Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1837-06-08
FoOm q LoaIon paper.
| TRUE CUOST aTnD


In the year. I7OI - gentleman. TO
all apDeaTs1Ssss.s - large fortune, took
fnrnis hsd t1sSgings in Soho square
allI-. had resided there some weeks
.h this establishment, he lost his
brother, who had lived at Hampstead,
and who on his death bed particularly
desired TO be inferred in the family
vault at Westminster Abbey. The
gentleman requested has landlord 10
bring the corpse OF his brother 10 bis
lodgings, and to make arrangements
there for the funeral. The landlord.
without hesitation, signihed his com.
Pliance. The body. dressed in white
Shroud, Eas 5ioGsht ia n very hand.
some coffin, and placed in a great din
ing room. The funeral was 20 take
place the next day, and the lodger and
his servant went out TO make the me-
cessary preparations for the solemnity.
lie staid out late, but this was no IN.
common thing. The landlord and has
family, conceiying that they had no
occasion TO wait for him, retired 10 bed
as usual about twelve o'clock. One
maid servant was left up 20 let him in,
and TO boil some water which be de.
sired mightbe ready for making tea on
his return. The girl was accordingly
sitting alone in the kitchen, when a
tall spectre-looking figure entered. and
claPped itself down in a chair opposite
her. The maid was by no means one
Of the most timid Of her sex; bat she
was terrified beyond expression, lonely
as she was, at the unexpected appari-
ton. Ut,ering o loud scream, she
flew out like an arrow ct a side door.
and hurried TO the door Of her master
and mistress. Scarcely had she awak-
ened them, and communicated 10 the
whole family some portion Of her fright,
with which she was herself oyerwheim-
ed, when the spectre, developed in a
shroud. and with deathlike paleness.
made ats appearance, and sat down in
a chair in the bed room, without their
having observed how II entered. The
worst of all was, that the chair stood
by the door Of the chamber, so that
not q creature could get away without
passing close 70 the apParition. which
rolled iis glazing eyes so frightfuIly,
and so hideously distorted its features.
that they could not bear 10 look Of il.
The master add mistress crept under
the bed clothes, covered with profuse
preparation, while the maid servant
sank nearly insensibIe by the side Of
the bed. AT the time the whole house
seemed TO be in upFoar, for though
they had covered themselves over head
and ears, they could hear an incessant
noise end chatter which served 10 IN.
crease their terror. At length al be-
came perfectly still in the house. The
landlord veniured 10 raise bls head.
and to steal glance az the chair by
the door but behold the ghost vas
I gone T. Sober reason began TO resume
iis power. The-pooE-aitl was brought
to herself after good deal on shaking.
Ia short time they plucked up sufi.
Gent courage 70 60 out Of the bed
room and 70 commence an examine
ton Of the house, which they expect.
ed TO find m great disorder. Nor were
their anticipalions unfounded. The
whole house bad been stripped bv the
srigul thieves end lhe gentleman had
decamped without paying for his lodg.
ings. II turned out TIA. he was no
other than an accomplico Of the no.o.
rious Arthur Chambers. who was exc.
euied at Tyburn. in 1903. and lba, tho
supposed corpse Vas The arch rogue
himself. who he'd Vhiiened his hands
and face With chalk, and merely coun-
'erieiied death. About midnight he
quilted The co1in and appeared TO the
maid IN The kitchen When she few
up stairs he softly followed her, and.
seated ~ the door Of The chamber. be-
acted as sentinel. so that hs indus
ltnous accompliCes were enabled 60
plunter ihe house without the least
moledation.