Another Ghost?
Mysterious Missiles in a Yarmouth Row.
Exciting Incidents.
Something akin to the scenes witnessed some time ago, when a report got abroad that ghosts had been seen in Yarmouth Churchyard, have disturbed Middlegate Street and Row 108 in particular for some nights. This time things have taken a new and more sensational turn. The “ghost” has not been visible, but mysterious missiles have night after night been flying over high roofs and smashing windows, causing a good deal of damage, not a little danger, and immense ferment in a densely populated neighbourhood.
Our cute and vigilant police promptly proceeded to investigate, and we believe they have some clue in what is a very strange and unaccountable affair. The lads of the locality are playing the part of amateur detectives, with an insatiable love of adventure inherent in the British boy. On Sunday a number of them were found upon the grounds of the Education Committee’s Offices, fearlessly ghost hunting with candles. They had climbed over a wall several feet high, obtained an extension ladder, and secured a vantage point of observation, perched along the top of another wall. Discovered by the caretaker, their names and addresses were secured, and they were conducted off the premises.
Still, the bombardment has gone on from time to time, jam jars and lumps of coal, which must have been thrown with considerable force, crashing into the back windows of house in the Free Library Row. The Library itself has not escaped scathless, two of the fine tinted glass windows having been broken by long range shots.
As all the missiles appear to have come from one direction, the “ghost” may yet be laid.
Reports of a madman abroad, and of a long police chase over roofs, have not been substantiated. Excitement is being kept up at a high pitch.
Yarmouth Independent, 8th September 1923.
Laying the ‘ghost’.
Has it been caught by the Police?
School girl in custody.
The “Independent” story of the mysterious missiles and ghost hunt with candles was in a good many hands in the Free Library Row on Friday. There was, however, no apparent solution of the mystery until Sunday, when concealed police officers aver that they saw some very singular and suspicious movements on the part of a school girl of 13 years, who resides in the Row. Excitement grew to fever pitch in the locality when the constables conducted the girl to the Police Station, where she was formally charged with “unlawfully and wilfully committing injury and spoil upon the glass of a bedroom window in the house, 10, Row 108, in the occupation of Frederick Thompson, doing damage to the amount of 4s.”
On Monday the girl, who is of prepossessing appearance, and tall for her age, was brought from the Home of Detention, and evidence in support of the charge given to the Mayor and several other magistrates at a Children’s Court, the public gallery being cleared before the case was opened.
At the outset the Chief Constable said there had been an epidemic of window breaking at houses in Row 108. On Saturday night he went to the premises, made an inspection, and came to the conclusion it was impossible for the windows to be broken by anyone throwing missiles over the adjoining buildings. The police and others had been taking observations, and on Sunday officers, acting under his instructions, took up a certain position which overlooked the premises that had been previously damaged. This they did, unknown to the residents, and they would tell the magistrates what they saw. He would be glad if the magistrates would, after hearing the evidence, go and see the premises, and the locality, and judge of the way in which the windows were broken.
The Mayor – I went there on Saturday evening.
Asked to plead, the girl said through Policewoman James, who brought her into Court, that she did not break the windows.
P-c Wilson said that on Sunday at 9.45 a.m. he took up a position in a warehouse in Row 111, from which a window overlooked the back yard of No. 10, Row 108. He had to stand upon a ladder to get a full view of the yard. At 12.15 noon he saw defendant come into the yard. She walked to a small shed on the east side, and looked round, apparently to see if anyone was looking. Then she stooped down and picked up a piece of coal, with which she walked to the kitchen door, where she looked round again and then threw the coal which struck the kitchen wall.
She next said to Mrs Thompson in the kitchen of No. 10, “I think something now came over here.” Mrs Thompson and defendant then looked round, and both went back into the house. A few minutes later defendant came into the yard again and went to the small shed and picked up something else, and went to the small shed and picked up something else, and went to the kitchen door. Afterwards she looked round and threw the coal at the bedroom window at the north end of the yard, breaking it. Later she said to Mrs Thompson, “I think one of your windows has gone this time.” Witness then called to p.c. Clarke, who was watching with him, and they changed posts.
By the Chief Constable – He was quite certain about the coal throwing. No one else was in the yard at the time. He distinctly heard what defendant said to Mrs Thompson.
The girl and mother, given an opportunity of cross-examining the officer, said she had no question to ask – she knew nothing about the matter.
Defendant – I have no question to ask, because I never was in the yard. I was in the kitchen with Mrs Thompson.
Constable Watson said Mrs Thompson’s kitchen window was boarded up on account of broken glass, and Mrs Thompson could not see anything that went on outside. He was at a small window overlooking the yard.
P-c Clarke, carrying on the story said he first saw defendant in the yard at 9.30 a.m. and from that time she was doging in and out. At 12.15 Constable Watson informed him of what he had seen, and took his place on the ladder. He saw defendant pass Mrs Thompson’s bedroom window inside, and as she went by, the glass that was broken fell outward and crashed into the yard. He was positive nothing was thrown at the window, and as defendant passed it she must have struck it. He then went to the kitchen of No. 10., Row 108, where he saw defendant standing beside Mrs Thompson. He told her he should take her to the Police Station which was done by Constables Watson and Hubbard. Afterwards he cautioned her and when he read the charge she made no reply. The coal produced he found in the yard on Sunday morning after defendant’s arrest. Only Mrs Thompson was in the house with defendant.
By the Mayor – The defendant’s hands were clean when he arrested her.
How could the window have been broken? – With her hand or side, it could not have been smashed in any other way. I could see into the bedroom.
Defendant said the officer told her to put on her hat and coat. She asked him what for, but did not hear him tell her she was going to the police station.
The Mayor – You knew he was a police officer? – Yes.
Hannah Thompson of No. 10, Row 108, said that since August 30th she had had glass in her windows broken. On Sunday morning she was peeling potatoes in her kitchen when she heard some glass break. She could not look through the kitchen window, as it was boarded up. Defendant ran in and said “There’s another of your windows gone.” Then she went upstairs, though witness told her to, and when she came downstairs said it was another window. Witness went into the yard and noticed glass lying about from the window that had been broken.
By the Clark – When the first crash came was defendant in the kitchen or yard? – In the yard.
Where was Mr Thompson? – At the top of the Row.
On this evidence defendant was remanded until Friday, the Mayor directing she should meanwhile be kept at the Home of Detention.
Yarmouth Independent, 15th September 1923.