The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-07-18
pmoua Alr ranopsm
ST PAUL MINNESOTA TERRITORY, THURSDAY JULY 49, 1885,


The Rochester Chosts.-.The Rabbit.
Breeding Woman, and the Cocklane
Ghost.
I've copy the following from the NY.
Evening Post. 1t is worth reading
The Rochester knockings turn out, like
all ghost stories, to be a cheat:
In l726, a woman named Mary Tofts,
living at Goldaming, in the county of
Surrey, England, "of healthy consti-
tuition, small size, fair complexion, and
sullen temper, unable to read or write"
confessed to her female friends with
much reluctance, that she was con-
stantly giving birth to rabbits. The
story began to spread, and was so we'll
confirmed by facts, that it attracted the
attention not only of the neighbors, but
Of the medical faculty at distance.
Of course, precisely as in the case of
the Rochester ghosts, the truth of her
assertion being admitted readily, the
great puzzle was to explain the causes
of this monstrous deviation from the
laws of nature" The woman herself
could not explain them except by stating
that being in a delicate situation, she
had seen some rabbits in field and had
tried to catch them. Another woman
who was present, and an important wit
ness in the affair, testified that she had
WHAT charged Mary Tofts with long
ing for the aforesaid rabbits. Mary
also admitted that she. had dreamed
about rabbits, and so this unfortunate
tendency had come upon her.
Strange as this story was, it was fully
believed, and when highly respectable
physician, MIR. Howard, Of thirty years
experience, was called in to assist her
during these strange deliveries, and cer-
tilted that in the course of one month,
he had acted as accoucher to thirty rab-
bits, the sceptical began to yield their
opposition, and the believers increased
rapidly in numbers. So great noise
did the circumstances create that George
/, became personally interested in the
inquiry into the subject. The Doctor
UIOOC q pCISOu0I VI SIC Case,
became satisfied of the truth Of the ex-
traordinary reports, and went back to
London, not only convinced himself, but
with the intention of obtaining a pension
for the luckless Mary. The King then
sent DR.. St. Andre, his surgeon and
anatomist, to investigate the affair
He too returned thoroughly convinced.
He even carried back with him some of
the very rabbits. which were duly dis
sected before his Majesty, and found to
be rabbits and nothing else. An official
account was then published by him, and
Of course it produced a very high state
Of excitement in the public mind. A
controversy then arose between the be-
levers and unbelievers, and the ceIe-
brated Winston wrote a pamphlet, as
serting that the miracle was in accord
ance with prophecy of Esdras. On
the other haLd, Hogarth, attacked the
friends of Mary Tofts, most effectively.
in social caricatures. Still! the delusion
spread, and with such effect, that few
persons would any longer eat rabbits,
from feeling of disgust The rents of
rabbit warrens fell to nothing. In short,
there was general impression of the
truth Of the matter, when the then Prince
of Wales took the matter in hand. Mary
was brought up to London and closely
watched by Sir Richard Manningham,
an eminent physician, and even he came
very near being imposed upon, until he
proposed very dangerous operation,
in order to relieve her. This alarmed
her so much that 80 confessed the trick,
explained how it was carried on, and
named the party who supplied her with
rabbits. She also confessed that she
had expected to get assistance from the
public, SO that she would not be obliged
to work for living. Mary was COM
mitted to Tothillheld Bridewell for a
short time and rabbits continued to
breed IN the usual manner.
In 1862, the Cocklane ghost made it's
appearance in London. At the house
| Of a Mr.. Parsons, the pious parish clerk
of St. Sepulchre's, alarming knockings
and scratchings were heard by his
daughter, an artless child, only twelve
years OF age. On being closely ques-
toned, she admitted that she had not
only heard these noises, but had seen
the apparition Of Mrs. Kent, formerly
a lodger in the house, reported to have
died of the smallpox after she had left
it, but believed to have been murdered.
The rumor spread like wild-fre, and as
it is always the credulous who first as
semble to witness the supernatural,
crowds Of believers gathered at the
parish clerks! The knockings and
scratchings became more violent, as the
number OF. believers increased. A cler-
gyman was selected among others to sit
at the bed of Miss Parsons, to converse
with or exercise the ghost, as the case
might be. He informed the ghost, in a
loud voice, that its answers, if in the
affirmative, should be indicated by one
knock, and, if in the negative, by two
knocks. The arrangements being con-
cluded, the ghost was asked if it was the
spirit of the murdered Mary Kent, and
the spirit answered with one knock.