Strange noise like rappings in this house.
Residents in Southern Section of the City Greatly Interested in What Seems Like Mystery.
Heard by a large party.
Policeman in searching the house had the rapping under his feet on the stairs – could see nothing – water shut off, thinking it was the water pipes – noises continued – may be exposed tonight.
Residents in the southern section of the city are all talking about the strange noise which has been heard every night for the past week at the residence of John N. Peterson, at 6 Woodruff place. Last night over a score of people, among whom were Dr G. W. Tyrrell, S.G. Garretson, and Patrolman Whitworth, went to the house. Several ladies were in the party. It was not long before the noise like someone rapping on the building was heard. A thorough search was started at once. The entire house was gone over and an investigation was made outside, but the rapping continued and no one could explain it.
In conversation with a NEWS reporter this morning, Mrs Peterson said that the rapping was first heard Sunday night about 7.45 o’clock. She was in the dining room when she heard what seemed to her two quick knocks on the kitchen door. She opened the door but could see no one. Later on the rapping was heard again. Then it stopped and was practically forgotten until suddenly, Tuesday night, about the same hour, there was more knocking. Remembering the former noise, Mrs Peterson telephoned to police headquarters and asked for an officer. Patrolman Andrew Jensen was detailed to investigate the matter. He heard the knocking very distinctly. At first it seemed to be in one room, then in another. Again it was in the cellar and then upstairs. The policeman searched the house from top to bottom. He finally figured out that the heating apparatus was out of order, but this Mrs Peterson denies. It was 12 o’clock that night before the rapping stopped.
Mr Peterson is in Bermuda on a business trip for two weeks. When the mystery was not solved, Mrs Peterson began to fear that it was a message which told of some coming disaster to a member of the family. Last night she decided to have some friends stay with her.
The knocking last night started again at 7.45 o’clock, but did not continue so late. Patrolman Whitworth was trying to locate the disturbance and was standing on the stairs when right below him he heard the rapping. He looked but could see nothing. Once, twice, three times he heard the raps, but although he searched high and low he could not solve the puzzle.
S.G. Garretson who was among those present last night, admitted this morning that he heard the noise. He thought it might be caused by the water pipes, so he shut the water off, but the rapping continued just the same.
People declare that they have been outside the house, in an open lot nearby and that they could hear the knocking on the outside as well as on the inside, but could see no one.
Tonight another crowd or people expect to visit the place. Ferd Garretson is the owner of the property. He ridicules the idea of anything wrong. When a NEWS reporter called at his home this morning it was intimated that they had a good idea who was causing the mischief and that they would probably be able to expose it all tonight.
Perth Amboy Evening News, March 27th, 1908.
Noises again heard in the Peterson home.
Mrs Peterson says they did not come from attic – The children had retired.
Although the strange knockings in the residence of John N. Peterson, at Woodruff place, were supposed to have been explained satisfactorily, there were rappings in the house last night, even more mysterious.
Mrs Peterson called the police and Patrolman Calvin went to the house to make an investigation. He stayed twenty minutes, but the rappings had ceased. Mrs Peterson asserted that the raps were not in the attic and that they were not made by her children, as they were in bed and asleep. She said her husband would arrive home tomorrow night from Bermuda.
Perth Amboy Evening News (New Jersey), April 9th 1908.