Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-05-22
THE STAFFORD MYSTERY.

1.-THE New York Sun, of the 29th, publishes
second long editorial account of the wonder
full phenomena, said to have recently occurred in
the family of Rev. Mr.. Phelps, of Stratford,
Connecticut, embracing the testimony OF anoth-
er witness, represented to be gentleman of
high recpectability, as written by hincelf. We
publish both for the reason that they will be
read if not believed Introducing the statement
of their correspondent, the editors of the Sun
says:1 ~. o. Crescent.
There is nothing at which an educated mind
more instinctively revolts than the idea that an
inanimate object can be made to move or change
its position without the application OF physl-
cal force in some known way, and it is not
therefore surprising that we cannot believe in
the possibility of such thing, until compelled
to do so by the unmistakable evidence of our
own senses. Thousands of unimpeachable
witnesses may testify to it, and yet, while we
have charity enough to allow they think they
speak the truth, we do not, and cannot fully
realize that the facts would bear out their state
ments if witnessed by ourselves. But every
one cannot thus be satisied-there is not suf-
ficient opportunity to admit that they should.
The great ms IS Of the community are inevita-
bly left to the evidence of others, and must
Judge each for himself of the substantiation of
the fact and of the motive of the witnesses to
conspire together with deliberate intention
to deceive. @ @ aeH
The appearance of the phenomena at STRAIT
ford is not entirely unique. Besides those
reported in public prints as having occurred at
Rochester and Auburn, other cases, not less
remarkable, have been observed in several other
places within the past two months. They are
likely to be accounted for as the effect of some
unknown combination as yet peculiar to the
localities affected. Among the many inexplica-
BILE things fully proved to have taken place du-
ring the writer's stay in the family, the follow
ing occurred Immediately in his presence, and
their circumstantial relations will prove as sat-
isfactory as would an accumulation of incidents
of similar nature. -.e...- -=.. ..,...,-=
THE account, as given by the respectable
gentleman above mentioned, then follows:
Having been absent during the afternoon and
the house, that DR.. Phelps had retired to bed,
and that the other members of the family were
in the act of doing so. After reaching my
own room, he sent message to say that he
would like few moments conversation with
narrative. Before | reached his room, some
article, fallen or thrown there, had attracted tie
attention of the other members of the family
SO that found them assembled together, and
with them lady friend who, from curiosity
and by invitation, was also to pass the night
in the house. The subject of ourconyersation
not being private, they all became seated, and
partially engaged in it. The bedstead was low
and of the ordinary pattern known as "French
mahogany" One side of it was against the
wall, between the doors to the hall and to the
hall-bedroom, and the other parallel with the
| mantel- piece ON the opposite side Of the room,
| from which it was distant about eight feet
| The chimney being large, recess of some
considerable size is formed on the further side
of the room, exactly opposite the door from
the hall which opens near the head OF the
bed In this recess was placed cot bed, the
side Of which was against the door to clothes
closet, and the head of which was in the. far
thest end Of the recess s. $50. S.4,..z.
The boy, heretofore spoken of, had slept II
this cotbed since the illness consequent upor
his freight, described in the article published
in the Sun on Tuesday of last week, and HI
! was then in bed there, and apparently asleep
was seated by the front size, and near tn
foot Of DR.. Phelps's bed, and he was restin.
on his elbow while conversing. The lady spo
ken of was seated with her back to the hal
door, and (to me) partially behind the head o
the bed, facing the manteLpiece. Mrs. .Phelp
and her daughter were seated at my left, an
somewhat farther back-our three position
forming an angle of about 1876 degrees wit
the front side Of the bed, and all the person
present forming an irregular part of a circl
having the mante-piece as its centre. The small
er children and the servants had retired som
time previously.
4 While our conversation was quietly proceed
s. ing, there seemed to be general start of q
present, the boy instantaneoussy sitting up i
bed. was then looking at the carpets on
line parallel to the front side of the bed and Q
/ the mantel-piece, and turned toward tn
mantei-piece, when Icaught sight of amatc
box, about four inches long by three Wild
within an inch Of the floor, if not upon it.
heard noise corresponding to what woul
4 be expected from about same the height Of tn
manteI-piece, and at the same time saw the bo
slide toward the bed and directly away froi
the mantel piece, about four inches, while th
lid few open, and some matches bounded OF
] upon the floor.
3 The place where the box struck was upon
z piece Of oil-cloth, spread between the bed an
3 the mantel-piece and about half way betwee
those objects. It was also within three .
four feet of where | sat and Of those in th
room; was as near or the nearest Of any {
the centre Of the mantel-pieee. The lady in
meIiately remarked that she had noticed tn
box. an instant before, upon the mantel-piec'
q and that she had seen it some little distanc
from the floor, falling, apparently, from tn
uanteI. piece. So 10 to notice the eject.
i asked the boy how he managed TO slip It of
nicely. He denied any agency in the matte
with an expression Of innocence which dehe
the closet scrutiny, stating that he was aslee
and that the noise frightened him. For nj
| ment no one moved, and busted myself IN
q unsuccessful effort to study out plan wher
8 by any one in the room could produce the efte.