The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-09-20
A VIRGINIA Gn0ST.

Remarkable A0air-UHaccOuntable Disturb
amces-The Case In C0art-Testimony OF n
Catholic Priest--He Believes tho Causes Su.
pernaturnl.
[From the Richmond Enquirer and Examiner,
sept H.
A most remarkable case was tried on Wednesday
In the musings court The prisoner, Mrs. Fanny
Baggett who Is very respectable lady, appearantly
(which lasted until six O'Clock p M COOL dignded
and sef-possessed. Colonel Jenkins the Common
wealth's attorney, prosecuted, and A. Noise, Jr.,
defended. The prosecutor was Mr.. Chiles master
machInlst at the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad, and
iectei that last May great excitement prevailed in
Ninth street, French Garden Hill arising from very
extraordinary occurrences that were transporting at
The street bell was rung constantly by unseen
hands. stones were thrown at and windows broken
III Mr.. Chiles' house, when no human beng was IN
sight. Tie furniture IN the house was disarranged
and turned topsy turyy. Neither time nor money
terry but all In vain. Finally, Colonel Egbert, Chief
OF Police, together with detectives Parker and
tyler, visited tue premises, and. after thorough in
vestigation, arrested Mrs. Baggett as the guilty
party. Mrs. Baggett soiomnly asseverated her lnno.
cence, but said that she knew who did it-that ait
ment size repeated to the Mayor, and still adheres
Colonel Egbert Captain Parker and detective fyier
swore that they were sasnea ron 1ae nH ga
colored woman swore that she saw Mrs. Baggett
throw stones one morning at i've O'Clock; that she
denied having done II.
For the defence MIR. Baggett Miss Baggett ana
stones thrown at Mr.. Chlles' house when Mrs. Bag
gett was IN her own house, or standing by them,
and when no neng was IN % carly
one morning IN her garden pick up something and
put 1t In her apron. but this was explained by Mr..
morning (27th OF May, and that his mother was
gathering flowers with which 70 decorate the CathO
CStIes admitted mat the furnsnre in the house was
disarranged, when It was inpo slble for Mrs Ba q
gett TO have had access thereto. Upon being ques-
toned by Colonel jenkins as To whether his sspl-
cl0ns fell upon any one, Mr.. ggett said that he
believed that everything was done-bel ringing,
Colonel jenkins asked Mr.. Baggstt whether il was
not against the tenets of the Catholic religion
to believe IN GHOSTS TO waic aa MI o BagS S re- re-
| belief and that no was conscentousy OF
! the opinion that no human hands rang the bell or
tn ew the at Mr.. Ch,les' house. Mr.. Baggett
was about one nour in giving his testimony. He was
listened to with marked ana respectful attention by
! the court, Jury and o crowded Court House. lie II
q gentleman OF education and very In gent,
twenty-five Yeas OF age, and oiiciaes as frest at
Colonel Danforth, Captain Henry and others testi-
| ned that they had been neigbbors OF Mrs. Baggett
for years, and that she perfect lady and most
excellent ncighbor. No aniu,us was proved. On the
contrary, the witnesses on both sides testified that
| there had never been any difficulty or unpleasant
e su s gase Sy s Soss
or six yards Quite sharp skirmish took place be-
tempt made BY Colonel jenkins 10 lee the detec-
| tives give their conclusions TO the jury as
to the guilt OF Mrs Baggett, Mr. Noise denying that
their conclusions was evidence and that the rules
that governed evidence could not be reversed In
favor Of detectives. The denouenent OF TINS strange
trial was an acQultal without the jury leaving their
| box.
| At the conclusion OF the trial Mira. Bagget OK
hibited her right hand to the jury which was so dl.
ablod by wound that It was evident she c0uld not
throw rock ton yards, and the rock alleged to nave
boon thrown by her must nave been thrown July
Hty sixty yards; 80 that the matter stu remains
| O profound mystery, and the trial has rather IN
creased than diminished the popular excitement Oh
the subject. ,,,
Mr. Baggcts Ia q graduate OF Catholic college
and Is o gentleman OF education and Intelligence
and In sad to DO a very pi0us young man. mis-
Baggett Is also very intelligent aud h'ghy eouca'eo
young lady. .r,.n,s
thai nas oyer bean Dofors Eha cnursa vi tha c,tf,