A Wrexham Ghost Story.
On Tuesday the Wrexham Borough Magistrates were engaged in solving a ghost story which has for several days been a source of mystery to all and a terror to some of the inhabitants of Wrexham. Three weeks last Saturday night was the time that the mysterious visitor first appeared, and the scene the Nelson Vaults, Hope Street, kept by Mrs Parsonage. On the Saturday night about 11 o’clock, after the house had been cleared, Mrs Parsonage was roused by the noise of a smash in the lower regions, and her two servants came upstairs screaming and shouting that there were two men on the premises. Of course she was somewhat alarmed, and sent for a policeman, who came and searched the premises, but found no trace of anyone.
A neighbour volunteered to stay up all night, but her watch was fruitless. However, on Monday night there was another crash, but although search was made, nothing could be found, and everyone began to believe the disturbances were caused by spirits other than those contained in the barrels below in the cellar. Night after night the noises continued; windows were smashed, brickbats and stones sent about the rooms, all to the terror of the people of the house, who dreaded the approach of night.
Of course the police did not incline to the spiritualistic theory, and having also made clear that it was no one outside who was the offender, they carefully watched the inmates, and from what they saw charged the two servants, Ann Lewis, aged 21, and Ann Williams, aged 19, with being the cause. Finding themselves found out, they confessed all, and that it was done for a “lark.” Accordingly they were summoned for malicious damage, and the cases being clearly proved against them, they were ordered to pay a penalty amounting with costs in the case of Ann Lewis, who was the ringleader, to 26s, and in the other case to 16s. The Court was crowded during the hearing. – Liverpool Mercury.
Ulster Examiner and Northern Star, 1st August 1873.