In March, 1864, the attention of the Genevese public was attracted to the case of a young girl residing in Hospital Street, who for several weeks was followed by the phenomena of loud poundings and stone throwing. The police were appealed to. The house was guarded within and without, and though the spectators who watched the girl’s residence from the roofs of adjoining houses, could see the stones flying, and those within the dwelling were pelted with them, the agents were all invisible and never discovered.
As is customary in such cases, the daily publication of the attendant circumstances, drew forth accounts of similar occurrences all over Italy. Dr Gatti called attention in his journal to one phenomenon however, which we venture to allege accompanies nearly every well authenticated narrative of stone throwing, and that was the total absence of any personal injury occurring from the missiles thrown. “Whilst the stones were flying thickly in every direction,” says Dr Gatti, “no one was struck, although the said stones often fell within a few inches of the observers.” The church may scream “Demoniac!” as long as it will. Let it point to any mob of human stone throwers who would be thus careful to avoid injury to their fellow mortals; or any mortal ruffian who would not aim the stone for the express purpose of committing injury rather than avoiding it!
Nineteenth century miracles, or Spirits and their work in every country of the earth. Emma Britten (1884).