Tullymoan is near Clady not Claudy.
Haunting in Ireland.
We should be glad to have a verification of the curious facts stated in the following extract from the Derry Standard:-
In this age of common sense and disbelief in superstition, to find circumstances impossible to explain by ordinary criteria awes and astonishes more than mere rustics. Such circumstances have been occurring in the village of Tillymoan, situated about a mile from Claudy, Strabane.
The house of a man named Speers has been the object of some mysterious destructive agency for weeks past. The owner was threshing oats in the barn, and in every sheaf he found two or three small stones – this went on so long that he found himself compelled to cease.
Then he was startled by a noise in the stable, and he went in there carrying his flail with him, which he dropped behind the horse, that he might fetch away a tub from the animal’s head, and lo! the flail disappeared, and has not since been found. Then the kitchen fire got scattered through the floor; the plates and dishes were smashed off the dresser, and the pots and cans began to walk about through the appartments.
Then stones began to fly in all directions, cutting every one daring to approach the haunted dwelling. The panes of glass next began to be smashed; so, for safety, the windows were taken out and locked up in a press; but the mysterious visitors were too wise, for soon press, windows and chairs were smashed to pieces. The turf-stacks kept oscillating like a poplar tree; hammering constantly resounded from the chimney, and the stones kept flying in all directions, pelting and cutting and bleeding those venturous enough to risk visiting the place.
On Friday week the crowds gathered distinctly saw a pot come flying through the door and fall in smashed pieces on the street. A religiously-inclined inhabitant of the locality volunteered to lay the Evil One, and so he repaired to the spot in vaunted hopes of success. Alas for human calculation! The stones rattled about his ears in the fated kitchen, they fell on his wrists, spraining them; and on his feet, hurting them. The combat was too unequal, his opponents were invisible, so he considered retreat justifiable.
Strange to say, the disturbances ceased on Sunday last, from about 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., when they began with renewed vigour. Not alone in the house, but through the owner’s lands – though no further – do the stones pelt away the crowds. The circumstance is an extraordinary one, and is creating an extraordinary amount of excitement far and near. For miles round the people flock to see and certify regarding the unusual wonder. The people have fled the house, and all about it and within are in fearful confusion. The event deserves notice and investigation from its many peculiarities.”
We find the following extract in a subsequent number of the same paper:-
Strabane.
The Late Mysterious Proceedings at Tillymoan, Claudy.
The excitement in connexion with the above mysterious affair has not in the least subsided, but, on the contrary, has spread to such an extent, that on last Sunday and the preceding one large crowds from Strabane, Lifford and surrounding district, flocked to the residence of Speer, in whose house, it will be recollected, the mysterious work of destruction has been going on, to witness, as some of them expressed it, the performance of the Tillymoan ghost. However, I believe they were all, with one exception, sadly disappointed in their expectations, as the ghost was not at home to any of the numerous visitors who called to make his acquaintance.
One person, a most respectable farmer, who resides in the next townland to where Speer’s house is situate, told me that while talking to Mrs. Speer on Wednesday, he observed smoke issuing from a portion of the roof which suddenly broke out in a bright red flame. The application of a few buckets of water had the desired effect, when all became tranquil again. To shew, he said, that this could not possibly be the result of accident, or of any mischief-making person, none were in the house at the time, with the exception of Mrs. Speer and himself.
On Wednesday morning last, a little boy, who is an inmate of Speer’s residence, was kindling the fire, when the coals were suddenly lifted off the hearth and scattered in all directions through the house.
On Monday last, an incident, calculated to create much fun, occurred. Two policemen who were passing through the locality, seeing a large crowd collected round Speer’s, thought they too would go and see for themselves. They accordingly proceeded to the house, which they entered, and where a great many neighbours were already assembled. One of the constables finding no chairs or any other substitute for a seat, (those articles having been all previously smashed) leaned over an old chest, when with a loud, long crash in went the lid, precipitating the unfortunate guardian of the peace to the bottom, where he lay for some considerable time to the evident enjoyment of some of the on-lookers, while more taking it for the commencement of performance, beat a hasty retreat from the dreaded premises.
Scarcely a day has passed for the past fortnight without some fresh manifestation of the presence of the terrible, yet invisible mischief-maker. Surely it is a subject calculated in many respects to excite curiosity, and one for many reasons calling for a strict enquiry into the whole affair.
The Spiritual Magazine, May 1868.
The Tillymoan Supernatural Actor Again.
Monday, March 30. – The freaks in Tillymoan reached the climax about three o’clock yesterday morning when the disturbed house took fire and soon there was nothing left save charred debris and solitary blackened walls. There had been however no cessation of the occurrences up till the finale occurred. The great difficulty, though is to distinguish the true from the reports as there are so many exaggerations flying about that one scarcely knows what to believe.
One tells of the cups, after tea getting up on the table and fighting, while a saucer starts forward to separate the jingling combatants. Another reports that a dishful of potatoes was on the table when it suddenly hopped off danced about through the kitchen, up on the table down on the floor and finally settled in its original elevated position. While performing its “hop-and-go-constant” peregrinations the potatoes per necessitatem kept hopping in and out of the dish like a parcel of rabbits about their burrows.
A third relates that the unlucky proprietor having thought fit to replenish his dresser, bought two or three bowls and plates, but being taught prudence by sad experience, he placed them not in their proper place but buried them in a hole some perches from the house. Now they would be safe, surely! Alas no. His cows had been moving towards home while the culinary utensils were being interred; so hurrying to over take them, he felt one of the bowls he had just buried come right smash against him, and, reaching the kitchen, he found the remainder pelting his mother within an inch of her life.
A fourth sends round a story of a gentleman who believed he possessed sufficient power to exercise the demon of mischief, and assured every one that his incantation would soon call down the angel of peace! So on the kitchen floor he began his circles, and his “prestos,” and his “begones,” when oh! the churn toddled up to him and with one stern butt behind made him kiss the floor. Satis! He was vanished and fled.
A bottle of whiskey was sent for to give a “drap o’ the crathur” to a mason who was doing some jobs. It was locked up in the chest needed, and when they went to get it neither bottle nor whiskey was there. Soon after it was found uninjured and unspilled near the outside door.
There were two or three taking their dinner on Friday or Saturday, of eggs and potatoes. They got their salt for the first egg, but it was whisked away from them before they got to the second egg. From one of the diners the egg was snatched, and another got his snatched between his fingers. A bannock of bread was gulped up the chimney, and its successor made lightning tracks for the hills through the door. A bag of oats that stood by the wall walked up a sceptic and came slap bang against him, overturning his equilibrium and his scepticism simultaneously.
The smoothing iron played its pranks so long that it ultimately had to be cooled in the adjacent streamlet. One neighbour certifies he saw a ball of fire flying along some feet off the ground, and entered the thatch, then followed its course through the kitchen, until he disappeared up the chimney, bringing coals up with it as it sped.
Thus run the stories, some of them surely exaggerations, but, unfortunately, too many well certified for to be doubted. The general belief is that of some local greedy person wants the land, and has leagued himself with the devil to accomplish his ends.
P.S. – I just open to say that Speers got a beating last night, as in now in custody, that the police may compel him to inform who beat him.
– Cor Derry Journal
Armagh Guardian, 3rd April 1868.
The Tullymoan Ghost
During the last two weeks or more, a species of “sensation” has been kept up in reference to some extraordinary “manifestations,” which have been going on at a country house in Tullymoan, near Claudy, Strabane, in the occupation of a Mrs. Speers, her son, and grandson. The first of these proceedings occurred above a fortnight ago, when a man’s face appeared to be peeping in at one of the windows, and immediately after, the window was smashed with showers of stones hurled by some invisible agent. Inside the house, stones soon began to be plentifully thrown, the furniture was tumbled about, smashed and overturned – the chimney was thrown down, bricks hurled about, and every description of mischief was perpetrated, though no bodily depredator could be discovered.
By way of finale, a corn-stack was set on fire and consumed, and now, we are informed, the entire premises have been burned to the ground! Hundreds of persons have been flocking to view the “haunted” premises, but nobody seems to h ave set about any practical investigation of a mystery so suspicious in its accompaniments.
The local Magistrates certainly ought to have directed the Police to keep watch on the premises, and to haul up the ghost for examination at the Quarter Session, as there can be little doubt that somebody or other had taken a fancy to the premises occupied by the Speers’ family.
In answer to a correspondent, we have to mention, that, the account to which he refers did not appear in the Standard, but in a local contemporary, as we are not in the habit of giving currency to this order of sensationalism, without making a strict examination beforehand.
Londonderry Standard, 1st April 1868.
The Late Mysterious Proceedings at Tillymoan Clady.
The excitement in connexion with the above mysterious affair the particulars of which have already appeared, has not in the least subsided, but, on the contrary, has spread to such an extent that, on Sunday sen., and preceding one, large crowds from Strabane, Lifford, and the surrounding district, flocked to the residence of Speer, in whose house, it will be recollected, the mysterious work of destruction has been going on, to witness, as some of them expressed it, the performance of the Tillymoan ghost.
However, I believe they were all, with one exception, sadly disappointed in their expectation as the ghost was not at home to any of the numerous visitors who called to make his acquaintance. One person, a most repectable farmer who resides in the next townland to where Speers’s house is situate told me that while talking issuing from a portion of the roof which suddenly broke out in a bright red flame [sic]. The application of a few buckets of water had the desired effect when all became tranquil again. To show, he said that this could not be possibly the result of accident, or of any mischief-making person, none were in the house at the time with the exception of Mrs. Speer and himself.
On Wednesday morning last, a little boy who is an inmate of Speers residence was kindling the fire when the coals were suddenly lifted off the hearth and scattered in all directions through the house, four of the largest falling on the bed where Mrs Speer was lying at the time. In consequence of the bed taking fire she became so much frightened that she ordered the little boy to leave the coals outside at the same time intimating her intention of leaving the house altogether. The young lad set about complying with the request, and had the coals on a shovel, when lo! they were instantly removed and reinstated on the hearth by some invisible agency.
On Monday sen., an incident calculated to create much fun, occurred. Two policemen who were passing through the locality, seeing a large crowd collected round Speer’s thought they too, would go and see for themselves. They accordingly proceeded to the house which they entered where a great many neighbours were already assembled. One of the constables finding no chairs or any other substitute for a seat (those articles having been all previously smashed) leaned over on an old chest when with a loud long crash in went the lid, precipitating the unfortunate guardian of the peace to the bottom, where he lay for some considerable time to the evident enjoyment of some of the on-lookers while others taking it for the commencement of the performance, beat a hasty retreat in good style tumbling over and knocking down every obstacle that impeded their egress from the dreaded premises.
Scarcely a day has passed for the last fortnight without some fresh manifestation of the presence of the terrible, yet invisible mischief-maker. Surely it is a subject calculated in many respects to excite curiosity, and one for many reasons calling for a strict inquiry into the whole affair. Strange and almost incredible as the whole proceedings must certainly appear, yet there are several most respectable and trustworthy witnesses who are ready to testify to the veracity of the whole affair.
Another correspondent sends the following: “The Tillymoan ghost whoever he is, still continues to excite much curiosity. The following is a copy of a bill which was issued a few evenings ago with reference to his exploits: – ‘Great attraction! Last appearance of the ghost! The Tillymoan ghost, which has hitherto given so much amusement to the inhabitants of Strabane and Lifford by his performance wishes most respectfully to state that, owing to the inclemency of the weather on Sunday last, he did not feel disposed to perform as announced but will positively appear in his official capacity at Tillymoan on Wednesday evening 25th of March, at six o’clock sharp, when the performance will open with a fearful encounter between the tables, stools, pots, and fire-irons, which will continue for upwards of half-an-hour and terminate with a ‘fly round the ceiling of the haunted house!’ Programmes may be had on application at the house. All should embrace the opportunity of witnessing the unrivalled performance of the Tillymoan ghost, as he will not again appear till late in the month of August.” I understand the attendance on Wednesday numbered fully 800.” – Derry Journal.
Armagh Guardian, 3rd April, 1868.
The Tillymoan Ghost.
Shortly before the rising of the Court, Speer, of Tillymoan, in whose house the mysteries of the last three weeks have been the whole topic, presented himself before the presiding magistrate, and swore informations, I understand, for the purpose of seeking compensation. It appears that on Saturday night or Sunday morning the haunted house was completely destroyed, having been burned to the ground. A.F. Knox, Esq., J.P., together with Mr. Hurst, S.I., paid a visit to the residence of Speer on Sunday. They made every inquiry into the affair, but failed to elicit anything calculated in the slightest degree to throw any further light on the subject.
Derry Journal, 4th April 1868.
The Tullymoan Ghost Adjudicated Upon.
The folly of the stories which have been put into circulation respecting the doings of the “Tullymoan Ghost,” was conclusively demonstrated at the Presentment Sessions held in Strabane a few days ago; when, after the ordinary business had been disposed of, the claim of Joseph Speer, of Tullymoan, the victim of all the annoyances attributed to supernatural agencies, was heard, for £40, for the malicious burning of his house on the night of Saturday, the 28th, or the morning of Sunday, the 29th of March last.
T.W.D. Humphreys, Esq., J.P., presided. Captain Ferguson Knox, J.P., J. Cochrane, Esq., J.P., and E.F. Herdman, Esq., J.P., with the associated cesspayers, were also in attendance.
Robert Wilson, Esq., appeared for the applicant, and Walter Scott, Esq., for the opposing cesspayers.
The evidence of the applicant went to show that he was for several weeks subjected to the greatest possible annoyance by stones being hurled down his chimney, his windows and furniture being broken, all of which he attributed not to supernatural agencies, but to James Maxwell, a neighbour, who wanted him to leave his farm, in order that he might get it for his brother. The applicant’s reason, he stated, for blaming Maxwell was, that he came into his house about three weeks before, and told him it would be burned down; and that he saw him on the Thursday preceding the 28th March, near his house, when the back part was set fire to, and that he went away and gave no assistance to put out the fire; that his straw stack was fired on Friday, and he did not aid in extinguishing the burning; that on Saturday night the applicant and two others sat up to watch the perpetrators of the outrage; that on Sunday morning the shed adjoining the house was set on fire, and that the flames ignited the roof of the dwelling-house and entirely destroyed it.
Considerable merriment was caused in Court by the cross-examination of Speer and his mother, by Mr. Scott, but nothing of any importance was elicited beyond the fact that the Rev. Mr. McConaghty had recommended them to send away Wm. John Rippy, a nephew of Speer, who had been blamed with being the cause of all the mischief. Rippy was taken into custody on Wednesday morning by Constable Cleg, of the Sion Mills Constabulary.
Mr Wilson protested against the arrest, as he was one of his witnesses.
Mr Scott defended the constabulary, and said he would have informations sworn against him as the guilty party, and not Maxwell.
Rippy and some other witnesses were examined for the applicant.
Mr. Scott, on the part of the opposing cesspayers, contended that there was no evidence of malice; that Rippy was the guilty party, and that Speer, having kept him about him after he had been warned to put him away, should have his claim dismissed.
Thomas Chambers deposed to having seen Rippy near a straw stack; and, on going down to it a few minutes afterwards, found a coal in it, and the stack on fire.
The Bench found that the burning was malicious, and awarded £14 to Speer.
The boy Rippy was summoned on the spot, to appear on the next bench day, for the felonious burning of the straw-stack.
Londonderry Standard, 3rd June 1868.
The Tillymoan Ghost.
At the Strabane Petty Sessions on Monday last, the case of the constabulary against William John Rippy, of Tillymoan, for the felonious burning of a straw stack, the property of Joseph Speer, of Tillymoan, was called. Mr Scott appeared on behalf of the cess-payers, for the prosecution, and Mr Wilson had been retained for the defence.
The defendant did not appear, and as Mr Wilson was necessarily absent, Speer applied to have the case postponed till next Court-day. Mr Cochrane, the presiding magistrate, said that as all of the witnesses were then present, and, as the defendant had sufficient time to prepare his defence, he could not possibly accede to the request, but would at once issue a warrant for the arrest of Rippy, which was accordingly done.
The warrant was given to the Sion Mills Constabulary, by whom he was arrested same night, and brought up in custody to Strabane the following day, when he was taken before Thomas W.D. Humphreys, Esq., J.P., and bailed out to appear at the next Strabane Petty Sessions. The matter still continues to cause anxiety to the people in the neighbourhood of Tillymoan who are anxious to find out the real “ghost.”
Tyrone Constitution, 12th June 1868.
The Crown, at the suit of Joseph Clegg, v. Wm. John Rippey, of Tillymoan.
Defendant was charged with wilfully and maliciously setting fire to a stack of straw at Tillymoan, the property of Fanny Spear, of Tillymoan ghost notoriety. Case dismissed.
Tyrone Constitution, 26th June 1868.
The Tullymoan Ghost Again.
Joseph Speer applied for the sum of £40, for damage sustained by the malicious burning of a dwelling-house, &c., his property, on the night of Saturday, 28th March, 1868, at Tullymoan, in the parish of Urney.
Mr. Moore appeared for the applicant; Mr. Dickie opposed, on behalf of the cesspayers.
The most intense interest was evinced in Court by all parties who had heard of the strange doings of the “Ghost” at Tullymoan. Evidence was then given in detail, amidst such roars of laughter of a crowded court as never before were heard in Omagh Courthouse. It appeared on the face of the evidence that during March last the applicant’s corn stack was set on fire several times, his windows were broken by showers of stones from some invisible one, and his house was set on fire, and burned down. Applicant saw the stones coming into the house, smashing his pots and chairs, &c., before his face; yet, as he said himself, he could do nothing. He searched round the house while the performance was going on, but always failed to catch a glimpse of his persecutor. On being asked if he felt whether the stones were hot or cold, he said he did, and that they were hot.
During the night the “ghost” would be chopping for a length of time at a “brace” in the house, the marks on which showed some knowledge of “woodcraft.”
Londonderry Standard, 22nd July 1868.
The Tullymoan Ghost Again. (From a Correspondent).
At County Tyrone Assizes yesterday, Joseph Speer applied for the sum of £40, for loss sustained by the malicious burning of a dwelling-house, &c, his property, on the night of Saturday, 28th March, 1868, at Tullymoan, in the parish of Urney. Mr. Moore appeared for the applicant, and Mr. Dickie opposed on behalf of the cesspayers. Every one in the court who had heard of the pranks of the “ghost,” or who had seen the reports in the papers, was now anxiously waiting for the details of the whole circumstance.
The scene was opened by the professional gentlemen engaging in several pleasantries touching this very fruitful theme, after which the applicant was examined. He said that in March last, one one night about eleven o’clock, a corn stack, his property, was set on fire. He saw a light coming through a back window, and got up to see if the fireplace was all right. He then saw the stack in a flame. – The “wee chap” helped him with water till it was put out. This was the first occurrence.
On the following evening the windows were smashed, and again on the day after. Afterwards the stack was set on fire at about four o’clock p.m; and lastly, the House was entirely burned down. The stones came in showers through the windows, breaking pots, pans, and chairs, and destroying everything that came in their way. Amidst all this destruction, Speer could but silently regard the formidable missiles, with their sad results; for though he was several times on the qui v.ve, he never could obtain a sight of his formidable foe.
On being asked if the stones were hot or cold, he said he felt them, and they were hot. They did not smell of brimstone.
Mr. Maxwell (Speer’s landlord), Captain Knox, and others came from a distance to see the spiritual offender.
At night the dreaded unknown one would amuse “itself” by chopping on a “brace” in the house, thereby leaving a “marked impression.”
On St. Patrick’s Day, the whole country round were collected to see and hear for themselves, and on that occasion they were treated with a speech from the “ghost.” He told them he was a fallen angel, and, as if to impress this more strongly on their minds, he proceeded to pour out a torrent of curses, and then closed with a threat to visit them again the same night, at eleven o’clock.
Considerable amusement was caused in court by the cross-examination of the witnesses for the applicant; but, especially when “Young Rippy” was called up, and said by some to be a “young rip” and “the real ghost,” every individual in the court was convulsed with laughter. It appeared that he never was at a place of worship, though he is now about fourteen years old. He said, though in the most careless manner possible, that if he told a lie he would go to h–l. He denied having been the “imp” in question, and stated that he himself had been injured by stones thrown by the “ghost.”
[The case had not concluded when this report was forwarded.]
Belfast Morning News, 22nd July 1868.
The “Spell” in Derry.
Most of our readers will recollect the sensation created by the “Tullymoan Ghost,” and the astonishing facts that, from time to time, were chronicled in connection therewith. Very incredulous, and not at all superstitious people, were obliged to admit their inability to cope with the performance of the “ghost” of Tullymoan; and, by the influence of what is known as “the spell,” no inconsiderable amount of mischief was accomplished, and much excitement created. The “nine days’ wonder” worked itself out at Tullymoan, after all external efforts by police and others to “lay it” had proved ineffectual.
About a year later the “spell” was rough-handling a household in the County Derry. Its depradations were not so great, nor its continuance so prolonged, as that of Tullymoan. It prematurely quitted without attracting much attention.
The sensation next arises in our midst. At Creggan the “spell” declared war against a certain household. Somebody in the poetic line has asked before now if “things inanimate e’er breathe.” If reports from Creggan are trustworthy, inanimate things have been seen to accomplish exceedingly lively performances. Pot and kettle, table and chair, and domestic institutions of more fixed reputation were said to have behaved in a way so original and independent that to live in the place with whole bones was beyond human power. So much excitement did the affair create that we verily think some people could have been persuaded that the house rose out of its foundation and took a promenade along the Lone Moor.
But the “spell” was less skilfully managed than at Tullymoan, and “soon the wonder came to light, which showed the rogues they lied.” The police recently took up their position in the premises. They were not disturbed, and remarked particularly the fact, whereat a worthy constable got a crack with a piece of coal. The desperate man, to the astonishment of onlookers, stood his ground, and was not annihilated. He simply watched the direction from which the missile came, and was soon favoured with another. He immediately traced it, and found a lad in the corner near the coal. Of course the boy denied having done it, and the incredulous member of the Royal Irish was being warned of the danger of “madly rushing on” to his fate, when an intelligent gentleman came to his relief, and corroborated his charge against the individual referred to. We hope this “spell” nuisance will now get a knock that will “lay it” beyond chance of resurrection. – Derry Journal.
Belfast Weekly News, 7th October 1871.