The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-20
BR00KLYN'S LIVELY GHOSTS.
PUzzLING CLINTON AvENUB RESIDENTS
BY 7HEIR ANTICS.


Bcu Ringing. Door shaking. and Brick
Throwing thnt the Police Tried IN Vain te
Fathorn-Mr. snaith will Not be SCARED.
A ghost story has boon floating about tho
fashionable neighlorhood OF Clinton avenue
Brooklyn. for some days and tho police have
undertaken to Investigate II. There is q house
at 1S6 Clinton avcnue. standing alone. 1t Is oc-
cupiod by Mr.. Edward +. Smith. n builder. and
his wife and two daughters. A gentleman and
his wife board in the house. and there arc no
other occupants except the servants For about
two weeks thoro has been In this house bang
ing and rattling Of doors and n ringing OF tho
front door bell that has kept the family con-
stantly In state OF excitement Mr.. Smith Ia
cool-headed. and doesn't beliernin ghosts or
spirtualism. but he has failed 70 discover tho
secret Of the mystery. Tho ringing Of the door
bell was at first supposed to bo the work Of that
small boy. but when tho door was watched. no
ono could he seen. although the bell continued
to ring. Then there were rapid knocks. as
though made by n mans fist and then the side
doors leading into the dining room and tho
kitchen OF the extension were violently shaken.
Every night watch was kopt but nothing was
discovered.
On Wednesday night. the police OF the Myrtle
avenue station were called 10 the house. and Do
tcctiye Price took charge Of the watch. He sta
toned officers at the different doors. One
watched inside OF tho front door. and when the
bell rang he hastily opened the door before tho
tnklinR had ceased. but only to foel gust OF
cold wind. when the sldo door was shaken.
the officer there jumped out, expecting 10 s"i29
n small boy. but he found nothing A careful
survey was made of the place Tor wires or
strings but nothing Of tho Kind was discovered.
The housn s built in the old Knickcrbockcr
style. with Corinthinn pillars extending from
tho porch To tho roof. and behind these per
fIr N
bell. but tho officer declares that no one took
refuge there wncn the tricks were played boz
cause he watched The house stands back
from the street about forty feet. and has an iron
fence In front OF u. but no person was found in
wide which extends back between the building
and the house at 40 Clinton avenue. This
affords passage way to the two doors, which
were SO violently shaken, and an ofhcer watched
for an urchin eneaking along in this passage. but
to no purpose. although the doors continued TO
he BANGED Ashes and flour wero then sprinkled
about the doorsteps aud after some more OF
the noises had been heard. the steps were In
spected for footprints, but none could bs dis
covered. The officers were mysthed. and De-
tectve Price said that the case was too much for
him. He says that whileh he had his eyes fixed
on the front door three distinct raps wore made
upon IT, and no substance was In sight. In TIE
rear part of the nllcvway. over the sidewalk.
there i large grape arbor. which Is opposite
the window IN the extension between the two
doors. This window wns struck by brick, and
a pane Of glass was broken. The brick fell
close to the window. on the inside.
Athrong gathered in front 81 the house last
evening but up TO o'clock the inmates had
| heard no repetition OF the mysterious sounds
| They had mufiled the door bell with hnndker-
| chief, and early in the evening began 20 watch
rs before. They say that tho noises have never
| been heard after O'Clock. Two police officers
curbed the curiosity OF tho thron1, and Kept them
| from blocking up tac street Tho officers who
| have in the past pAtrolled the post in which the
house is located. laugh at the idea Of ghosts
| having Invaded that neighborhood. Capt. Me-
| Laughlin and Detective Price, however. unto in
saying that they heard noises between and Z
| O'Clock on Wednesday night.
| Mr. Smith the owner OF the house. says very
cooy that no can stand II as long Ms the spi rits
can and thnt hc will not allow himself TO be dis
! turlcd By tho noises. II they continue no in
| tends to permanently muffie the bell and make
! the doors more secure. and then he says. they
may ring and pound al liOtum.