A Brixton Ghost Story.
A correspondent of the Spiritualist, writing from an address in South London, communicates to that journal the following story, which he adduces as evidence of the reality of spiritual phenomena: –
“Happening this week to have paid a visit to a friend living in the south of london, an interesting case was related to me, which I think merits publication, as I believe the narrator to be a thoroughly trustworthy person, and quite unacquainted with Spiritualism. It appears that on several occasions recently mysterious knockings have been heard in one of the bed-rooms by more than one member of the family, also by a visitor staying in th ehouse; in addition, what appeared to sound like footsteps on the stairs during the night have been heard by others in the family.
These mysterious sounds have caused great alarm, and no definite clue has been found to have arrived last week, when one day the servant went upstairs to the said room, and found the door locked. After trying to open it, and not succeeding, she called her mistress, who also tried, but failed. The servant, thinking that one of the children had fastened it inside in fun, said, ‘If anyone is in the room, open the door.’ Almost immediately the door flew open, as if by magic, and directly three distinct knocks like to those before heard, sounded upon the door, and it was found on examination that the bolt of the lock was out, the key having to be obtained in order to close the door.
On hearing this story I said that no doubt a former inhabitant of the house could not rest, and wished to reveal some information, perhaps connected with a hidden treasure, which suggestion of course produced some laughter. In order, however, to test the matter I proposed a seance, which was strongly objected to by the lady of the house, but acquiesced in by her husband, and we two sat down to a small table. After sitting for about a quarter of an hour the table moved, which movement we ascertained, after I had put one or two questions, was caused by the same invisible power which had produced the knocks on the door.
The invisible stated, in reply to my questions, that he had lived in the house about seventy years before, and that a large sum of money was deposited under the boards of the room. Of course I advised my friend to test the truth of this, but whether his better half will acquiesce in having the boards taken up I have not yet heard, although, strange to relate, in addition to this she herself had a dream with reference to an aged individual supposed to be in the house at the commencement of their tenancy. This is the practical way to solve all ghost stories.
If there is any doubt about the apparition, or the noise, or whatever it may be, sit down and have a seance, and let the table tell the truth about it. If an answer comes it will satisfy everybody excepting, perhaps, the ‘lady of the house,’ and the ghost will be effectually laid; if the table is mute there must have been a delusion.”
The author of the story, however, does not say whether the hint received through the table was acted upon; but surely not even a man’s ‘better half’ could be so sceptical as to resist the moral force of a hoard of ‘treasure’ beneath her feet, and only waiting for the removal of a board or two to realise the profitable promptings of the spirit. Should no treasure be found, of course the conclusion is that the spirit is a lying one given to playing practical jokes, and it had better be told so if the table will despatch messages as well as receive them.
Edinburgh Evening News, 2nd May 1876.