The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-12-27
WHEELING. WEST VA. MONDAY MORNING. DECEMBER q. $780,
AN OHIO GHOST STORY.
TRANCE story of n Mysterious Message
From the Dead, which Is Probably a

Lie
NEwcoMERsrowN, OHIO, December 25.-
The little village Of Bakersville, Coshoctou
county, six miles north OF this place, |:
now ablsze with excitement over the
recent appearance, at intervals, Of a gen
uine ghost. A reporter cleaned the fol-
lowing particulars Of this most remarkable
case:
Two years ago Jacob Norris, wealthy
farmer, living near Bskersyille, died rather
suddenly after short illness. Among the
members OF the family Is young man
named Hardy, a son OF the present Rep.
resentatiye in the Ohio Legislature from
Coshocton county, whom Mr.. Norris had
adopted when he was quite q small boy.
He now sleeps in the room in which
Mr.. Norris died, and he avers in
the most positive manner that for the
past year or so at certain hour every
Tuesday night the ghost OF Jacob Nor
ris walked into his room and staredwildly
around for while and then noiSelessly
disappeared. For long time young Hardy
thought it was simply his Imagination
which had conjured up the ghost OF the
deceased from the spirit world, and there
fore said nothing to the other members OF
the family, but the regularity with which
the specter made It's nocturnal appearance
left no room for doubt as to the earthly
visits OF Mr.. Norris.
Some time ago Hardy laid the matter
before johnson Norris, son OF the deceas-
ed, who forthwith advised him to ques-
tion the appsrition, as his regular visits
might be for the purpose OF commuDicat-
ing. with some Of his relatives or friends
on this mundane sphere. Accordingly,
three weeks ago last Tuesday night the
young man concluded he would address
the spector and note the result. He re-
tired Tor the night, after having, as usual,
locked and bolted his door.
Atthe usual time the door flew open
with rushing sound, and the ghost made
its appearance, coming nearer than ever
before to young Hardy, and gazed upon
him with such glaring eyeballs that each
particular hair OF bis head stood on end
"like quilts upon the fretiul porcupine,"
and he was barely able to gasp, "What do
you wsnt?" The ghost, unlike that of
"hamlet's" father, was not forbidden ito
tell the secrets oi its prison-house," and,
in low, cultural voice said he had some
information to impart 10 him, but only on
condition that be tell no living being, ex-
cept johnson Norris.
Hardy gave the desired pledge and re-
ceived the message, after which the spec.
ter disappeared and has not been seen
since. The next day he impaired the
message to johnson Norris, and what it is
will no doubt remain mystery forever.
This strange and mysterious case has
wrought the excitement up to fever heat
among the residents OF Bakersyille. and 1t
Is the topic of conversation in every house.
hold. The great mystery about the whole
affair is, why the specter discontinued its
visits after the Tuesday night referred TO.
The opinion among the msjority is that
when Mr.. Norris died he had some very
important advice or information to give
his son, and has since come back from the
Spirit World to give the much-needed
message. Great efforts are being made to
induce johnson Norris to unburden his
mind Of the great secret, but thus far all
attempts have proved unavailing.