Strange Doings.
(From a Correspondent).
On Tuesday evening last, as a policeman of the D division was going his rounds, between eight and nine o’clock, he was called to by some women residing at No. 21, Upper Montagu-street, Montagu-square, who entreated him to come in and protect them, as they were terrified out of their lives, from the supernatural noises they heard all through the house; all the bells were set ringing, and the doors, after being bolted and locked, were soon after thrown wide open. The policeman commenced a strict search all over the house, but nothing could he find. He then went away, assuring the inmates that he would keep a strict watch; but about two o’clock in the morning he was again attracted by the cries of the same women, and repaired again to their assistance.
He found them all at the parlour window. They told him that they were so terrified from the noises in the passage that they were afraid to open the hall-door. Another policeman coming up at the time, he was assisted through the parlour window, when he let in his comrade. Mr Bradley, who resides in the house, and is very infirm, was with the women, and seemed as terrified as they were. One of the policemen kept guard, whilst the other went down stairs, where he found all the doors wide open, which the inmates declared had been all left fastened, both locked and bolted.
The policeman then bolted all the doors, and left, and the other remained with the women. On his return in about an hour, he again went down stairs, and again found the doors wide open. The man who kept guard declared that no person had left the parlour during his absence. The persons in the house declared that the ringing of the bells and the opening of the doors had frequently occurred, but not to such an alarming degree as at present.
No clue has as yet been come at to put down the visits of this nocturnal visitor; and even a clergyman has been requested to investigate this mysterious affair, but without success.
English Chronicle and Whitehall Evening Post, 22nd November 1831.