Ghost Story.
We relate the following ridiculous story for the purpose of showing the absurd means by which nervous or superstitious people are sometimes frightened. For a fortnightt the people of the village of Barnwood, near this city, have been in a state of great fright in consequence of certain noises, supposed to be supernatural, which have been heard in a cottage occupied by a man named Akerman.The cottage is described as one which would tempt a ghostly wanderer.
Akerman has two children, a girl about ten years of age, and a boy younger, and it was found that in whichever room in the cottage the children slept, in that room they were disturbed by a mysterious hammering and scratching at the head of the bed. The farmers and several residents of the neighbourhood were called in, and sensible men who should have known better were convinced that there was “something” in the house, while strong men grew pale and hurried away from the place in terror. All night candles were kept burning, and little groups were constantly drawn together intently to discuss the subject of the ghost.
One gentleman officially connected with the parish was called in while the children were in bed. He found, of course, that light was fatal to the ghost’s appearance, but upon the instant that the light was put out there was heard a peculiar thumping and scratching. The gentleman examined the premises and said he was persuaded the noises were made by the application of wires, or some other kind of spirit-rapping machinery.
On Saturday night our informant went into the house, and found more than thirty people assembled, listening awe-stricken. One resident of the parish at least was convinced that, for a purpose which he knew not, the people of the cottage were practising a deception on their neighbours. He was offered a pecuniary reward to discover the trick, and on Monday he requested that if the sounds were heard that night he might be sent for. Night as usual brought the ghost. Our informant was sent for, and he found about thirty people in the house. He took his seat on the bed, and the lights were extinguished. The scratching and thumping began, whereupon he passed a stick with which he had previously armed himself rapidly up and down the front of the head-board. In a minute or two he found that the stick was clutched by the material hand of an earthly being, whom he warned to release the hold. The experiment was repeated with a similar result. His suspicions now ripened into certainty.
In order to convince those present, he imitated the scratching and thumping, and was at once assailed from all parts of the room with such cries as “Don’t you believe it now?” “Ain’t you satisfied that there’s a ghost now?” At last he could contain himself no longer, and bursting into a laugh, called for a candle, and showed how the trick had been practised. The light was again put out, and the girl’s hands held, and it was found that while her hands were secured there was no noise, but no sooner were they released than the ghostly sounds were again heard.
After this had gone on for some time the girl and her friends were charged with deception, and they did not deny the charge. The assembled villagers then returned home, and for the first time during many nights some of them enjoyed sleep undisturbed by horrors of the supernatural.
Cheltenham Chronicle, 6th September 1864.