Strange Affair in Hull.
Wholesale Window-Smashing.
The Hull police are at present engaged in investigating a curious circumstance in Linnaeus-street. Commencing on Monday, the windows at the back of a house in that street have all been broken by stones and coal, being evidently thrown at them by some at present unknown hand, and much to the consternation of the inmates. A pane of glass was broken on Monday afternoon about four o’clock, and during the evening other panes were smashed in a similar manner.
On Tuesday more windows were broken, and at once information was given to the police, with a view to the mischievous assailants being discovered. Six constables were sent to watch the premises, but during the time they have been on duty the window-smashing continued until hardly a single whole pane of glass at the back of the house occupied by Mr Major remained. In an adjacent house the fanlight and a glass panel of the front floor were broken by a missile.
Yesterday, however, the damage ceased, but the police, who have exerted themselves in nearly every conceivable way, have been unable to trace or even obtain a clue to the offenders. The suggestion that it is due to a supernatural agency may be dismissed as so much nonsense. The more reasonable theory, judging from the experience of similar occurrences, is that the damage has been done by some person, at present unknown, who is thoroughly acquainted with the house. The missiles for the most part are small pieces of coal double the size of a walnut, which, it may be noted, correspond with the “nuts” stored in a coalhouse hard by. Superintendent Grasby and his staff are giving the matter their closest attention, and hope ere long to solve what at present is a mystery, but which will possibly be explained in a very simple way.
Eastern Morning News, 1st January 1897.
Strange Affair At Hull.
Window Smashing Extraordinary.
An extraordinary occurrence is reported from West Hull. On Monday evening last a family living in one of the houses half-way down the street was startled by a sudden crash in one of the rooms at the rear. They promptly discovered that a stone had been sent through one of the windows, and while they were taking stock of the damage another missile made its way through a second window. Of course a certain amount of consternation was caused, but it was mild in comparison with what was to follow. Since Monday night almost every window in the house has been smashed by some unseen agency, even in broad daylight, and with several members of the police force on watch. Where the stones have come from is a complete mystery, and the police have had to acknowledge that they are baffled.
Linnaeus-street is inhabited by persons of more than average intelligence, but there are a few who attribute the authorship of the mischief to a supernatural and invisible power. Not so the majority; but, whoever is responsible for the trouble, there is no doubt a solution of the mystery is difficult.
On Thursday afternoon a reporter waited upon the wife of the tenant of the house, and found her in deep distress. One of her daughters has been so greatly terrified that she is now in bed ill, and every other member of the family has been more or less disturbed by the incessant worry. She stated that the first window was broken on Monday afternoon at four o’clock, and the “smashing” continued at intervals until nearly ten o’clock. The services of the police were obtained, but they were just as much puzzled as the household.
On Tuesday more windows were broken by the same unseen hand, and on Wednesday morning, at half-past one, a stone through one of the top windows gave the signal that the performance had again commenced.
A messenger was sent to the Anlaby Road Workhouse, and a telephone message to the police resulted in five or six officers being despatched to Linnaeus-street. They were placed in every conceivable position inside and outside the house, but still every now and then bang went a window. And then to the profound astonishment of the puzzled watchers, a crash was heard in the front passage, and a policeman, who happened to be standing there, actually saw the stone coming through the fanlight from the street. This incident caused more amazement than any other which had preceded it. How the attack was transferred from the rear to the front is beyond comprehension, because an officer was directly opposite the street door, and there was absolutely no place of concealment.
The fact remains that scarcely a square of glass has escaped destruction. Where the windows once were wood has been nailed across, and the rooms are in darkness, and gas is being burnt night and day. The furniture inside the room has not escaped scatheless, crockery, gas globes, and brackets being destroyed by the flying stones. On Wednesday a glazier was taking measurements, with a view of replacing the shattered windows, when a stone struck him, and he fled from the spot as though bewitched. The plumber also met with a similar adventure, as did a policeman.
It might be mentioned that the house on each side had a window or two broken, but in neither case has the mischief been serious. The house which has suffered most, strange to say, is the best sheltered of the three. There is only a small backyard, and it runs up to the gable end of the avenue. Where anybody could find a place to secrete himself and at the same time direct his aim upon the windows it is impossible to conceive.
Manchester Guardian, 4th January 1897.