Mysterious Affair in County Tyrone.
Strange doings at Clonoe Rectory.
Police and servants said to be baffled.
Stewartstown, Wednesday.
For some time past at Clonoe Rectory, the residence of the Rev. John. S. Monck, A.B., some rather mysterious occurrences are reported to have taken place, and notwithstanding the vigilance of the police who visit the place periodically both day and night no trace or clue can be obtained of the visible or invisible marauder, and the whole affair appears to be shrouded in mystery.
Clonoe rectory is situated about two miles from Stewartstown, and about equal distance from Coulisland, and quite close to it stands the “famous Blackbridge,” where the memorable battle between Catholics and Protestants was fought on the 12th July 1829 (held on Monday, 13th.) Whether the “ghosts” of these men have anything to do with the doings about to be recorded it would be hard to say.
For some weeks past the rector, who is in declining health, has been absent at Bangor, and the house party consists of one male servant and two female servants. On the 7th of June a box containing valuable papers belonging to the rector was mysteriously removed from his bedroom, and was found the following morning convenient to the hall door. On the 21st of July the sum of 10s mysteriously disappeared out of a drawer, and on the 26th July was found in the dining room. On the 19th July a quantity of clothing hanging in the bedroom belonging to the servants was cut in several places. The tyres of a new Rudge Whitworth cycle belonging to J. Hamilton were also cut almost beyond repair.
On the 12th of August a book known as the “Preachers Book” mysteriously disappeared out of a locked room. On examination it was found that the windows were properly fastened, and no trace could be found where any person had gained admission. The book turned up two days later outside the hall door. Clothes were cut on the same date, some of those belonged to the servant man Hamilton. On the 15th August the servant heard a voice upstairs, and on a search being made nothing could be found. On the same date a number of silver spoons were taken away. A tremendous noise was heard and one of the doors was opened, but nobody could be seen. On the same date the servants, who were sitting in the kitchen, hearing a noise went up and found the front door open. On the 16th August clothing belonging to Jonathan Hamilton was cut, and the cycle which he had just repaired was cut up again.
On Saturday the bells belonging to the different rooms were rung and the front door bells which are situated in the passage over the kitchen commenced ringing and continued for almost half an hour. On the 19th August, Hamilton had a loaded revolver in his bedroom and it mysteriously disappeared, and it was found afterwards in the boiler containing hens food. A bed in one of the bedrooms had the appearance of someone having lain on it every night since Saturday.
Notwithstanding the vigilance of the local police and the servants all these mysterious affairs have taken place, and since Saturday the ringing of the bells has continued with slight intervals of relaxation. Mysterious steps have been heard, but nobody can be seen about the place. The residents of the locality are now recalling an incident that occurred during the late Rev. Dr. Autwell’s mission in Clonoe, of an old man being killed from one of the rector’s windows.
There is a convenient way past the rectory for old women and men to go to chapel and church but since these occurrences they take miles of a circuit and keep clear of the rectory. Every plan has been taken to discover the origin, but with no result. The handles of the doors have been painted in order if possible to catch a finger print. The rector’s hay is lying on the ground, but no help can be had to save it.
Strabane Chronicle, 27th August 1910.