Haunted house in Auckland.
The spiritualists exorcise the ghost.
It is probably within the knowledge of many of our readers that spiritualism has made some progress in Auckland, and that for some months past regularly organised spiritist circles have been held, which have been visited by many scientists and literary men whose curiosity led them to attempt to penetrate the unknown. The services of two of the more prominent amongst these were called into requisition on Friday, under circumstances of a very peculiar nature.
It appears from the information which was given to a representative of this journal that a lady residing next door to the house formerly occupied by the unfortunate John Soar, who committed suicide at Newton recently, had, shortly after his death, heard – or imagined she heard – a peculiar grating noise in the roof, as if the shingles were being violently pulled off. She endeavoured to ascertain the cause of these peculiar noises, but after a minute examination, failed to attribute them to aught else but some ghostly agency. She at once concluded that the house was haunted, and broke the fearful news to a neighbour, who advised her to procure the services of a minister of the gospel and have the supposed ghostly disturbers of the domestic peace exorcised, that is, spiritually bound over to keep the peace.
In this dilemma she consulted Mr J.C. Wilkes, a spiritist of considerable experience, who is said to rival the ancient magicians in the mystic art, and to be able to summon departed spirits from the vasty deep. Mr Wilkes secured the services of another professor of the art, and together they proceeded to the supposed haunted house to lay the troublous ghost.
For this purpose they took their seats at a loo-table and having pronounced the customary invocations proceeded to consult the oracle as to the mysterious disturbance. Our informant states that the spirit of John Soar immediately responded by spelling out his name in a thoroughly orthodox manner, and intimated that he had an important message to deliver. The spirit was welcomed in a cordial manner, and requested to make a full, true and particular statement of his griefs and sorrows. Thus invited, the ghost went on to say that he was very sorry for having so suddenly terminated his own mortal career, that he sympathised very deeply with his widow, and was desirous of conversing with her, if she could be induced to attend a seance.
As for his late neighbour, he disliked her exceedingly and was determined to continue his visits to the roof, as often as he conveniently could, consistently with his duties in his new sphere. His spiritual vis-a-vis then desired him to give them a specimen of the noises he had made upon the shingles.
In a moment there was a scraping noise, as if half-a-dozen shinglers were at work removing the roof. J.C.W. thereupon said he thought he wouldn’t be missed form the circle, and therefore if they had no objection, he begged to be excused, and would retire. The other, however, decidedly objected, pointing out that by going, he would lose an opportunity of studying some most interesting manifestations. Our informant does not know what was the final upshot of the affair, but he believes the seance was adjourned at this stage.
Auckland Star, 20th November 1876.
The alleged haunted house.
On receipt of Mr J.C. Wilke’s letter this morning, we despatched a reporter to inquire into the facts in connection with some information relative to the alleged haunted house at Newton. It is only right to state that there are several inaccuracies in the story, as given to us by our informant, who is a resident at Newton.
Our reporter first called upon Mrs Wilson, living next door to the house formerly inhabited by deceased. Mrs Wilson states that she has never been disturbed by any unusual noises, either in her own or the neighbouring house, and that she had not allowed any Spiritualistic circle to sit in her house at any time. She has, however, been annoyed at night by a lot of young roughs, who have been in the habit of throwing stones and clay at the neighbouring house, and run away under cover of the darkness. Last night a lad called at Messrs Anderson and Elliott’s Glasgow Store, Karangahape Road, and wanted to borrow a white sheet, in order to frighten the “larrikins” away from the house. Now that we have drawn attention to the matter, we trust the constable at the Newton station will take steps to abate the nuisance.
Our reporter, after further inquiries learned that the alleged haunted house is situate in Newton Road. It is a small building occupied by an old lady who was a friend of the wife of the deceased, and attended her during her illness some months ago. For a few weeks past the old lady has been disturbed by noises on the roof of her house, and has reported the circumstance to the neighbours. It is believed that some of the boys living in the locality have been in the habit of throwing stones on the roof during the night, out of sheer mischief. The occupant of the house being an aged and lonely woman, has grown nervous at this disturbance, and has attributed it to supernatural causes. So impressed was she with this idea, that she sought counsel and aid from Mr J.C. Wilkes and his spiritist friends.
It was arranged that a seance should be held in the house, and the old lady borrowed a table for the purpose from a friend residing on the other side of the street. Accordingly, on Friday evening Mr Wilkes, accompanied by a co-spiritist and two mediums, proceeded to the house, and the usual preparations were made for a seance, the lights being extinguished. The circle was continued until about ten o’clock. It is not correct as stated, in our former article, that Mr Wilkes expressed a desire to withdraw at a certain stage of the proceedings. Further inquiry shows that Mr Wilkes sat out the seance, and our reporter regrets that he was led by erroneous information into impugning Mr Wilkes’ fortitude under those trying circumstances. We have not received an authorised account of the alleged manifestations, but that given in a former article was correct in almost every particular, excepting locality, and one or two unimportant inaccuracies which do not affect the real facts.
Since the seance, the old lady has been afraid to live in the house, and has given notice to her landlord of her intention to relinquish possession. We need only say that if any boys in the neighbourhood have been making the alleged noises and frightening a harmless old lady out of mere mischief, the young scoundrels should be promptly detected, and punished.
Auckland Star, 22nd November 1876.
The Haunted House!
To the Editor of the Evening Star.
Sir, – I beg to join the “One who Knows” in the most emphatic denial to the statement that any supernatural manifestations occurred in the house of your correspondent, and that he must vent his indignation upon that reporter who furnished the public with such an infamous fabrication, and garbled misrepresentation. I call upon him to apologise for the unwarrantable manner in which he has dragged my name before the public; and if such a course is to be allowed whereby every penny-a-liner, can scandalize respectable citizens, when and how they please, it is time that honesty and truthfulness was made a qualification necessary for writing a daily journal. Years ago I made it a rule to avoid controversy in the public journals, otherwise you would have had replies to statements published on other occasions. I am only to glad to afford any information in my power upon topics of public interest if asked in a proper spirit, and am able to defend my opinions if allowed to do so.
Yours truly, J.C.W.
Note – it is not always convenient to reply, not having a pen in my hand and desk before me as you have.
(Our reporter furnishes the desired explanation in another column. – Ed. E.S.)
Auckland Star, 22nd November 1876.