In connection with this mysterious affair [the 1839 Dover case], the following statement will not be uninteresting:-
About three years ago Mr Beal, a surgeon residing in Dover, heard a knocking against the partition of his own bed room. It commenced in the same soft and gentle manner, as with the knuckles, and continued to rap until it became almost unbearable, and greatly frightened the family.
The knocking would appear for some minutes in the wainscoting of the room in which the family might be assembled, and in the next moment was heard to resound from the cellar, or the garret, and traverse every apartment in the house.
The watchmen were called in, and every search made during the hours of this invisible intruder’s visits, but nothing to elucidate the facts could be ascertained. Mr Beal in the meantime, however, informed his landlord of the circumstance, declaring he must quit the house; but the landlord, wishing the matter to be kept a secret, the circumstances did not transpire at the time. This noise generally came about 11 o’clock at night, and continued for about two or three hours.
Kentish Mercury, 14th December 1839.