£1 note thief is a spook.
The thieving poltergeist has overdone it. He has taken £1 too many from the Hankins of Hounslow. For four years 28-year-old Clifford Hankin and his wife have been missing £1 notes from their hiding places. Now they have asked the vicar if he will exorcise their home in Catherine-gardens. At first Mr Hankin, a London Transport mechanic, and his wife Jessie thought they were being careless. So they locked their money in drawers and hid the keys. Still the money went. Only £1 notes disappeared and never was all their money taken. The house never showed any sign of forcible entry.
They blame the poltergeist for other strange happenings. Food has been scattered about the kitchen during the night, their pet budgie disappeared from its cage, mysterious footsteps have been heard and objects moved. “We went to the vicar because we have exhausted every logical explanation,” said Mr Hankin last night.
Mrs Hankin added: “I’ve lost count of the money we’ve lost. It has made things very difficult with a home to pay for and three young children to keep.”
The Rev. Charles Wright, Vicar of St Mary the Virgin, Hounslow, said: “I am consulting the Bishop of Kensington as to whether I should conduct a service of exorcism.”
Last night the Hankins put their money under their pillows when they went to bed.
Daily Herald, 12th March 1956.
Chants beat ghost that stole.
A thieving ghost has vanished at last from the Hankin home at Hounslow – beaten by “Get-rid-of-Willie” chants. Willie was the name given by Mr Clifford Hankin and his wife, Jessie, to a poltergeist that haunted their semi-detached house in Catherine-gardens, for four years. Willie didn’t just haunt. He stole, too. Regularly, £1 or £2 disappeared from the house. The Hankins locked their money in drawers, slept with it under their pillows. Still cash disappeared. The Hankins decided on shock tactics.
They called in psychic experts who recited anti-poltergeist chants. The Hankins threw in a few home-made spells of their own. Their three children cried “Shoo” or “Go away” every time they saw a shadow. Neighbours, too, sang chants and prayed. It worked. Willie has gone.
The People, 22nd July 1956.