HAUNTED HOUSE MYSTERY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 April 1921, Page 12

HAUNTED HOUSE MYSTERY.

TWO QUEER CASES. In English papers and New South Wales papers to hand within the last few days are particulars of two strange mysteries. That at Guyra, New South Wales, has been referred to in the cable messages. That at Hornsey has not, but the resemblance of the two is marked as will appear from the following: •’Since last Friday week,” states the Sydney Morning Herald of April 12, ‘•the residence of Mr. William Bowen, a ganger, employed by the Guyra Shire Council, has been attacked nightly by what appears to be a stone-thrower, and every window in the house—a four-room weatherboard cottage—has been smashed The three local police officers, assisted by many residents, have been unable to locate the cause of the annoyance, although the most careful watch has been maintained. During the last three nights the strange proceedings have assumed a fresh development. The sounds resembling sharp blows on the walls, cannot be acounted for by stone-throwing, no missiles being found near, and no marks beihg detected on the building from which the sounds proceed. The whole affair is enveloped in mystery, and is causing an extraordinary amount of local interest. Besides the father and mother, there are three children in the family, one a girl 12 years of age, and it is against the latter that the strange attacks seem to be more particularly directed, though she appears to be less perturbed than any of the other members of the household. Every effort is being made to clear the matter up.” From the London Times of February 17 the particulars of the Hornsey case are taken. Our contemporary states: “No. 8, Ferrestone Road, Hornsey, N., rented by Mr. J. S. Frost, has for some weeks been disturbed by what are alleged to be ghostly visitations. It is a typical suburban villa residence, and a numerous family lives in it. One of the children, Gordon, a boy of 11, seems to have been the centre of the manifestations. To-day he is going away for a visit to a convalescent home.

“The milder manifestations consist of the flight from shelf to shelf or table to floor of all sons of crockery, brushes, food, and small objects; the more surprising are the sudden elevation from the floor of the child and his chair, or the raising 2ft from the carnet of a mahogany table laid with V r eak*fast things. The most terrifying experience the boy has had. and it was shared by his brother, aged nine, is stated to be the sudden appearance in the boy’s bedroom of an apparition in which they recognised their motlnr, who died of consumption last April When this happened the children’s screams brought the family to the bed-room. The vicar of St. Gabriel’s, Bowes Park, was present, and went upstairs with the family. The boys declared that the apparition had lifted up the bed they shared and said Mie was going to take them away. That night, says Mr. Frost, the vicar took the boy Gordon away to stay at his house for the night. Yesterday more china was broken.

“The first disturbance was caused some" little time ago by coal being flung about the house, and last night a coal merchant’s carman described how he fet.ued about 19cwt. of the stuff away. “Everybody’s asking round here now if the firm sells the haunted coal,” he said. When the trouble began the police and the fire brigade were both consulted, but have since given up investigations. Several people in the house have been hit by flying bric-a-brae and general odds and ends, but none has yet been hurt The boy was examined yesterday by a doctor, who declared him excitable but normal. The family is looking anxiously for another house.”