Amazing Ghost Story

Horowhenua Chronicle, 28 December 1911, Page 4

Amazing Ghost Story

ALLEGED HAUNTED HOUSE AT BALHAM. An amazing ghost story was told at Wandsworth County Court, before Judge Harrington, when Thomas Henry Queen Victoria street, sued William Atkinson, of Borough road, S.E., for £10 13s 4d, rent due in respect of a house, in Cathles road, Balham. Mr Hanne. solicitor for plaintiff, said' ■that" a very curious defence had been put in, defendant objecting to pay rent for the premises because, he said, the house was haunted by an old grey-haired man. Defendant left the bouse and declined . to pay after taking the house for 12 months. The Judge to Mrs. Atkinson: Was this old gentleman very disturbing to you? We lived l there some months and it was a matter of impossibility to remain there, Mr Hanne road a letter from Mrs Atkinson to plaintiff in which the former stated that it was "impossible to live in tho 'house; it being haunted by an old grey-headed man. Some noises we have heard,' continued the letter, "give us no rest. Wo have tried all the rooms to sleep in, but they arc all alike. Big hangs come at the head of the bedstead and wake us up. One of my daughters hid 'her face slapped. One night brass rails were flung across the room. There are terrible bangs at the head of the bed and pattering up and down stairs. "Our dog whines and it is very restless. and 1"» st week he was let loose; the back d'mr was opened and the dorr admitted to tho house, by whom we know not. Our nerves am all unstrung, mid we cannot lire in it any lon<r-

or. Our experiences hav been dreadful. Tito shadows of a man and worn a™ have been seen by more than one person."' Tho .Tud,c?o: Has the landlord in-rnstfo-ated nil these apparitions? Mr Hanne: Ho sr>vs he fans never heard about these mysterious noises mid appearances before. Tho Judee said that a plea of rtiuld not be a successful reason for not paying thfe rent, and save a verdict against defendant