The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-13
THE THOMPSON FIRM eHosE
Jnquith's Adventure with nm Aged Spectre
Corroborntive Testimony.

Corroborntive Testimony.
STERLING, Mass, Dec 9.-The Thompson
farm used to be one Of the finest in Sterling,
and its owners were famous for their hospital
ity. The grandfather OF the present Thompson
is still remembered for his open-handcd ways.
and lis decorated tea set and wine Russes are
still preserved in the family. Ono OF the wine
glasses. much larger than tho others, ia known
as the minister's glass" Now tho old house
is but the ghost Of its former self.
The Thompsons had pretty nearly reached
that stage Of poverty froia which there is no
relief but the poor farm. vhea a man came
down from New Hampshire. His name was
Jaqulth. he hailed from Keene. he brought
little money with him. and his uncle. Daniel
Thompson. gladly accepted his offer to work
the farm on shares. For awhile the men got
along well enough together. Then there was a
quarrel. which was all the more unfortunate ms
the Thompsons lived in one-half Of tho old
house and Jaauth in the other. The back yard
was used in common by both families
One day Mr.. Jaauith wns crossing this. when
he suddenly became aware that Il stone had
been thrown at him. He stopped Indignantly.
but there was no one in sight Presently
another stone came tumbling at his feet. There
was snow on the ground and stones were not
handy. After that Jaquith could not 20 out
without being assaulted by stones from unseen
hands. They seemed to drop from tho sky
itself. Although TO most men It seems rather
remarkable thing to have stones drop on
them from the sky. the phenomena seemed to
make little impression ON Jaquith. But worse
WIS 10 come.
Clinton. IL was s. in the evening when he
started for home. His story of the ride Is best
tGold IN his own words, which the editor o. the
When got TO the turn from the main road
to the narrow one leading TO my house, my
mare jumped. She never jumps, but this time
she sheered OF turned in. and hud got about
half way IN the woods when the marc jumped
again. The rrius were hanging loose. and ma
pulled them up suw something with one hand
on the dashboard and the other on tho horses
rump. There was no MI stake. for there was
moon enough To see plainly. l saw II. ana tooE
my whip ont and struck at T.. | suppose /
struck the mare. Tor ~ soon rs drew the whip
up she struck into run. Upon that saw the
oig'ct como, up ms thouEh rom uhuet lhe
buggy. and the mare was running Just rs hard
~ she could and snoring loud enough 70 be
beard q halt mile. struck at the form MS best
| could with the whipl1sh; but. whatever IL
was my whlp fell through IL us though i hnd
been steam from the mouth OF n Kettle" / sup
pose struck the mare again. for she went on
az n liyclier run than before. | stopped OVER To
pick M the rcins again, when ! felt two slight
there. with his two long bony hands clutching
the buggy hHck. WAS the head and shoulders 81
a man. dropped the reins and took the butt II
my whip. and with the mare running over tho
uneven around. laid the butt over the thing
VIII All my tlFNUEins hhl IL lhN no more flltHl
thhn II l was beating the mr.. cussed anu
damned but tho thing still hung on tor n mo-
meat longer. and then disappeared. Ny hands
were trembling when | took the reins ngain.
aud the mare brought me home pretty lively. M
near as | can represent th" tning was dressed
much like priest; IN white robe. which COW
cred It's legs. There was "a string drawn IN NJ
tho neck like n butchers frock his eevcs were
long and iull ~ the bottom His hair was Just
as white as The pure-t snow. and was comb"d
very smoothly and evenly back from MS tenn
pies. and parted IN the middle. He had no COW
very snare fa,S. without teeih. and. / should
think. about $ feet high. II r face had the APP
pcnrance Of a dead mans face
Jaqulth saw che form aEan not long after
and tried the Eject Of bidding 1t IN Gods name
brgonc. " II never moved "a MUS le .scl until l
spoke. he says: then D; slowly .o.ded It's arus
lay down. and went ont 90 .SAt.'
sine" then the Old THOMPSON place seems ne
fu.i az spirits as WIS AlloNay X rs in Tam e.
ShHnters time. Stones are thrown. Noises
groans, slamu.ng OF door. rustlng OF gnr-
mrnis are heard. and h'd''oth"s ,nre disar-
ranged. IN honest wOrklugmaL 10 to nam"
of Currant. employed at having Tor JGquIth
could not sleep IN the old gnrret because Things
about opening and shutting chests. Martha
| Thompson. aged II. was afraid 20 sleep IN mo
garrett. One. might she refused to 20 to bed
there. ami Mrs. Iaquiih. taxing lamp. went
| up with Martha Thompson 10 bring down the
| h"drio'hes. IN order io make up o nocr bed A.
! Ms. J sauih looked uu. There sut a strange
old mnn. lie lo'sed 90 Oh 10 99tn, but did not
WIEN he " cine iho oia man an was S, so 'p T6e
/ litte girl says that the Ola mnn WIS dressed in
| white WAS pale. ami had long skinny hands.
| Lutir Annie Thompson. ng'd s. saws she las
/ several tines seen an old man, dressed In white,
/ Wulking around with a cane.
Mrs. THOMPSON says that there have been un-
/ accountable noises about me place for years.
| but nothing so very remarkable until lately. 4
short tim" .-s1. in response 90 IS rap ON the win
| dow. She looked and slw "a person outside. She
| couldn't tell whether % WIS % man or 20 woman.
/ II Wis dressed iu q white robe gathered M the
| neck rs face was death like. and is fingers
/ long ami hlny.
/ ono night they hung o slate outside the door,
requesting visiting spirit. % letvo their auto
] crut Dos thereon. The next Worn.ue u bore the
/ signature of Mr.. Thomlson's mother.
/ On the Thompson farm there u grave or one
/ 81 tur little children Of the famiy-aud not long
| since. In the sand near by, as u n Little finger
h1a traced 70 there. appeared this pathetic SEM
/ teure. Hore l lle all alone. Poo. baby,
/ Ju4ulth. who seems TO he an honest man. has
/ lot tie Thomson place and moved to Berlin.
Mass. Mr. Thompson Is man OF eccentric
I habits. H. now lives by hlm-elt in n hut az thu
edge of the woods. built on the spot where he
| once cut man down who had committed SUI
eide by hanging. lie dresses peculiarly. and
| wears bis hair in pug. Hewns nowhere about
! when ! visited the haunted house. II Is said
/ that he spends good deal OF time IN solitary
/ WdQlerluEs.