A Haunted House Story.
A remarkable story of a haunted house is sent by the “Telegraph’s” Ancona correspondent, who says that in the residence of Signor Marracini, the Public Prosecutor, there have been for some time past extraordinary happenings, which have profoundly impressed the whole family. The sons of Signor Marracini, both barristers, have been interviewed on the subject by journalists. Their story is as follows: –
“Since several days the strangest events have been taking place in our house. Last night we heard repeated knockings and the moving of furniture in uninhabited rooms. Hurrying thither, we heard a rustling, and nothing more. Meanwhile, there was a curious disturbance in the electric wires, and all the bells in the house began to ring, making a horrible din. Believing that the wires had somehow got into contact, we had the whole installation examined by a competent person, but everything was in order.
“But the most remarkable thing was the discovery of jets of water springing from the walls, and almost flooding the floors. These were seen not only by us, but by other persons as well. Shortly afterwards we were in the dining-room, when we saw milk coming up through the floor. We reported the matter to some workmen, who examined the walls, broke up the floor, raising the blocks, but they did not find the least trace of milk, water, or any other liquid.
“Still, the prodigies were not finished, as was shown by the appearance in the dining-room of a cup filled with milk. One of us who happened to be close to the spot on the floor where the cup appeared drew a little nearer, and saw a cup of coffee and milk arrive. Our father then cried, jokingly, ‘Coffee and milk? Bah! I should prefer wine.’ Shortly afterwards, while the table was being cleared, we saw a liquid running from the walls; it was wine. A little while ago a pear appeared, and then we recalled that our sister had asked at table for a pear, but was refused, as she had already eaten enough fruit. The pear was on a dish, which was locked away in the sideboard. When the latter was opened the pear was no longer there.
“We then thought that some mysterious mediumistic force might be exercised by our sister, so we watched her every movement carefully, and followed the child when she rose from the table. When she passed close to a bookshelf, where there were two volumes on spiritualism, one of the books was raised in the air as though by some supernatural force. It hit the girl several times on the shoulders, then danced for a few moments in the air, and was then clapped against the wall at the very spot whence the milk had issued.”
Leominster News and North West Herefordshire and Radnorshire Advertiser, 10th January 1908.