Extraordinary Ghost.
A respectable lady, named Jervis, residing in Regent’s-street, Poplar, applied to Mr Bennett, the sitting Magistrate, on Thursday last, for advice how to act under the following ludicrous circumstances:
She stated, that she was the owner of a house, situate next door to the White Hart, High-street, Poplar, and resided there for a length of time; but in fact she and a former tenant had literally been driven out by the frightful noise and ghastly appearances of some evil spirits, which repeatedly haunted the place, after the hours of twelve and one in the morning, by which not only the inmates of the house were alarmed, but the whole neighbourhood. For the last three years the noises have nightly been heard by hundreds of persons who gather in the adjoining streets.
The parish officers, desirous to render all assistance on several occasions, repaired to the house, in order to ascertain from what source the noise proceeded. The noise is like a knocking violently against the wall, as if done with a large mall.
On proceeding to the spot where the knocking is heard, it removes to a different spot, and when followed, it screams in a most terrific manner, and can be heard at a great distance.
A violent noise is then heard, like some person running heavily towards the stairs, similar to a person wearing draymen’s shoes.
The house remains in the owner’s hands, every body being afraid even to live near the place. The above was corroborated by other persons who attended.
Mr Bennett, the Magistrate, satisfied that this nocturnal visitant could be no more or less than flesh and blood, gave immediate orders to Weale, Fir, and other officers to repair to the house, and endeavour, if possible, to apprehend the Ghost, and bring him before him, and he should meet with his due reward for his past labours, but cautioned them not to shoot him. The officers promised so to do, and peace on some measure has been restored by their presence, but a great mob nightly assembles.
Morning Advertiser, 3rd October 1818.
[also headed ‘Shadwell’ in the Statesman (London)]
Extraordinary Ghost.
A respectable lady, named Jervis, residing at Regent’s-street, Poplar, applied to Mr Bennett, the Sitting Magistrate, on Thursday last, for advice how to act under the following ludicrous circumstances: –
She stated that she was the owner of a house next door to the White Hart, High-street, Poplar; but in fact she and a former tenant had literally been driven out by the frightful noise and ghastly appearances of some evil spirits, which repeatedly haunted the place after the hours of twelve and one in the morning, by which not only the inmates of the house were alarmed, but the whole neighbourhood.
For the last three years those unnatural visitations have nightly been witnessed by hundreds of persons, who gather in the adjoining streets, anxiously staring at the house, till the restless spirit issues forth with his usual direful sounds, disturbing the whole neighbourhood, when the sleepy inhabitants rise from their slumbers with hair resembling “Quills upon the fretful porcupine.”
The parish officers, agreeable to render all assistance, on several occasions repaired to the house, in order to ascertain from what source the noise proceeded, or how the Evil Spirits gained admission into the house, when to the utter astonishment of all, no discovery could be made, there being no appearance of access or any thing else whereby any human form could enter, the windows, doors, and every other place being fastened: notwithstanding, at the hour of its appearance it is made known by a general shout: “There it is! the Ghost! the Ghost!” and in an instant the street is filled; it then commences its task by knocking violently against the wall, as if done with a large mallet, and on proceeding to the spot where the knocking is heard, it removes entirely to a different spot, and when followed, as if aggravated, it screams in a most terrific manner, and can be heard at a great distance.
A violent noise is then heard, like some person running heavily towards the stairs, similar to a person wearing draymen’s shoes, and then runs up and down the stairs, during which time a terrible yell is heard, as from under the ground, and continues for several hours; and what is more surprizing, the more it is followed the more it disturbs, and still cannot be seen. By these practices the house remains on the owner’s hands, every body being afraid even to live near the place.
The above was corroborated by other persons who attended.
Mr Bennett, the Magistrate, being fully satisfied that this nocturnal visitant could be no more or less than flesh and blood, gave immediate orders to officers, to repair to the house, and endeavour, if possible, to apprehend the Ghost,and bring him before him, and he should meet with his due reward for his past labours; but cautioned them not to shoot him, as no doubt he was a poor harmless ghost. The officers promised so to do, and peace in some measure has been restored by their presence, but a great mob nightly assembles.
London Moderator and National Adviser, 7th October 1818.