Mysterious Occurrences.
This secluded and usually quiet village, nestling as it does in a beautiful dale, formed in the upland district abutting on the marshy land between Rhyl and Mostyn, was thrown into great commotion during the past few days, by phenomena approaching in resemblance those which took place in Shropshire, and which were ultimately exposed as the clever tricks and artful dodges of a country damsel. The facts, as revealed to our correspondent, during his investigations, are nearly as possible, the following: –
In the lower extremity of this straggling village, facing the highroad from Mostyn to Prestatyn and Rhyl, is a row of cottages called the “Mostyn Road.” Near the centre of this row, is a cottage and small shop, occupied by Mr Roger Jones, agent to the Prudential Assurance Company, who also is a tea and coffee dealer. Besides Mr Jones, there also reside on the premises his widowed mother and a servant girl.
It appeared that the manifestations above alluded to and hereafter described, originated as far back as Wednesday, the 5th inst. Mr Jones himself and his mother being rather reticent on the subject it is difficult to arrive at any details of what transpired from that day up to Saturday the 8th. Undoubtedly it was the wish of Mr Jones that all should be hushed up, but it is known that a caged bird was removed from the premises either on Wednesday or Thursday, as has since been averred, for protection from a number of cats which had invaded the place.
On Saturday things came to a crisis, several panes of glass both in front and back of the dwellinghouse being smashed. The neighbours became alarmed at this and as the day advanced rumours of the most exciting nature began to be spread around. During the day two lamp globes were broken, and the chimney of a lamp suspended in the shop received the same fate. Valuable ornaments and an ewer and basin in a chamber were thrown about and broken. A large looking glass was found laid on the floor, and thereupon it was deposited upon the bed for safety, from whence it was thrown and the glass which was thick plate glass, 1/2 inch thick was broken.
Up to Saturday evening a dozen or more window panes and several small ornaments &c., in the house were annihilated. During Saturday night and Sunday throughout nothing occurred to cause any alarm, but on Monday morning a pane of glass about one foot square, in the shop window was demolished as were afterwards several others. While these defects were being made good, several panes in chamber and living room windows were heard “to go.”
Off and on other panes followed suit, until about 4 o’clock p.m., it was stated that near two dozen were altogether destroyed. Mr E. Morris, millwright, having called in to condole with Mrs Jones, and while in the house talking to the old lady, a dish on the back kitchen table containing a number of crockery of various descriptions, was heard to fall, and nearly, if not all, were broken. A pane of glass in the door opening from the vestibule into the kitchen was also cracked.
A little before noon, as Mr Tamblyn, a respectable grocer and local preacher in the Wesleyan connexion, together with Mr William Jones, a retired man-of-war’s man residing in the neighbourhood were in the house, some pictures and other things in the chamber were thrown about, to the consternation of the gentleman above-named.
Mr Jones, who was away from home, upon business connected with his agency, while these occurrences took place, insists upon the theory as to the cause thereof, that a number of cats had entered the place, paying their devoirs to an old favourite mouser of his, and in their feline frenzy jumped up and down the place, making all the breakages. Mrs Jones and servant concur in this view, but not one of the neighbours who have been in whilst the destruction of articles took place can be made to believe this, as no cats were seen in the place at all. But yet, there are the footprints of a cat upon the side of the top of an oblong eight-day clock in the kitchen, which will go far to confirm this hypothesis. But how a number of cats, in broad daylight, and that in a small house, where several people were congregated, could create such havoc and destruction without being seen, remains a mystery.
Another theory advanced by the credulous and simple-minded, is that all is caused through the agency of a gipsy-woman, who it is said called at the place on Wednesday, and was refused some trifle which she begged of Mr or Mrs Jones. This theory obtains the adherence of many people, but Mr Jones flatly denies that any such woman was at the place at all upon that day. The affair is looked upon by many with superstitious awe.
Great commiseration is being exhibited in all quarters for Mr and Mrs Jones, but it is consoling to think the imperturbable and stoical manner in which they stick to the cat theory, which it is to be hoped will turn out to be the right one of the many which are suggested, and so allay the fears of their nervous and superstitious neighbours.
Flintshire Observer, 13th March 1884.
A Welsh “Mystery”.
The Liverpool Courier says that the secluded and usually quiet village of Gronant, between Rhyl and Mostyn, has been thrown into some commotion during the past few days by phenomena approaching in semblance those which took place recently in Shropshire, and which were ultimately exposed as the tricks of an artful country damsel.
In the lower part of this straggling village is a row of cottages called Mostyn Road, and in the centre is a cottage and small shop occupied by Mr Roger Jones, tea and coffee dealer. Besides Mr Jones there also reside on the premises his widowed mother and a servant girl. For several days extraordinary manifestations have taken place in the house.
On Saturday several panes of glass in the back and front of the dwelling-house were smashed, and rumours of the most exciting nature soon began to spread. During the day two lamp globes were broken, and the chimney of a lamp suspended in the shop received the same fate. Valuable ornaments and an ewer and basin in a chamber were thrown about and broken. A large looking-glass was also found laid on the floor, and after it had been placed on the bed for safety, it was thrown down, and the sheet of plate-glass, half-an-inch thick, was smashed to atoms.
During Saturday night and Sunday nothing occurred to cause alarm, but on Monday morning the window-smashing recommenced, and by four o’clock two dozen window panes had been broken. Whilst Mr Morris, a neighbour, was in the house condoling with the family on their misfortunes, crockery was smashed in the back kitchen in the most reckless manner, and a pane of glass in the door opening from the vestibule into the kitchen was cracked. During the visits of some other neighbours, including a Wesleyan local preacher and a retired man-o’-war’s man, some pictures and other articles were thrown about the chambers, much to the consternation of the visitors.
Mr Jones, who was away from home on business when these occurrences took place, inclines to the belief, which is shared in by his mother and the servant, that the damage was done by a number of cats which had entered the place, but how a number of cats in broad daylight in a small house where several persons had congregated could create such havoc without being seen remains a mystery. None of the neighbours can be induced to believe the theory, but several credulous people attribute the mysterious proceedings to the agency of a gypsy woman, who is said to have been refused assistance at the house, and that the reckless damage is caused through her intimacy with the “black art.” The affair has created the greatest consternation, and many of the simple-minded country folk look upon it with superstitious awe.
Ulverston Mirror and Furness Reflector, 22nd March 1884.