“LAYING A GHOST.”

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5201, 9 November 1927, Page 3

“LAYING A GHOST.”

WOMAN AMON© THE TOMBSTONES.

SLEEPING QUARTERS IN CHURCH.

Weird noises amongst th© tombstones late at night and the flitting figure of a little old woman dressed in black and carrying an umbrella have been causing disquiet amongst people living in the vicinity of Bromley (Kent) Parish Church during the past few weeks.

Almost every night, approaching 12, the dark figure has been seen to pass through the lych-gate, glide along the path, encircle the church, and vanish into the porch. Girls and young men employed at drapery stores overlooking the churchyard at the back, disturbed by the nightly visitations, kept watch. Each night the “ghost” was seen to visit a certain tombstone and pause there for some time before disappearing into the church. “Deciding to “lay the ghost,” they, scaled the wall and crept round the churchyard to the porch. Suddenly something black reared up and Happed at them. They fled ! Feeling braver in broad daylight, they returned next day and made a search of the churchyard. A DISCOVERY. Behind the tombstone which the ghost was seem to visit they found a heap of rugs, blankets, and a feather pillow, hidden under an old door leaning up against the tomb. To see what would happen, they hid the “ghost’s” bed in a distant corner and that night, kept watch again. This time the “ghost” appeared as usual about 11 o’clock and visited the tomb, from which it roamed about as if in frantic search for its lost bed. Early next morning a quaint old woman approached the constable on duty at Market Square. She flourished an umbrella and told a tale to him of thiev-qs who had stolen her property. She followed him to the police station and made a complaint. There she was recognised as 75-year-old Miss Mary Squirrel, the strangest character in Bromley. For years Mary Squirrel has not had a roof over hep head. She has been sleeping out of doors ever since she had a fight witih the Bromley Town Council about her rates. For some time it was known that she slept in the unfinished Grand Hall in th© High Street, slipping in when the workmen knocked off at night. Then the Grand Hall was re-opened, and Miss Squirrel had to find a new shelter. THE VICAR’S SECRET. Nobody knew that, sh© had taken up her quarters in the porch of Bromley Parish Church except the vicar, Canon J. K. Wilson, M.A., and the verger, Mr Henry Brown. “Yes,” Mr Brown told a Pressman, “I have known about the ‘ghost’ for some time. The vicar does not like to turn her out, as she has nowhere else, to go. Yet she is well off. I believe she has an income of £2 a week from various sources, including the old-age pension. She was formerly nurse to a titled lady. “We let her keep h©r bedding in the churchyard on condition that she did not leave it in the porch in the way of the. congregation. The old door she props up across the entrance. Before she goes to sleep she hoists her umbijglla to keep out the draught and rain. '“She is nearly eighty, but is as hard and healthy as any man. She has 'her meals in the local cafe, and woe betid© any waitress who does not treat her with deference.

“Despite her age, Miss Squirrel is keen in sight, and likes nothing better than an afternoon at th© pictures. The rest of the day she reads and knits in the public library.” The Bromley police know all about Miss Squirrel, for she has appeared at court several times in the last few years to get a “settlement of her as she says. She declares that they are all frightened of her.