Capture of a Ghost.
For several days a considerable deal of excitement had been caused in the neighbourhood of London-street, Dockhead, in consequence of its being reported, and actually believed by many, that one of the houses was haunted by a veritable ghost. So strong was the belief, that every day last week thousands of people collected about the street, putting a stop to business, and creating much annoyance to the peaceable inhabitants. On Thursday and the following day (Friday) the crowds were so great that Mr Superintendent Branford, with Inspector Macintosh and a body of police, were called to the spot to preserve something like order.
The house in question was inhabited by a working man named Baker, and his wife and daughter. While the man was out in the day time at his work singular noises were heard in all parts of the house, and breaking of crockery, glass, &c., which were thrown about in all directions by some invisible hand. These noises soon attracted the attention of the passers-by, who collected about, and in a short time the report got abroad that the house in question was haunted.
The nuisance became so great that the clergymen connected with the parish were acquainted with the circumstances. The Catholic priest attended, but would have nothing to do with his ghostship. Mr Hancock, a gentleman connected with the District Visiting society, inquired into the circumstances, and soon found out that the ghost was no other than the daughter, a young girl about twelve years of age. A communication was made to the Reverend Mr Marton, the rector of Christ church, and it was ascertained that she was a very bad girl, exceedingly idle and dirty, and fond of wandering about the streets to get into bad company. To prevent her following her bad inclinations, she was confined to the house, when she broke her father’s crockery and furniture in such a mysterious way, as to cause the report being spread that the house was haunted. The father, by the advice of other persons, gave her into custody, and she was brought before Mr Combe, charged with committing the wilful damage to her father’s goods.
The father said he did not know what to do with his daughter. She was a wilful, bad girl, and he could not keep her out of the streets, although she had a comfortable home, and could be a great help to her mother. He had no idea at first that it was she who broke his things, as his wife told him that she was in the same room with the girl when the things were thrown about, and she did not see her touch anything. They both believed that it was the work of a ghost, and that the house was haunted.
Mr Combe inquired whether it had been ascertained how she contrived to break the crockery without being perceived by her mother? Her father said that he understood she fixed hairs to the articles, and pulled them off the shelves.
In answer to the charge, the prisoner sullenly said that her father and mother would not let her go out, therefore she broke the things to frighten them. Mr Combe severely lectured her as to her bad conduct, and in default of paying for the damage she had committed, sentenced her to the house of correction for fourteen days.
Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper, 22nd November 1857.
also said to be Southwark:
A Haunted House.
The house of a working man named Baker, in London-street, Southwark, has been surrounded by thousands of people day after day, a report having gained general credence that it was haunted by a ghost. The nuisance became so great that the clergymen associated with the parish were acquainted with the circumstances. The Catholic priest attended, but would nothing at all to do with his “ghostship.”
Mr Hancock, a gentleman connected with the District Visiting Society, inquired into the circumstances, and soon found out that the ghost was no other than the daughter, a young girl about 12 years of age. A communication was made to the Rev. Mr Martin, the rector of Christ Church, and it was ascertained that she was a very bad girl, exceedingly idle and dirty, and fond of wandering about the streets to get into bad company. To prevent her following her bad inclinations, she was confined to the house, when she broke her father’s crockery and furniture in such a mysterious way as to cause the report being spread that the house was haunted. The father, by the advice of other persons, gave her into custody, and the case was investigated before Mr Coombe, the magistrate, who, by one question, elicited the source of all the crockery breaking previously shrouded in mystery. The explanation was, that with hairs secretly attached to them, the girl managed to pull the dishes from the tables and the shelves – an ancient mode of procedure on the part of the evil-disposed for creating a general belief that a house is haunted. The sleight-of-hand delinquent was committed for fourteen days to the house of correction.
Kendal Mercury, 21st November 1857.