(Now Storeton)
More “Manifestations.”
Within the last few weeks “phenomena” of rather an extraordinary character have taken place in the village of Stourton, Higher Bebington. These “manifestations” have developed themselves in the cottage of John Haimes, who has been a gamekeeper in the neighbourhood for 20 or 30 years. It seems that soon after Christmas mysterious noises were heard about the house at night; the furniture was roughly moved about from one place to another, unearthly voices were heard, panes of glass were broken, his dogs were turned loose, his ferrets disappeared, dead rabbits, which had been hung up on his premises, were found scattered about the place, and other unaccountable doings took place.
Of course the family were alarmed, especially as the “phenomena” continued at intervals week after week. Haimes considers himself a ‘cute fellow – and no doubt there is not a more intelligent gamekeeper in the Hundred of Wirral – but with all his smartness he was unable to discover the “invisible” agency which disturbed his slumbers, harassed his mind, and rendered himself and his family miserable. In a country village like Stourton the matter was sure to get noised abroad, and for weeks back scarcely anything else was talked about.
The cottage has been narrowly watched, but neither Haimes nor any of the villagers have as yet been able to find out the cause of the “manifestations.” Some of the elderly females of the village, it is said, believe the house to be haunted, and that the noises have been produced by certain restless spirits belonging to the invisible world, who are bent upon disturbing the peace of an honest family. This belief, however, it may be stated, is not shared in by the male portion of the villages, who think that a dexterous human agency has been at work to operate upon the fears of the worthy gamekeeper. This may or may not be the case; but up to the present time, notwithstanding the closest investigation, the affair remains an enigma. It is rather singular the the “manifestations” sometimes occurred in broad daylight, when it is supposed spirits do not roam about the earth.
This circumstance has led the unbelievers in spiritual agency to think that the “operators” are composed of real flesh and blood – of a gang of poachers, who wish to get poor Haimes to stop at home to watch the “phenomena” whilst some of their number resort to the preserves and help themselves to the game. However this may be, the matter, as we have already said, remains a mystery and baffles explanation.
About three weeks ago Haimes consulted the police, and a constable was sent to watch the premises; but as the officer could make no capture, the women’s belief that the “manifestations” have been caused by spiritual agency has been confirmed. It is only right to state that the “spirits” did not appear to like the presence of the constable, for while he was watching for the “phenomena” the usual mysterious noises were unheard. As so much anxiety has been caused in Higher Bebington, it has been suggested that some gentlemen should take the matter in hand, with a view to solve the mystery, if possible.
Cheshire Observer, 4th March 1865.
I can’t find any more articles about this. But I did notice this from a newspaper of the autumn before:
Singular Mishap at Stourton.
On Wednesday evening last, Mr Samuel Oxton, farmer of Stourton, had a valuable mare shot in the leg under rather singular circumstances. Between seven and eight o’clock Mr Oxton heard the report of a gun near his residence, but took no particular notice of the matter. On the following morning, however, he was surprised to find that his mare, which had been grazing all night in a field near his house, was crippled. An examination of the animal then took place, when it was found that we of the legs was severely injured with shot. It appears that the farm occupied by Mr Oxton belongs to Mr Brockleback, who, in letting the land, has reserved to himself the right to the game. Suspecting that the gentleman’s head gamekeeper (John Haimes) knew something about the occurrence, he waited upon him with the view of obtaining some information.
The keeper at once admitted having fired the previous night – not, however, at the mare, but at a white cat. Now, it turns out that the mare has a white leg, and how the gamekeeper, even at dusck, could mistake a horse’s leg for a cat is a matter that yet remains to be solved. The affair, asmay be readily supposed, has caused much merriment at Stourton and the neighbourhood. Mr Moses Robinson, veterinary surgeon, of Hinderton, has extracted several shots from the mare’s white leg, but it is feared that the animal will be a cripple for life.
Liverpool Mercury, 6th September 1864.