A most extraordinary sensation was excited at the village of Thrussington, near Mountsorrel, on Saturday last, and the wisdom of the wisest amongst the wise has hitherto been incapable of developing the mystery. About a quarter before ten o’clock in the forenoon, some invisible power threw a stone at the house window of a labouring man, named John Cumberland, and broke one of the panes; in a little time another was broke in the same way, and so on till five o’clock in the afternoon, when the total of panes perforated was exactly twenty, being about two-thirds of the whole number which the window contained.
Now, although in an early stage of the proceeding, the neighbourhood became alarmed, and at least twenty or thirty people hastened to the spot, and even continued there till the cessation took place, minutely observing the direction in which the stones came, and using every means they could devise to ascertain the supposed trick, not the least discovery took place towards an elucidation.
Mr Barsby, a respectable man, one of the bystanders, was hit upon the head by one of the stones, but we do not hear of th elike having happened to any other person.
Notwithstanding the panes are very small, only about three inches by five, yet the lead work, except in one trifling instance, uniformly escaped being injured; and what is still more singular, not one of the stones went through the window, but all dropped on the outside, just under it, after (as it were) executing their respective commissions.
More particulars might be stated, but we fear our readers will already think us tiresome: indeed, had it not come to us authenticated in a most unquestionable manner we should have treated it as an idle tale, and have thrown it aside. Talk of Cock-lane ghosts, showers of frogs, and dancing lace frames – why there’s nothing equal to this! – Nottingham Review.
Leicester Chronicle, 28th September 1822.