlands, a Wesleyan minister, and Editor of the “Eurgrawn,” attended, and prayed most impressively for the consolation of the family.
The husband, it seems, had gone to Llangurig that morning, for Savage, the conjuror, to allay the ghost; but Mr Rowlands said with emphasis, that “this kind goeth not out” by man’s device, but by prayer to the Almighty. The conjuror, when he arrived, could do nothing; but another from Llanbrynmair, more deeply versed in the dark art than he, said at once that although it would be impossible for him to put a stop to the devastation in the house, he could spare the cattle: so a charm was immediately wrought.
Mr Rowlands, on his return to Llanidloes, (where he and Mr D. Williams reside) mentioned the circumstances to his friends; and next morning, another Wesleyan preacher made a purpose journey to Llawrglyn, to take minutes of all that had transpired, in order to publish a pamphlet on the subject. The preacher, after conversing with the good people of the house, and seeing all that was done, read that portion of the gospel in which it is stated that the disciples, “when they saw Jesus walking upon the sea, supposed it had been a spirit;” and afterwards offered up a prayer for the family and their friends assembled.
He forgot, however, that in another place it is said, that “a spirit hath not flesh and bones;” whereas it is certain that he must have seen the impression of a human hand, and “the print of the nails” in the injured butter which he had examined: – doubtless he pesuaded himself that they were the devil’s claws.
We feel, however, that we ought not to keep our readers any longer in suspense. Among others whom the rumour of this supernatural occurrence led to the spot, the police were said one day to be coming there; and somehow or other, whether from fear of danger, or consciousness of guilt, the servant girl left her situation; and on her way home to Llanbrynmair, a mouse, she asserted, went before her, and occasionally laughed at her like a human being; and thus was she instrumental in luring the ghost away.
It is satisfactory to add, that nothing can surpass the joy and tranquility which have been experienced ever since at Gwernau.
Now, as a corrollary to this narrative of facts, we would throw out the following suggestions: 1st. That the perpetrator of so much mischief be taken before the magistrates; 2ndly. That the conjuror, if he accepted a fee for his charm, be punished, as the law directs, for taking money under false pretences; and lastly, That out of the £200,000 now being collected by the “Wesleyan Church,” for the purpose of promoting education in the manufacturing districts, a liberal share be granted towards enlightening the inhabitants of Llwrglyn, and the rev. divines of Llanidloes.
North Wales Chronicle, 27th February 1844.