The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-12-18

The StOckaCeIL Ghost.

In the year 1772, one Mrs. Golding, an
elderly lady of independent fortune and
great responsibility, was the occupant of q
house at Stockwell, Surry. She had been
born. in the parish, and had hardly once
quilted it in the whole course of her life
She was much esteemed by her neighbors,
and regarded generally as a person Of worth
and character. .... -.....0
About ten o'clock in the forenoon, on
Monday, the 9th of January, 1772, as Mrs.
Golding was sitting in her parlor, she was
alarmed by the noise of falling glass and
china. The sound appeared to proceed
from the back-kitchen of her house. Pres
emily her maid, Anna Robinson, q young
woman ofabout twenty, who had only with
in a few days entered her service, came to
her and stated that the plates and dishes
were tumbling from the shelves of their
own accord, in the most extraordinary way.
Mrs. Golding went at once into her kitchen.
She found the 8oor strewn with broken
crockery. In minute or two, while she
was standing there, she saw row of plates
from another shelf fall down. Nobody was
near them, and there was nothing to &C
count for their falling She was greatly
amazed at what she had seen. Forthwith,
other things began to tumble about, and
violent noises were heard all over the house
A clock tumbled down, and was broken; a
lantern that was hanging on the staircase
was thrown down and the glass smashed to
pieces; an earthen pan, containing sailed
beef was shattered, and the beef was flung
about the floor. Certain of her neighbors
were sent for, or came to the house of their
own accord. Among them was one Row
lidge, o carpenter, who announced his opin-
ion that the foundation was giving away,
and the house was about to fall, owing to
the excessive weight of an addition room
which had been erected on the roof. Row
lidge's views did not appear to be correct,
however. The house was safe enough
But whichever way Mrs. Golding and her
maid turned, they were followed by the
fall of crockery and the upsetting of furni-
ture. Mrs. Golding ran into the house of q
Mr.. Gresham, who lived next door; and
then, overcome by terror, tainted away.
Meanwhile, Rowlidge, and Others sharing
his opinion as to the dangerous state fthe
| house, set to work to remove Mrs. Golding' q
effects from the premises. At this time all
had become quiet again. Robinson, the
servant, who had gone up stairs, was called
to several times to como down and leave
the house, so as to be out of danger. 1t was
noticed at the time that she had answered
very coolly, and moved about deliberately,
as though unconscious or reckless of the
peril of her situation.
A messenger was dispatched to Mrs.
Golding's niece, the wife of Mr.. Pain, a
farmer, living at Brixton Causeway. Mrs.
Pain was entreated to proceed directly to
Stockwell, as her aunt was supposed to be
dying. When Mrs. Pain arrived, however,
Mrs. Golding had recovered little, but
was still very faint
Mr.. Gardner, a surgeon of Clapham, was
sent for, and proceeded to bleed Mrs. Gold
ing. In the course of the operation, a china
basin belonging to Mr.. Gresham, was placed
upon the floor. Presently the contents of
the basin were ierked out and the basin
itself fell in pieces. This was the only
property of Mr.. Gresham's that was injured.
But all the articles that had been brought
from Mrs. Golding's house continued to
fall about and break. A tray-full ofchina,
japan baskets, some mahogany walters, bot
ties of liquor, pier-glasses, Jars of pickles,
etc., all were shattered. Some the neigh
bors were invited to drink some wine or
spirits; but before the bottles could be ttn-
corked, they had broken in pieces
Subsequently Mrs. Golding was removed
to Mrs. Pains house near Brixton Cause
way. After few hours, Robinson, the