The Indianapolis leader. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1879-1890, 1880-07-31
A Ghost story.

About four years ago respectable and
well-known colored man who lived on Athon
street died, after lingering illness, with con-
sumption. He left wife and two children
and these, as he thought, in very good cir.
cumstances. He owned good property, con.
ssting of several lots, and held life insur-
ance policy of $1,000
There was $500 mortgage on his proper.
ty, but he was contented to think that, a,
his death, the insurance policy would be
sufficient to lift the mortgage, and still leave
q sum of money large enough to provide for
the comfort of his family.
Soon after his death his wife presented the
policy for payment. but from some cause or
other she has not received one cent up to this
date. Being unable to keep up the interest
on the mortgage, it was foreclosed about
three months ago, and she was forced to give
up her home Since that time it has been
rented to a widow lady who is seamstress.
About month ago the lady who rents the
property stated to several we'll known parties
that strange man had been seen on the
premises, and that he had even entered the
house and departed without speaking or be-
ing spoken to-, This all occurred after night.
The description she gave OF the personal
appearance and actions of the strange visitor
exactly correspondent to that of the deceased
former owner of the property.
This story was told to the widow of the
deceased, but, as she does not believe in the
return of departed spirits, the story was dis
credited and no attention paid to it.
Finally, she, had occasion to visit her for.
mer home on Athon street, and soon after
she had entered, the lady of the house
asked her il her husband had settled
up all of his business, satisfactorily to him.
self, previous to his death; and, after being
informed that he had, and that he died in the
belief that his family would be well provided
for, she related to the widow all that she had
seen and heard about the premises The
story being told so straightforward, and the
personal description and peculiar actions of
the strange visitor corresponding 80 precisely
with the deceased, that il naturally awakened
an interest in the mind of the widow.
The lady tenant stated that he had repeat
eddy come into the house, walked up stairs to
a closet, and, finding lady's wearing apparel
in closet used by him for other purposes, he
would throw the clothes upon the floor and
then walk out. The widow of the deceased
saws that this was one OF her husbands pecu-
liarities; things found out of their place were
always displaced by him and thrown in any
direction Many other transactions of the
supposed apparition were told by the lady of
the house, and the impression made upon the
widow was decidedly in favor of the ghost
theory.
Two ladies stopping at the house corrob-
crate the statements of the landlady, and
several persons have been invited to visit the
house and keep watch on the nights usually
selected by this nocturnal visitor for his un-
invited calls; but, from lack of courage or
some other cause, none have accepted the in
vitation.
It should be stated here that the ladies
who claim to have been witnesses to the
transactions of this colored ghost are white.
and it is not altogether Darby Ghost
Story" 1t is given to the public for what it
is worth, and for further particulars the fam
lily can easily be found on the short street of
Athon.