A mystery explained.
A curious case came before the Police Court on Monday. A family in Affleck Street had been annoyed for some weeks back by the mysterious ringing of bells, breaking of windows, and other unaccountable manifestations, somewhat resembling the ‘Diel o’ Baldarroch case’.
It was noticeable also that several of the valuables about the house were going amissing, so that the spirit – if it was a haunting spirit – must have been an acquisitive one. Some suspicion was at length entertained concerning the servant girl, notwithstanding she was fresh from the country, and upon her trunk being looked into while she was at church on Sunday forenoon, the missing articles were found, and a young gentleman with a blue surtout and brass buttons was sent to escort her from the place of worship. To him, in her loving simplicity, she opened all her heart.
She had been the haunting spirit – had rung the bells, broken the windows, and appropriated the goods. With an unaccountable want of gallantry her escort betrayed her confidence, and she was sent for twenty days to try her tricks in a mansion in the West End. – Aberdeen Herald.
Montrose Standard, 25th August 1854.