The Portland daily press., 1874-03-05
That Haunted House.

Immediately following the investigation of
the PRESS correspondent at the "haunted
house, in Sanford, which was not as satisfac-
tory as might have been desired, fresh inter-
est was awakened in this matter, and the re-
suit formed the engrossing topic of conversa-
ton for time The gentlemen constituting
the party were beseiged on all sides with in-
quiries relative to the accuracy of the publish
ed details, and the public reluctantly accepted
the statements as correct
Last week gentleman of the village, who
processes to entertain no fear of ghosts or COB
Inns, nor of any other power, human or super
natural, having thoughtfully listened to the
wonderful descriptions which former residents
have given, arrived at the conclusion that some
persons must have been blessed with extremely
liberal imaginations. and doubling the current
reports, resolved to investigate the matter for
himself. The gentleman in question had some
experience In these matters last summer, when
he eutered small uninhabited building, in
which lights were seen which suddenly vanished
when persons approached, and soon after as
suddenly famed up again. He traced the
ghost to neat mechanical device operated by
mischevious young men, and since then has ey-
iden tally considered all ghostly demonstrations
traceabe to the same cause. UnaccOmpanied,
he left the village, proceeded to the house, en-
tered and awaited the marvellous. But short
time had elapsed before the he was startled by
a sharp sound in another apartment and at
once repaired thereto>for the purpose of ascer-
tanning the cause. Nothing was to be seem
He examined every portion of the building for
the second time He was next disturbed by a
rafting sound, continuing for several minutes,
at the western side in the direction of the
witches kitchen. Visiting that portion of the
house nothing was detected. At intervals he
would be startled by singular sounds at diff
ferent points, yet nothing presented itself. A
sleigh neared the house and the sound of the
bells, which were large, commonly termed
"cow-bells," suddenly ceased when in front of
of the building, and there seemed to be clank-
ing of chains for few seconds Throughout the
house. This was of short duration. He again
visited the different rooms, and at nearly
twelve O'Clock was about to cast himself upon
some hay which was lying in a large closet in
the basement when his attention was attracted
by a sound which he was at first unable to dis
tinguish 1t soon became evident that the well
o"SOe "ao pCius, Adpluiy uSSu. AuOtucI SouHu
accompanied it, He listened attentively. The
bucket was being empted of its contents. Re-
luctantly, We conjecture, he assembled the stairs
to the rooms above, where the well was plainly
to be seen. The sounds continues; the creak
of the old sweep and the splashing of the water.
He reaches the window and cautiously peered
out expecting to detect some persons at the
we'll. Imagine his surprise when no one was to
be seen, and the sweep was frozen to such an
| extent that the combined strength of four men
| would have failed to move it. While he gazed
| the sounds continued for moment. and soon
after ceased. Soon after he returned home as
| he was satisfied with one evenings soiourn,
yet intimates his intention of visiting the house
again in search of new developments. He at
| tributes these raps to mesmeric or electrical
! power, yet cannot explain its application. =
THE ARoosTooK LIBEL SUBTITLE special
of the Boston Herald says that in Powers Cary
libel, Tuesday, M. Coniff testified that he had
team seized in Houlton in 1869 by Llewelyn
Powers, who was alone; two men were with
me; asked Powers next day who informed
against me; he said no one; the property was
appraised at $500 and $50 was taken off Pow
ers' reputation is bad.
H. j. Hathaway of Houlton testified: was
deputy collector at Van Buren, in 1869; knew
about the seizure of Conliff's team; Powers
was boastlng of making the seizure and of do
ing it alone; Powers said that as he was going
nome ne met and seized the team; said to
him. why not let Mr. Vandine, the co. lector
make the seizure?" he said, 81 will take care
of that
Baker-Did you know what else you said?
JeYettIDon't ask that; it is not necessary;
no more about that.
Court-I must aud will have from this time
forth fair play for witnesses and they must be
protected from insult.
Witness--I mentioned to Powers that
would report him for taking one-quarter of the
seizure illegally; Powers did not saw be had
received one-haf; think it was in the fall
of 1870 that ! met Powers in Pressure Isle:
Powers said he was there to sell the property of
Joe Hines to JoeJ. Whitney, c. F. A. johnson
and David Dudley; met Powers little while
afterwards at Honlton, and asked him what he
made of the Joe Hines matter; Powers replied
.! want you to understand that Hines attempt
but took $4,000 out of him. the reputation of
plaintiff for chastity and honesty is bad; I
don't know that it was Powers who discharged
me from Office; the Secretary of the Treasury is
supposed to do that it was through Powers
influence SUPPOSE 1 filed charges against
Powers; never saw the affidavit before it was
published; witness explained the threats in the
Town Hall as political and igurative; I said to
N1I. IoWeTS. L GOiu IL 10 you CDen ana Tell IL TO
you now iu the presence of $50 persons
Joseph Hines testified to the transfer of prop
erty amounting to about $500 to secure debt
OF Sl700; that the balance was not returned,
and to other matters of a similar nature.
In the crOss-examination the plaintiff went
into long and tedious examination of ac-
counts and recalled Hines several times, but
was stopped by the court
The docket for three years before the libel
was put is to show the amount Of plaintiffs
business.