Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-06
LONDON poLIcE-uN1oN HALL.

ANU HEX COCk-LAN NE GHOST. -.
mon! Csoftage, Ifirhe WandswoFthroad, attend
ed a, this Office, for The purpose OF entrea,lng
the Magistrates advice and assistance, under
the following curious circumstances
He commenced his application by stating
that he came down to the Office al the request
Of very decent woman, laundress, named
Beckinpton, who lives near the Mays Head, at
Clanham. About month or FIVE weeke ago
the laundress called upon him, and declared
that she could not rest at home in consequence
Of he frightful noises occasioned, she supposed,
by ghost. She said that 1t was almost imPos-
siple 10 remain in The house, Tor as soon as
darkness SET in, dismal howlings, together win
he Gathering of all the windows, and'ringlng
of bells were heard, and sometimes TO such an
extent as TO enaanger the whole fabric. When
the unusual noises were fins heard in her house,
she sent for her three sons, young men, VINO re-
manned in the house Tor some nights, in order
to discover whether they could ascertain how
or by whom such nightly disturbances were
caused; but, extraordinary to say, nolwihstand'
| ing their presence, as soon as night came, the
| hubbub commenced, every bell IN the mouse
rung with violence, although no hand was TO
| be seen nc ar the wiies-the windows shock as
though apitata.ed by s,orm-and thumps
the massage from the from, and back sitting
rooms. with force almost sufficient TO stage in
the whole of the woodwork, and yet no crca-
,ure was 10 be seen, although her sons had
watched most assiduously, aud indeed LETT no
stone unturned in order 10 solve the mystery.
! At her express wish he (Mr lrwin,) called at
her house on the preceding night, Tor The pur-
pose of hearing, and if possible, OF detecting
The authors Of most reprehensibie trick, ina,
excited not molly horror in the mind OF MRS.
Reckinp,on. but also in the minds OF all her
ne;qbbours most Of whom had heard the
noises above described, and watched III vain
to discover the origin of them. Mr.. IRWIN,
now proceeded to describe what he heard on
entering the laundress's house on the night
Of Thursday.-"The moment l went ID,
said he 81 thought every pane OF glass III
the house would have been smashed, IRON,
the violent manner in which Inc windows
were agitated, aud yet could not see a soui near
them. Soon afterwards all the bells IN the mouse
began to ring, and continued so ior quarter
Of an hour. although no person was near them
/ and I stationed men in The streets, to see ina
the strange doiugs within did not proceed IRON
nersons on the outside / then went INTO tht
! back narlour Continued Mr.. lrwin,) where INT
servant girl sas, who appeared TO De Amos
frightened TO death, and heard loud KNOCKS pro
coed from underneath the floor where she was
standing. desired her to walk to another par
Of the room, which she did-the knocking 'o'
lowed her-in fact every where she moved ioue
I and repeated blows were heard immeaia'e'
S undernath the spot where she happened 10 oe.
Mr.. Irwin added, that he tried every me'ho'
!. that suggested itself 10 discover the person :,
: persons by whom the imposture was pracuceu
:, but he confessed, he was as unsuccessful as ma
}. ny Others who tried the experiment before MIN
S and he now trusted that the magistrates woul'
: allow few Of the officers 10 repair TO the nous