Remarkable spiritualistic demonstrations.
During the past few days considerable excitement has been caused among the inhabitants of King-street and the neighbourhood by what has been termed “a visit from evil spirit,” with which a family residing in that street allege they have been favoured. They stated on Saturday last that they heard some unaccountable noises proceeding from one of the bedrooms of their residence, which they believed betokened the approach of the “evil one,” and they were not slow to communicate their fears to their neighbours, and as the rumour obtained currency a considerable number of persons hastened to the scene of the mysterious occurrence. They were invited by the victims, who consisted of a man, woman and a girl, to enter the house and witness the manifestations for themselves. Many persons availed themselves of this invitation and the spiritualistic mania gradually taking possession of them they freely confessed to hearing peculiar noises, as though articles of furniture were being knocked by a stick.
The affair continued to cause an amount of animation in the neighbourhood and during Sunday several hundred persons visited King-street, while Acting-Sergeant Brown and P.C.’s Richardson and Bartram also proceeded to the scene of “the spirit’s” demonstrations. The “spirit” evidently did not appreciate the interference of the protectors of the peace, for although the manifestations were in full swing when they entered the house, on Sergt. Brow’s requesting the girl who occupied the chair to which the “spirit” was confining its attention to vacate it and remove her boots the noise suddenly ceased. Doubtless, had the worthy Sergeant and his colleagues remained in the house very little more would have been heard of the spiritualistic manifestations, but as they quitted it the tapping was resumed.
Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser, 29th April 1885.