Strange experience in a Guernsey house.
A curious story of ghostly doings comes from Guernsey, where the premises of a local photographer are believed to be the haunt of spirits. The occurrences are reported to have extended over a considerable period, but the tenant has preferred for business reasons not to speak of them. They have now become public owing, it is said, to inquiries set on foot in consequence of a supposed burglary on the premises.
The disturbances, as they are termed, take place at irregular periods, and after the last visitation members of the family are stated to have been taken ill.
In spite of the rooms being kept locked, they are found when entered to be in a state of disorder. Bedding has been disturbed, furniture moved, and on one occasion eggs taken from a dish were found unbroken on the floor.
A mark like a claw is said to have been noticed on a dusty coat. It is alleged that a woman’s apparition has also been seen.
All efforts to detect the agency by which these things are done have been fruitless. The doors have been sealed, but when opened, evidences of intruders have still been noticed. There have been occasions when the family have sought shelter with friends, so great has been the effect on the nervous system of these occurrences.
At present the house is unoccupied except for the purposes of business during the day. No one sleeps there during the night, although there have been some who have volunteered to do so. Crowds assemble nightly outside the house, and the services of the police are necessary to maintain order.
Investigation is to be made by the Psychical Research Society.
Dundee Evening Telegraph, 6th March 1903.
Ghost-ridden House.
The extraordinary occurrences of which the premises of a photographer in Guernsey have so long been the theatre continue. They are being investigated by the Psychical Research Society, and also by a committee of prominent local men. Some of those daring searchers after truth sleep in the house, which has ceased to be occupied at night by the tenant and his family, so great has been the effect of the supposed ghostly visitations on their nervous systems. What measure of success has attended the investigations that have been proceeding is jealously withheld.
Nottingham Evening Post, 16th March 1903.
Laying a Guernsey Ghost.
Police and Residents Frightened Away.
A remarkable ghost sensation is disturbing the serenity of St Peter Port, Guernsey, where a local photographer has just vacated his residence on the ground that he and members of his family have been terrified by supernatural visitations.
The photographer states that when taking his meals he has seen arms reaching over his head and endeavouring to take away his food. The pictures on the wall have moved in a weird fashion, and there were sounds of rattling chains and ringing bells.
Policemen and local residents who endeavoured to solve the mystery were frightened away by the manifestations.
At length a Mr Turner undertook to watch, accompanied by his dog. One night something touched his knee, but on striking a light he found only his four-footed friend. Mr Turner now offers to forfeit a sum of £10 to a local charity if anyone spending a night in the house in his company witnesses anything mysterious or unusual.
Yorkshire Evening Post, 31st March 1903.
Blood-stained Phantom.
A remarkable ghost sensation is disturbing the serenity of St Peter Port, Guernsey, where a local photographer has just vacated his residence on the ground that he and members of his family have been terrified by supernatural visitations. The photographer states that when taking his meals he has seen arms reaching over his head and endeavouring to take away his food. The pictures on the walls have moved in a weird fashion, and there were sounds of rattling chains and ringing bells.
One evening the tenant’s daughter saw an apparition, clad in white, coming down the stairs. It possessed only one hand, the fingers of which were twice the ordinary length and streaming with blood. This spectral visitant, seen on another occasion by the daughter, indicated that her mother’s brooch, which was missing, would be found in the range in a certain room. Here it was discovered. This so preyed on the girl’s mind that she had to take to her bed, and finally the weird manifestations became so frequent that the photographer decided to leave the house.
Huge crowds gathered nightly round the place, and the authorities deputed several constables to watch the house. When one of these entered the premises a mat flew in his face. Another officer, while sitting in one of the rooms, felt his chair being lifted in mid-air. He fled in terror.
After this a number of prominent residents endeavoured to solve the mystery. They chalked the stairs, locked a chocolate box in one of the cupboards, and left the premises apparently secure. When they returned shortly afterwards there were footprints on the chalked staircase and the chocolate box was on the middle of a table, with a feather balanced on the top of it. Yet the cupboard in which the box was placed was still locked.
Being incredulous as to the truth of these reports, Mr Turner, a local resident, arranged to pass several nights on the premises. With only his dog for company, he locked himself in, put out the lights, and waited for ghostly revelations. Once when he was in the basement, from which a range had been removed for the purpose of ascertaining if any human remains were interred in the place, he felt a touch on the knee. Striking a light he held himself in readiness for supernatural developments, but discovered only his faithful dog at his side. On a number of subsequent nights his vigil was equally unproductive, and Mr Turner now offers to forfeit a sum of £10 to a local charity if anyone spending a night in the house in his company witnesses anything mysterious or unusual.
Londonderry Sentinel, 9th April 1903.