The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-08-17
A Strange story.
New MARTlNsrILLE, WETzsL COUNTY,

NEW MARTiSSFILLE, w ETZEL COUNTY,
WEST Va, August y, 1874.
Editors of the Wheeling Inte!higancer:
| have been aware since my arrival In WetZe
That there was q frSt-cllss sensation over iu
| the interior OF the county, but have refrained
hitherto from mentioning it in order 10 give
| the matter thorough and searching inyesti'
CATION. This have endeayored to do. My
| information has been obtained from the par.
/ ties who may be said 10 be interested, and are
| fully cognizlnt of all the circumstances.
| When Iarrived here, abouta week ago, l was
| told that about twenty-five miles up Fishing
creek, in the town of Grant, county Of Wet
| eel, certain occurrences had recently taken
place, commencing in the early spring and
running on to the present time, that could
not be accounted for by any natural means.
But / will pass over all rumors, throw
| aside all testimony which / do not deem
| reliable, and give, as near as can, an impair.
| tial history Of the occurrences as gathered
from those interested. And before COM
| mencing, it will probably be we'll to remark
| that I ann no believer in things supernatu-
raj. Or rather, that hitherto l have never
| witnessed any acts that could not be eX-
| planned to my entire satisfaction as the re-
suit OF some human agency; and in CON-
mencing to investigate this matter did SO
| with a firm determination to expose the
fraud. As have gone deeper into the sub
ject, find that there is some agency at work
past my powers Of finding out or compre-
bending. Now 10 a BRIEF comprehensive
history of the affair, which shall give with.
out color, or without drawing on my imagi-
nation.
Twenty-Five miles up Fishing creek, about
twenty miles from Burton, lives Henry
Nolan, a somewh hat wealthy, and altogether
respectable gentleman. In the family Of Mr..
| Nolan is a son of about thirteen, by name
John Nolan. he is bright, intelligent boy,
and has until now ever been in good health
and spirits.
| Early last spring John began to be troubled
| in manner nnaccountable to his parents
| who at first thought be had lost his reason
He was followed, he said, at all times and in
all places, when in the house, by an old, gray
headed man. He could see this man plainly
ut all times, but no one else could. John:
parents, becoming alarmed, sent him away
from home, and he remained some time, ex
periencing while absent no trouble. HI!
friends, thinking his mind sound and health
restored, sent for him, and he returned, blu
to have bis every step logged in the same
mysterious manner. But now the affair tool
q somewhat different turn, and in the same
! mysterious manner stones commenced to b,
hurled at John by this old butinyiSible man
| If John was in the house the stones Woult
fall upon the roof likewise If he was in an!
of the out-buldings. If he was in the yart
or fields-in fact, any place outdoors-th'
stones would fall around and upon him, bu
! never hurting him. These stones varied ii
size from as large as g small pullet egg to th,
size of your double fist. They could b
seen coming through the air, but from who's
hand only John could tell. who could at al
times plainly see the old man hurting then
at him. Things went on in this way TO
| some time, John steadily and rapidly faiiiD:
in health and strength.
! Early in July, John again left home. ant
Las before was not troubled during his ab
sence. He was to return ON the last Sunday
the 10Th of July, and now some of th'
friends and neigbbors determined 10 ferre
out and expose the whole business. So or
Saturday, William Helerty, Peter Homer
! William NoWlan, and Benjamin Mnrtil
armed themselves and went to the house.
i Early sunday morning, before John We
up, for, SO we neglected to state, he wa
never In any way disturbed while asleep
they surrounded the house, first being care
Eful that WITHIN their circuit no one was con
cealed. Scarcely bad John arisen when tn,
stones commenced falling almost in a shove
upon the roof Of the house. From wher
Thrown, or by whom, could not be told
Looking up 10 the air they could be see
falling as do the drops Of water, out froI
where no man knew. But of this one fac
eli were soon convinced they were throw
by no one within two ssones throw OF th
house.
Alter break fast John came out of the hous
and the stones fell Thick aud fast ar0uu
Thin these apparent, coming fronla pa
i ture.fsld pear the 2. ouse. John could lhendi