A case of a singular kind was brought before George Lee, Esq., the Rev. W. Manning, and the Rev. Temple Frere, at the Petty Sessions, at Diss, on Monday last.
A girl, named Charlotte Bird, servant to Mrs Whitbread, of Roydon (whose husband is lately deceased), by an artful contrivance, excited a considerable alarm a few weeks ago. For nine successive nights, as soon as the family were settled, they were alarmed with divers strange noises, and moving the furnniture about, which greatly distressed the mistress, and various reports were in circulation in the neighbourhood, and persons went from all the neighbouring parishes, to ascertain the truth of what they heard, and which, as they could obtain no satisfactory intelligence contributed to circulate the most ridiculous narratives, which only gained credit in proportion to their improbability.
By the indefatigable exertions of Mr Kent, of Diss (by whose unremitting perserverance Peake and Fortis, the incendiaries, were brought to justice), the whole imposture was discovered, and a warrant being issued, she was brought before the Magistrates, when it was fully ascertained that the whole thing was contrived and carried on by the girl, who was extremely reluctant to acknowledge it; but being confronted by all the parties, concealment would no longer avail, and after a severe reprimand from the Magistrates, she was discharged from the remainder of her service upon paying the office and constable’s fees.
Statesman (London), 29th July 1822.