The crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1877-1878, 1877-11-01
STARTLING PHENOMENA.
a Perturbed Spirit from Purgatory Re.
turns TO Enforce Terrestrial
Civilizations,

sensation, and form the leading topic of
discussion in that neighborhood. The
strange proceedings that have been wit
messed there, in defiance of any under
stood laws of natural causes and effects,
and apart from the agency of any as
sured medium of spiritual communica-
ton, far surpass any exhibitions in the
power of the professionals who pretend
to demonstrate the reality of that faith
by supernatural forces The dwelling
in question had been occupied for sew
erOl years by Philip Kennedy, of the
firm of Kennedy & Bremen, dry goods
merchants, corner of Third and Minna
streets The family enjoyed the tran
quill composure that usually falls to the
lot of well.regulated households, until
one day about the middle of last week,
when confusion worse confounded de-
scended upon the abode by the com
mencement of the astonishing manifes-
tations mentioned. The family had
been absent during the day, having pre-
vious to their departure secured all the
doors and windows of the house. On
their return they found the doors and
windows all open, and everything in the
house in Il disturbed condition. But
nothing was missing, and there was no
indication of Il visitation of thieves
The family were at loss to account for
the cause and purpose of this disturb
nnce, but they were not left long in ig-
norance of the manner in which it was
done, though the question how and by
what unknown power was an impenetra-
bic mystery.
The following morning, while Mrs.
Kennedy was standing in the hallway
after delivering her ordersto the butch
er, the hat stand suddenly walt2ed mp
beside her, and Immediately n general
racket was commenced throughout the
house, as if every article of furniture on
the premises had joined i'll riotous
dance of death. Chairs, tables and
bedsteads hobbled about the rooms as
if suddenly endowed with life and in
stinct; the piano kept up an incessant
drumming and thrashing through the
day; drawers. closets and trunks that
had been securely locked against mortal
intrusion, were opened and their con
tents thrown about the rooms: the
crockery was clattered about to increase
the general din, and everything porta-
bic upon the premises was displaced.
When Mrs. Kennedy directed the SER
want to place the baby in parlor swing
the swing was suddenly raised to the
ceiling and held there by invisible
hands, and finally thrown out of win
dow as the servant retreatcd aghasi
All the pictures in the house were
turned face to the walls, with the cX-
ccption Of that of the Virgin Mary and
portrait of Mrs. Kcnnedy's father. The
latter was served the same way, after
the old gentleman had dentered the house
and while he was standing looking Mt
the painting. This startling exhibition
of supernatural power occurred in open
daylight, and for q great part, in the
presence of the whole family. At one
time, Mrs. Kennedy, fearingtho destruc-
ton OF II valuable mantle clock, carried
it to another apartment and placed it
on bed. Immediately after it was as
carefully lifted from the bed by the
mysterious agency ut work, and placed
upon table on the opposite side of the
room.
Many other like astonishing incidents
are described in connection with this
strange visitation. On Friday last there
was cessation of the disturbance, and
the family, which had several times
sought refuge with their ncighbors. in
dulged the hope that the alarming and
uncomfortable manifestations had finally
subsidcd. But expectation was doom
ed to disappointment. At about )
o'clock ON Saturday evening the gas was
suddenly turned on throughout the
house, and every burner lighted us if by
flash; again the piano broke forth
with Wagnerish tempest of discord:
and the furniture was excited to re-
doubled animation. The attendance Of
IL priest was summoned and the holy ia
ther exercised the perturbcd spirits
with patcr nosters and the prayers pre-
scribed for that purpose. But the tu-
multi was not in the least abated. and
the good man was finally compelled to
desist in despair When questioned as
to his theory of the cause and purpose
Of the disturbance, he explained that it
was producedby ndiscontented soul in
purgatory that had reason to reproach
the rcmissncss of living friends and
relatives in their economy of prayers
and masses for the alienation of its dis
tress. The reverend Father also aL-
pretended that the suffering soul might
follow any person or persons whom it
held responsible for this neglect, with
these unpleasant admonitions, until its
requirements from the living had been
properly fulfilled. The priestly Offices
proving futile, Mr.. Kennedy hastily va
Gated the premises the same evening,
and removed his family to til Nucleuse
Hotel He subsequently occupieda dwell
ing as far remote from the scene of the
distracting manifestations convenient.
on Valencia street. No. 933 Howard
street is now vacant, and awaits the oc-
cupation of a tenant whose departed
friends were not liable to purgatorial
delay on their route of departure from
the glimpses or the moon.
How Nephew Swindlcd His Uncle by
Getting for Him n Wife.
From the Philadelphia Times
Gilbert I. Stackhouse had a hearing
yesterday before Magistrate Lukcns,
charged with obtaining money under
false pretenses and uttering paper
purporting to be issued by parties that
have no existence The defendants
uncle, Jonathan Stackhouse, aged sew
enty-four years and Il resident of Bucks
county, had advanced money to his
nephew several times during a number
of years back to aid him in transacting
business in this city. The defendant
repeatedly failed or lost the money,
n,nnrntinrr IN. nll To 80 900 and ns his