A ghost in the city.
With the exposure of the clever performances of the Davenport Brothers, that for a time caused such unparalleled sensation among all classes, we thought that spiritualism had received its death blow, and so effectually had that exposure allayed the public mind as to the possibility of probability of the existence of intercourse with spiritual creations, that we were satisfied that any further attempts to practice such a system of deceit would bring nothing but ridicule and disgrace upon parties attempting such absurd deception.
We find, however, that there is in Waterford, not only spiritualists, but believers in the principle, as the following incident will demonstrate: – A short time since two very respectable men applied for the tenancy of a house in a very fashionable part of the city. One of them was accepted as tenant. A few weeks passed on, and the house adjoining this much coveted one, became vacant, and the formerly rejected person succeeded in obtaining it. Scarcely had he done so, when the occupier of the much coveted house began to hear strange unearthly noises during the night. Tables, chairs, stools, and other articles of domestic furniture were heard to shake, and on the terrified tenant starting from his slumbers, and rushing in an excited state through the several rooms, he found them scattered, and in a state of the utmost disorder.
This state of things continued for nearly two weeks, but there was no unravelling of this strange mystery, nor did any suspicion rest on any one as the cause of it. Very naturally the inmates of the house arrived at the conclusion that the house was haunted. The rumour spread that the house was haunted, and it became an object of curiosity. Amongst others who heard of the unnatural state of affairs was Mr Pallas, High-Constable. As a man who has much of seen the world and an intelligent and shrewd officer [sic], one who has no belief in any intercourse with invisible spirits, he set about unravelling the mystery.
He learned from the landlord that the haunted tenant and his neighbour had both been anxious about obtaining the tenancy of this haunted house, and with much cuteness and ingenuity Pallis suspected that the neighbour was the real ghost. He made inquiries, and learned that he was an expert in mechanics, and possessed strong ventriloquistic powers, and visited him one evening last week he cautioned against carrying on the trick further, at the same time telling him if he persevered that he would order a criminal prosecution to be entered against him. No unearthly sounds were heard that evening nor any evening since. When Pallas came the ghost fled, and we think has left the city. If he again appears Pallas should be sent for.
Waterford Standard, 7th May 1870.