Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-09-21
Mysterious Occurrences.

families of this county there took place from
time to time for months such occurrences as
defed detection of the most diligent vigilance
and bafaed the efforts ofintelligent investigation
satisfactorily to account. Stones and other
MISSILES were thrown, pieces of furniture moved
and negro girl seemingly severely chastised, ,
by some agency invisible to persons present. -
These scenes were witnessed by many intelligent
persons not members of the family who went
there with the view of satisfying their curiosity
and of detecting, if possible, the cause of such
mysterious manifestations. In 1865 at the re-
sidence of Mrs. Jacob Argenbright, on the
Shenandoah River, three miles from McGah-
eysville, in Rockingham county, similar scenes,
equally mysterious and inexplicable, were enact
ed. Stones were thrown through the windows,
breaking about forty panes of glass, and heavy
dining table was turned topsy-turvy. These
strange occurrences commenced about o clock
at night and were continued at interals till noon
of the next day. During this time, the house
was surrounded by her sons and several other
persons endeavoring to discover whence the
missiles came and by whom thrown. They
could hear and see the stones in the air, but
failed to find any one engagedin throwing them.
These occur; ences remain unexplained to this
day. We do not refer to these occurrences with
the view, of discussing them or expressing any
opinion even concerning their character as ma.
tural or supernatural, but mention them merely
as predatory to the following account of recent
trial In Richmond as reported in the Enquire,
and Erominer growing out of similar occurrences
in that city: s @
'This most remarkable case was tried on
Wednesday in the Hastings court The pris-
oner, Mrs; Fanny Baggett, who is very re-
spectacle lady, apparently about fifty years Of
age, was, during the whole trial, (which lasted
until o'clock ?. M. cool, dignifed, and self
possessed. Colonel jenkins, the Common
wealth S attorney, prosecuted, and A. Noise,
Jr., Esq, defended. The prosecutor was Mr..
Chiles, master machinist at the Chesapeake
and Ohio railroad, and highly respectable
gentleman. It will be recollected that last May
great excitement prevailed ON Ninth street,
binary occurrences that were transpiring at Mr..
Chiles's residence. s9
The street bell was rung constantly by unseen
hands-stones were thrown at, and windows
broken in Mr.. Chiles's house, when no human
being was in sight. The furniture in the house
was disarranged and turned topsy- turvy. Meth
er time nor money was spared in the effort to
find the key to the mystery, but all in vain Fl
nally, Colonel Egbert, chief police, together
with detectives Parker and Tyler visited the
premises, and, after thorough investigation,
arrested Mrs. Baggett as the guilty party. Mrs.
b. solemnly asseverated her innocence, but
said that sheeknew who did it; that ''it was
done by the dead, and this remarkable state
ment she repeated to the Mayor and still ad-
here's to. Colonel Egbert, Captain Parker, and
Detective Tyler swore that they were satisfied
from their investigation that Mrs. Baggett threw
the stones, and an old colored woman swore
that she saw Mrs. Baggett throw stones one
morning at clock that she accused Mrs B.
Of it, and that Mrs. B. denied having done it.
For the defence, Mr.. Baggett, Miss Baggett,
and Mr.. Davis swore that they saw the bell
ring and stones thrown at Mr., Chiles's house
when Mrs. B. was IN her oaon house, or stand
ing by them, and when no human being was in
sight.
Mr.. Chiles testified that he saw Mrs B. early
one morning In her garden pick up something
and put it In her apron, but this was explained
by MIR. Baggett, who stated that twas Corpus
Christi morning (27th May, and that his moth
the Catholic church. On cross examination BY
Mr.. Noise, Mr.. Chiles admitted that the fur
niture in the house was disarranged when il
was impossible for Mrs. Baggett to have had
access thereto. Upon being questioned by COL
Jenkins as to whether his suspicious fell upon
any one Mr.. Baggett said that he believed that
everything was done bell-ringing, stone-throw-
ing, &C., by supernatural means. CoIone
jenkins asked Mr.. B. whether it was not a.
gainst the tenets Of the Catholic religion to be-
ieve in ghosts; to which Mr. B. replied that il
was but he could not help his belief, and that
he was conscientiously of the opinion that nc
human hands rang the bell or threw the stones
at Mr.. Chiles's house Mr.. Baggett was about
one hour in giving his testimony He was list
ened to with marked and respectful attention
by the court, jury, and crowded court house.
He is gentleman of education and very intel
ligent, twenty-five years of age, and oficiates as
priest at St. Peters cathedral.
Colonel Danforth, Captain Henry, and 9th
ers, testified that they had been neighbors Of
Mrs. B. for years. and that she was a perfect
lady and most excellent neighbor No aniimus
was proved-on the contrary, the witnesses on
both sides, testified that there had never been
any difficulty or unplcasantness between the
families. Mrs. Baggett's house is next door to
Mr.. Chiles's, but separated by some six yards.
Qulte sharp SKlrmlSn look place between Co
lionel Jenkins and Mr.. Noise, on the attempt
made by Colonel jenkins to let the detectives
give their conclusions to the jury as to the guilt
of Mrs. Baggett, Mr.. Noise denying that their
conclusions were evidence, and that the rules
that governed evidence could not be reversed in
favor of detectives. The denoument of this
strange trial was an aoquittal without the jury
leaving their box.
At the conclusion of the trial, Mrs. Baggett
exhibited her right hand to the jury, which was
SO disabled by wound that it was evident she
could not throw a rock ten yards, and the rock
alleged to have been thrown by her must have
been thrown fully fifty or sixty yards; SO that
the matter still remains a profound mystery,
and the trial has rather increased than dimin-
ished the popular excitement on the subject
Mr.. Baggett is a graduate of Catholic Col
lege and is a gentleman of education and intel
ligence, and is said to be very pious young
man. Miss Baggett is also very intelligent
and highly educated young lady"
Election of Senators. ..
The telegraph from Washington says:
~ L. IL, H.,