Prosaic explanation of ghost story.
The “Belfast Telegraph” says the “mysterious happenings” at a farmer’s cottage between Omagh and Clogher have been solved. A police officer who visited the scene last week taxed a boy with being the author of all the trouble. The lad confessed, and in an interview described with glee how he “fooled the world.” Seeing the chimney loose, he climbed up and pushed some of the bricks down, causing great commotion amongst those seated around the fire. While sitting apparently half asleep, in the kitchen he threw bricks out the window and at the dresser. His explanation of the other occurrences was equally prosaic.
Waterford Standard, 16th April 1919.
How I fooled the world.
Irish lad’s ghostly pranks.
Special to “People’s Journal.”
The inhabitants of the quiet little village of Eskra, which is situated between Clogher and Omagh, are laughing heartily over what has been written concerning the antics of a supposed “spook.” The frolics of the “ghost” were vividly set forth, it being described how the “spook” threw bricks down from the chimney of a house in which there were supposed to be mysterious tappings. Delph and windows were, according to some versions, smashed up in wanton fashion by the “ghost”, while oats contained in sacks were scattered all over the house. Great excitement was caused by the circulation of the weird story, and great crowds flocked to the scenes.
I joined the throng, and decided to investigate the matter for myself. It did not require the vigilance of a Sherlock Holmes to unravel the “mystery.” On a boy being questioned as to the doings at the “haunted house,” he admitted he was the culprit, and made a clean breast of the whole affair.
He stated that on seeing the chimney loose, the idea entered his head to climb up and by pushing some bricks down, cause excitement amongst the country folks, who have a strong belief in ghosts. Despite the fact that he continued at this work from time to time until no more bricks were left to throw down the chimney, he was never suspected.
He explained how he dislodged the bricks with the aid of a mason’s hammer. He occasionally varied the scheme by smashing the delph, while his relatives were away from home. With regard to the “mysterious” scattering over the house of the oats he said he cut the sacks with a shoemaker’s knife and concealed the oats up his sleeve, dropping them in various places as opportunities arose for doing so.
Then he collected soot, and when no one was looking lifted the lid off the porridge pot and dropped in the soot, which never failed to cause a sensation amongst the inmates of the house. When telling his story, it was evident that the boy enjoyed the prank hugely, as he declared “That was how I fooled the world.”
Dundee People’s Journal, 19th April 1919.