A Ghost Story.
In the city of Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio, a respectable family, named Hoffman, have been haunted and tortured by malignant spirits since June, 1869. Detectives, clergymen, and spiritualists have all failed to arrest or conciliate the spirits, who began their cruel pranks by depriving the Hoffman family of money and clothes, and by breaking all the crockery in their house. Various attempts to soften down the desires of the ghosts have been made by members of the family, but all in vain.
Finding that a constant scene of action with the unseen agents was the cellar, a note demanding explanation and mercy was left there, but before the worthy Hoffman, who deposited the note, reached the top of the house, his own letter was flung after him. One generous offer certainly was made to Mrs Hoffman by the spirits, namely, that if she walked down stairs to the cellar backward on her knees she would find there a box containing 2,000 dollars. On consultation with her friends, Mrs Hoffman prudently decided not to undertake this enterprise, and consequently the spirits have become more exasperating than ever. Disrespect of any kind they will not bear.
It is even said that a young man who spoke in slight terms of the ghosts instantly felt a red hot stone fall on his head. Taking this for a warning, he at once desisted from further conversation.
At last accounts, the spirits, who have now become as famous in America as the mysterious night visitants at Cock-lane became in England in the last century, had left the Hoffman Family without a domestic utensil to cook a dinner with, and with only worn-out working suits of clothes on their backs as articles of wearing apparel. The immortals followed the family, move where they would, and the impoverished state of things was rapidly making old Hoffman wish himself a ghost as soon as possible.
Sund and Central Press, 19th May 1871.
A mysterious ghost, of very unamiable proclivities, appears to be troubling a quiet family of the name of Hoffman, resident in the city of Wooster, in the State of Ohio. For two years past this disreputable spirit has indulged in its malignant pranks, and though the local press declare that most careful watch has been kept by qualified watchmen, such as “several clergymen and physicians and a circle of professed spiritualists,” so cunningly does the creature go about its work that no clue to its mode of operations has been discovered. The mysterious pranks, we learn, began in June, 1869, by the abstraction in some perfectly unaccountable fashion of two dollars from the paternal Hoffman’s purse. From that period the poor man has been unable to keep loose cash upon him; and hide it where he might, his tormentor found it out and made free with it.
Articles of dress and crockery disappeared next, or the dresses got torn and cut up, and the crockery fell from shelves, and otherwise came to grief. Stones, eggs, and other small objects flew promiscuously about the house, doing damage and creating annoyance; and now and then handfuls of sand and gravel were rained against the faces of the inmates. Notes were after this written by the ghost, threatening and admonishing the Hoffmans. The walls are beat upon at night, stones rattle against the doors and windows, and are pitched into rooms; in short, the family are frightened out of their wits, besides that their property is in the shape of clothing, crockery and cutlery is all destroyed.
Up to this date, says the New York Times of May 3rd, “no light whatever has been thrown on the matter.” Policemen have before now been good for the discovery of English ghosts. Might not an Ohio ghost succumb to two or three able detectives?
Western Daily Press, 20th May 1871.
The New York Times of Mar 3. says:- There have recently being doings in Wayne County, Ohio as marvellous as any that ever frightened Cotton Mather, or mystified Dr. Johnson. In the little city of Wooster there lives a quiet and respectable family, named Hoffman, which for nearly two years has been haunted and tortured by malignant spirits. The persistent demons cannot be entreated or exorcised away; and their proceedings bear alike close resemblance to those of divers familiar imps conjured up by the modern spiritualists, and to those of the famous Cock-lane ghost of a century ago.
The mysterious pranks that afflict the Hoffman family were begun in June, 1869, while the family lived in Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio. At that date, by way of keynote or prologue to the weird drama to come, Mr Hoffman one day lost two dollars from his purse. He did not at first attribute this to any Satanic or supernatural agency, although he felt subsequently called on to do so. Prudently resolving to hide his money more carefully in future, he went his way. But put his loose cash where he might, the cunning depredators spied it out and relieved him of it. The poor man soon found that it was absolutely impossible to keep any funds about him at all; and this was only the beginning of his woes. Articles of food and of dress began to disappear in the same unaccountable way. Crockery fell from shelves without the aid of human hands, and was smashed to pieces. Stones, eggs, and other small objects were tossed wildly about the house; and now and then the unseen tricksters got up a little shower of gravel and sand, which would be playfully thrown in the faces of the inmates. The family were at first very naturally surprised and annoyed; afterwards they got alarmed, and having unsuccessfully tried every means that occurred to them, both to discover the cause of those visitations and to put a stop to them, they resolved to quit their home.
Mr Hoffman took another house for his wife and three children – the latter being aged 20, 17, and 15, respectively – in the town of Wooster, at some distance from their former abode; while, with the discretion that appears to characterise him, he took up his own temporary quarters at a mill where he was employed. The family now hoped to remain unmolested, but they soon found to their chagrin how trivial were the impediments of space or locality to their malefic attendants. The prudent Hoffman, indeed, escaped further attentions; but his spouse was less fortunate. That lady and her offspring being domiciled at the house of one Snooks in West Liberty Street, Wooster, now became the victims of an extraordinary series of persecutions.
The clothes of the mother and eldest daughter were first abstracted and then returned in fragments, having been cut and slashed to pieces. Sometimes the garments would be stuffed in out-of-the-way places. One day, for example, most of the linen of the family was discovered carefully packed in the mouth of the cellar drain. Another time a silk dress was found under a wood-pile; and skirts were dug up that had been deliberately buried in earth or sand. A fresh feature was now added to the entertainment, in the shape of notes that arrived, none knew from whence, although they sometime appeared to be thrown from the cellar. These missives contained various threats and admonitions.
One of the number advised Mrs Hoffman, in a friendly way, that if she would come down the cellar stairs backward on her knees, at a specified day and hour, she would find a box containing 2,000 dols. The worthy lady was anxious to clutch the glittering prize, but “being afraid of bodily injury, was dissuaded by neighbours from making the hazardous attempt.” It occurred to her, not unreasonably, that the task might be more wisely undertaken by her husband; and she therefore repaired to that cautious person at his mill, and induced him to go with her to Wooster. The spirits, however, at this juncture, promptly transmitted another note to the effect that no one could possibly get the money but herself; and we are not surprised to hear by the latest accounts that it has not yet been secured.
By way of amends for this disappointment the concealed powers have begun a new and lively round of diversions. Poundings are heard on the walls at night, stones from the size of pebbles to that of a man’s fist are pitched through the doors and windows, dishes rattle, and “a general rumpus is created, as if imps were holding high revelry.” A bold young man, a visitor, having said something disrespectful of the unseen agencies, a red-hot stone was dropped on his head; and, on taking out his pocket handkerchief, he found it was cut into shreds.
All sorts of mystifications are practised. Mr Hoffman, for instance, answered one of the “spirit notes,” and put his reply in the cellar; but just as he got upstairs into the room above “his own note dropped on the floor by his side – all his family being present.” The family are now quite impoverished by the thefts and other ravages of their demoniac tormentors. Mrs Hoffman and her daughters have no clothes save those worn by them daily on their backs; while the husband and father has only a single worn old working suit left to him. Nearly all the domestic utensils, such as plates, cups and saucers, and even the table cutlery, have been either broken or carried away.
Of course the obvious suggestion is that all this mischief has really been wrought by cunning mortals, and not by spirits at all, and that, as with the artful William Parsons and his family in 1761, discovery, if long averted, must be certain at last. The local press declares that most careful watch has been kept, and that hundreds of men and women have visited and inspected the premises without being able to suggest any clue to the mystery. Several clergymen and physicians have investigated it, and a circle of professed spiritualists have likewise essayed to do so. As yet no light whatever has been thrown on the matter, and, so far as the postponement of detection goes, this Ohio ghost must certainly be allowed to surpass in cunning his predecessor of Cock Lane, who so marvellously perplexed the wise heads of last century.
Newcastle Journal, Saturday 20th May 1871.
An American Ghost.
In former times every good family had its ghost story, and we suppose it is a proof of the respectable antiquity which America has attained that she is now able to produce a very tolerable tale of supernatural agency. At Wooster, in the County Wayne (Ohio), lives a family named Hoffman, which, according to the New York Times, has for two years been the victim of persistent persecution from some unseen power. Mr Hoffman was the first sufferer. His purse and loose money were continually abstracted, until at last he gave up carrying any coin with him. Then articles of food and dress began to disappear in the same unaccountable way. Crockery fell from the shelves and was smashed to pieces, and stones, eggs, and showers of gravel swept wildly through the house.
A change of residence and a separation between husband and wife had only the effect of transferring to Mrs Hoffman the attentions of the malignant spirits. They robbed her of her clothes, sometimes returning them to her in shreds, and sometimes stuffing them into the cellar drain, and have lately taken to persecuting her with “spirit notes” containing warnings, threats, or invitations. The minds, bodies, and estate of the Hoffman family have been completely worn out by this mysterious terrorism, and according to the local press all efforts to detect the tormentors have hitherto failed, though clergymen, physicians, and professed Spiritualists have all been engaged in the investigation.
Greenock Telegraph and Clyde Shipping Gazette, 1st June 1871.
A family bewitched: A strange story, vouched for by several witnesses.
The Wooster (Ohio) Republican is responsible for the following: – “If the Rev. Cotton Mather, of witchcraft memory, were living in these degenerate days, he would have his hands full of business in this city, at the house of Mr David Hoffman, near the corner of Pittsburgh-avenue and J. Stibbs’ lane. The family is said to be haunted by malignant spirits, who are uncomfortably rampant in their evil doings, diabolical in their transactions, and mysterious in their ways. The family consists of five persons – Mr Hoffman, who is about 55 years of age; his wife, about 50; two daughters, respectively aged 20 and 17 years; and a son, probably about 15 years old. They formerly lived in Holmes county, Mr Hoffman being employed as a miller in Sharp’s mill, two miles south of Millersburg, where the family were regarded as respectable, intelligent, and Christian people. He stated that he was doing well at the mill, had a good salary and a good home, and was in every way in comfortable circumstances; until disorder, in a mysterious way, visited his family.
It first commenced, he said, a year ago last June, by his missing two dollars from his pocket-book, after which he privately hid his money; but that, too, disappeared in the most unaccountable manner. Articles of food and clothing, in daily increasing quantities, went the same way. Crockeryware fell from shelves and broke to pieces; stones and gravel, eggs and other things were thrown about the house, apparently without human agency, and badness seemingly having headquarters in the cellar. The family, from being annoyed, at length became frightened; and, imagining that a change of abode might bring relief from the spirits, removed to Wooster last summer, Mr Hoffman remaining at the mill, where he was unmolested by any evil visitation. But his family, who lived in Mr Snook’s house, West Liberty-street, was not so fortunate. The clothing of the mother and eldest daughter was taken; some returned, from whence no one could tell, all cut to pieces, as if with shears, and some found secreted in out-of-the-way places; for instance, all their underclothing was found stuffed into the mouth of the cellar-drain, a silk dress hid under a wood pile in the cellar, and skirts, etc., buried in sand.
Many written notes were thrown apparently from the cellar, bearing all kinds of messages. One was that if Mrs Hoffman would come down to the foot of the cellar stairs on her knees, on a certain specified day and hour, she would find there a box containing 2,000 dollars. Prior to this the family had been afraid to go into the cellar, and, as she could only go down the cellar backward on her knees, Mrs Hoffman, afraid of bodily injury, was dissuaded by neighbours from making the hazardous attempt. But she went to Holmes County and brought her husband to Wooster, hoping that he could get the lucre, and, by his presence, abate the ‘spirits,’ or ‘It,’ as she calls the evil agents of her fireside. Another note was received, stating that no one could get the money but herself. It has not been secured up to the present time.
Some of the prominent Spiritualists of Wooster, learning of these transactions, held a circle meeting, but received no signs from that other ‘bourne’. The troubles raged on. Mr Hoffman, at a sacrifice, was compelled to give up his situation at the mill and join his family in Wooster. A few weeks ago they moved to where they now reside, followed by it. By request of the family, a clergyman of Wooster visited them and offered prayer. Shortly after he left, a scrap of paper dropped strangely to the floor, upon which was written that, as they (the family) had ‘prayed to God,’ the spirits wouldn’t bother them for a while. All was quiet for a few days. Then more clothes were taken, which, after an absence of one or two days, would be found in th ehouse or yard cut to pieces. About ten days ago, while another reverend gentleman was there, a piece of new calico, sufficient for three dresses, disappeared. A lady neighbour next day found it, uncut, under a pile of wood, and also a blanket shawl under a box of potatoes in the cellar.
Frequently at night there are poundings on the walls, stones, from pebbles to those as large as a man’s hand, thrown in the rooms, and a general rumpus created, as if the imps were holding high revelry. On one occasion Mr Hoffman called upon it to cease, without avail; whereupon he indulged in a little tall swearing, when all became serene. A young man called there last Friday evening; said that if the spirits could cut up his hat or handkerchief they were welcome. A small stone dropped on his head, which, when picked up, he found red hot; and upon taking out his handkerchief discovered it cut to shreds. As another instance very peculiar, a young gentleman, and confirmed sceptic in spiritualism, with other persons, visited the house on last Sabbath afternoon, and on his return to his brother’s residence, to the amazement of all, at least 20 holes were found in his handkerchief, which had not been out of his pocket at the haunted house.
Mr Hoffman answered one of the spirit notes, placed his reply quietly in the cellar, but just as he got up stairs into the room, his own note dropped on the floor by his side – all his family present. Until last Friday nothing of Mr Hoffman’s clothing had been touched. That night his two pair of boots – all he had – were taken, and also the table-knives, but the boots were mysteriously returned next day, accompanied by an exceedingly vulgar note. On Saturday, all his clothing, excepting an old working suit, was taken, and words written on the side of the house to the effect that they would not be returned. Mr and Mrs Hoffman, and the eldest daughter, have no clothing but that on their backs; while in th ehouse are piles of cut-up garments of all descriptions, of good quality – a dozen dresses, silk, calico, etc., cloth sacks, four shawls, underclothing, and any quantity of lesser articles. It is a shame – this wanton destruction of property. From a man comfortable in life, Mr Hoffman is getting into reduced circumstances. He said he had lost about a thousand dollars during the past year. The whole matter is confounding.
There are however, several plausible theories for the cause of the seemingly marvellous transactions. Careful watch has been kept, yet no clew to the perpetrators of the outrages has been discovered. Hundreds of men and women have visited the premises. It is said that the Spiritualists propose holding meetings at the house, and get up a circle to see if anything can be developed.”
Daily Southern Cross (NZ), 26th June 1871.