Stone-throwing Mystery.
A somewhat sensational and extraordinary case of systematic stone-throwing is reported from Glen Barra, about 20 miles to the east of Manilla. The house attacked is that of Mr Andrew Michie, boundary rider on the station, and the time selected for the onslaught is nightfall. The bombardment has been consistent for some time past, but it ceased about a month ago. Operations have, however, been renewed, and one night last week Mr Michie sent for Messrs. Sydney Hartley and W. Hetherington, who were camped some distance away from the house, and asked them to come and stay with himself and family for the night, in order to wait up and watch.
The invitation was availed of, but as nothing unusual occurred during the early stages of the night, the watchers decided to “turn in.” Scarcely had they done so, when several distinct sounds were heard on the slabs, which material supplies the walls of the house. The men were out instantly, to find – nothing.
Next night the rappings (or more correctly, the thumpings, for the sound resembled the noise created by the thumping of the wall with an open hand) were repeated, before the inmates were in bed, and Mr Michie called out, “Come in!” “Thud, thud, thud,” was the response on the outer wall. The men flew out of the various doors instantly, but again saw – nothing.
Their experience, it may be mentioned, is not a new one, for some months ago a party of men stayed at the house, but on that occasion a shower of stones rattled on, and about, the dwelling. The men searched the vicinity, but could find no clue to unravel the mystery.
The house – which is situated in a lonely spot on a clear piece of land, with a small hill at the rear and a creek, skirted with clustering oak trees, about 30 yards in front – has been almost wrecked with stones; the front door has been knocked off the hinges, the iron roof is dinted, and slabs have been knocked out of place.
At one time a pair of trousers, which were left outside all night, were found to contain an enormous stone in one of the legs next morning. On another occasion a blacktracker (who was secured to try and trace the mysterious perpetrator of the sensational deed) left a pair of trousers and comb outside the house. The nocturnal visitor, evidently a believer in doing things by halves, secured half the trousers and half the comb during the night. These things were returned a few nights later. They descended on the roof, attached to a large stone.
Some time back the police scoured the country and stayed at Michie’s house for several nights, but nothing occurred during their visit. The whole affair appears to be a complete mystery.
Manilla Express, 31st August 1901.
Mr Michie is a boundary rider of Glen barra station, and offers £10 reward for the elucidation of the mystery, which amount will be supplemented to the extent of £20 by Mr Park, the owner of the station.
Bowral and Robertson Free Press, 4th September 1901.
The stone-throwing affair at Glen Barra is creating much attention. Somebody or something, will be shot if the nuisance continues.
Manilla Express, 7th September 1901.
The Stone-throwing mystery.
Further particulars are to hand regarding the sensational stone-throwing and rapping mystery at Glen Barra, near Manilla. On one occasion a large stone shot through the front door, and struck one of the daughters on the head, inflicting a nasty wound.
The mysterious perpetrator of the bombardment adds a little variety to his ammunition, and one night Mr Michie’s dog was thrown over the fence.
The stones, some of which are of unusual size, appear to be gathered from the bed of the creek, which courses silently a little distance in front of the house, and so constant and deadly has been the attack that in addition to the semi-wreckage of the residence missiles are thickly scattered all around the house and on the roof. We are informed that other houses in the neighbourhood have been subject to the stone-throwing nuisance.
The Young family, when residing at Yellow Rock, were scared by the dangerous practice, and were, we are informed, forced to hurry up their proposed departure from the place in consequence. We also hear that Mr Northey’s house was simlarly treated by the nocturnal bombardment, and on one night the dogs chased a mysterious looking object for some distance, but returned carrying their tails betwen their legs.
Naturally, all sorts of sensational and highly-coloured reports concerning the author of the unusual disturbances are in circulation. “It can’t be human, it must be some other monster,” one person admits with all seriousness, and a party of young men are anxious to equip and go out to the lonely neighbourhood to unravel, if possible, the mystery.
Manilla Express, 7th September 1901.
The stone-throwing mystery.
A daylight attack.
Latest reports concerning the stone-throwing mystery at Michies’ Glen Barra, are to the effect that the attacks have increased in virulence. The residence was stormed at five o’clock the other afternoon in broad daylight. The stones were seen to be coming from the direction of the creek, which pursues its winding course about 30 yards in front of the house, and almost whilst the stones were flying, one of the members of the house rushed to the spot from whence the missiles were coming, but, as usual, could not see or hear anything, the bombardment in the meantime having ceased. A diligent search was made, but, like so many other antecedent hunts, it terminated fruitlessly.
It had been whispered in some quarters that the author of the stone-throwing, like the majority of perpetrators of such deeds, might be discovered amongst the members of the family, so, with a view of testing the supposition, the children were accordingly kept inside for a few days. But the stone-throwing continued.
Our informant tells us that Mr Michie has decided to desert the place. Whatever the cause of the annoyance is, we certainly think that a combined step should be taken in an endeavour to unravel the mystery. Senior-constable Sewell, accompanied by a couple of volunteers, proceeded to the scene on Thursday, and, up to the time of going to press, had not returned.
Manilla Express, 14th September 1901.
The stone throwing “mystery.” Sydney, Wednesday.
The mysterious stone throwing at Mr Michie’s house, Glen Barra, continues, and fourteen stones were thrown on the house this afternoon. Senior Constable Sewell and three volunteers arrived shortly after this bombardment, and an examination of the stones showed that they bore many figures and curious hieroglyphics in lead pencil. Two were numbered 70,080 and 7800. The constable proceeded to examine the family in figure making.
A girl of seventeen years wrote under direction the numbers appearing on the stones, and the character of the figures bore such striking resemblance to the figures on the stones that the officer immediately concluded that she knew something about the stone throwing, if she was not the perpetrator.
The constable attributes the mysterious rappings which were heard at night time to the actions of girls, who, he says, sleep near the wall, and could conveniently thump on it at any period during the night.
The constable says the girl acknowledges throwing some of the stones, and that a younger sister threw the others. This confession, however, the girl now denies, as she does the guilt of the stone-throwing.
The Advertiser (Adelaide), 19th September 1901.
Modulated musings. By Outlander.
The old saying that women and cows should not run or throw is just about worn out. In respect to running woman is after man, but in throwing, especially stone-throwing, she is before. It is really wonderful the extent of the mania females have developed of recent years for heaving bricks and rocks about the universe, especially when a house hove in view. It is due to this mania that stones enjoyed a four-months uninterrupted flight on to Michie’s house, at Glen Barra. And now a girl comes forth in all her modesty, and calmly states that she is the perpetrator of the “shying” which has caused so much annoyance to pater familias, and so much enjoyment to herself and little sister.
At least, so report says. It seems necessary to add this as the prominent and pervading characteristics of some people seem to be to romance, and wilfully lie, and then to subsequently make vain efforts to pass their lies off as jokes, to cover them with the veneer of “leg pulling.” Any person who deliberately says he was “only leg pulling” to cover his cowardice and silliness requires to have the elongating tactics applied to his nasal extremity.
Manilla Express, 28th September 1901.
Stone throwing business.
There does not seem to be any reason to doubt that the stone-throwing business at Glen Barra has been cleared up beyond doubt. According to reports, the girl confessed to Mr Hetherington that she and her younger sister were responsible for the nuisance, although she did not give any reason for their peculiar conduct.
It appears, if the reports are correct, that the girls used to carry the stones into their bedroom during the day, to prepare for the night “attacks” (which were the hardest to account for). When all was calm and still, they would noiselessly open their bedroom window and toss a few stones on the roof.
The mysterious muffled rappings were produced by striking the wall with their heels when in bed.
We have seen a letter from Mr Adam Park, owner of Glen Barra, in which he states that he saw the children throwing stones on the house the other day, and, after having got rid of the rock, rush back into the house. Mr Park says that he immediately gave the family notice to leave the place, and his orders have been obeyed.
Manilla Express, 28th September, 1901.