The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-09-03

MRS. sryMUs SUES Mr.. HOWELL FOR THE RENT
nF HER HAUNTED HOCSE.

The New York Times Of this morning
saws: Judge Angel, OF the Eighth District
Court. has lust rendered his decision In a
case which involves an amusing ghost story
that for some months has been matter OF
common gossip and belief among the rfsi.
dents OF a certain neighborhood IN west
Sixteenth street. The action was brought
by Mrs. Eliza A. Stymus to recover from
Mr.. AMI Howell s130 for two months
rent Of the house at No. 25l west Sixteenth
street. Mr.. Howell Is fourishiDg milk
man in Seventeenth street, with an hoHora-
bic business reputation, and one OF the last
men in the world to evade the payment OF
Just debt, or to break fair contract. Yet
he admitted that, having taken the house
for a year from the 1st Of May last, he
moved out somewhat hurriedly in the early
part OF June.
1t was only by degrees that his true rea-
son for TINS throwing the premises back
upon the hands OF Mrs. Stymus was deyel-
oped. The upper floor OF the house, he said
was haunted by spirits, who amused them
selves from sunset 10 sunrise by slamming
the doors and making variety OF loud and
blood.curdling noises. Naturally, Mr..
Howell was at some pains to add that the
ghosts did not annoy him personally; but
duced to that state OF terror that it would
have been simply inhuman TO keep them
longer in such unpleasant quarters. He
therefore deemed himself justified in break
ing the lease.
Vain, however, were all the endeavors OF
court ard counsel TO get any satisfactory de-
scriptiye testimony as TO the true character
OF these supernatural manifestations. There
were two witnesses besides Mr.. Howell,
who evidently had full faith in the reality
Of the ghos!ly visitations-his brother.in-
law, Mr. james Ii. Bertbolf. and Edward
Polk, colored man. Mr.. Bertholf had re-
sided in the house with Mr.. Howell. A
few days after moving in he was accosted
on the corner OF the street by neighbor
named Gallagher, who asked il his name
was not Bertbolf. Being told that IL was,
Gallagher remarked that a friend OF his
had bought farm OF Bertholf, in Orange
county. This having served as an excuse for
friendly interest in Bertholi. Gallagher ad.
ded "And Pm sorry you have been rent
ing this house OF Mrs. Stymus. You'll be
glad to move out in lttle while; il you
don't move out ghosts will drive YOU out"
After that gentleman naEed McEyoy
confirmed the reputation the house had for
ghosts, and in the course OF week or so
Bertholf heard the same reports from at
least twenty neighbors. On cr0ss-eXamina-
ton, however, when asked if he left be-
cause OF any ghosts he had actually seen
there, he answered "No" IN a very loud
and firm tone OF voice, and when counsel
followed the question up with. cor because
OF any rumors about ghosts" he almost
shouted "NO, sir, did not" He was
equally positive in denying that he had left
the house without paying the rent.
Mr.. Polk, the colored man, bad also heard
OF the ghosts from a young man OF the
neighborhood, who had slept in the house,
and that he credited the report seemed q
fair inference from the fact that he bad de-
clined an offer from Mrs. Stymus TO occupy
the basement and take care OF the house,
rent free. He FASTENED to say, however,
that his reason for declining the invitation
was simply that he was subject TO rheuma-
tlsm, malady which would be greatly az
gravated by sleeping in damp underground
room. The general laugh which greeted
this remark made him very indignant, and
he had become positively angry by the
time he was handed over to the plaintiffs
counsel for cross-eXamination. "Are YOU
superstitious! asked counsel. "Superse-
tit.tit-titious,' said Polk, stammering with
Indignation. "Are you afraid OF ghosts :"
suggested Judge Angel. "NO. sir; no,
sir; oh. no; no, sir" he answered. "Don't
you believe that coming events cast their
shadows before!" again asked counsel,
with a smile. "Oh, laugh; yes. you can
sit there and laugh, and you can talk more
than can, but you don't know nothing at
all about IT." replied Polk. Polk sue
ceeded, however, before he left the stand in
convincing every one thar, In bis opinion at
least, the young man who had warned him
that the house was troubled" rs he eX-
pressed 1t, had done him very great SER
wee.
Mrs. Stymus, OF course, secuted the no.
ftion OF the house being baunted. Her eX-
planation Of the rumor is that during pc
riod Of some few months, when 1t remained
empty in consequence OF the death OF her
aunt, who had lved in il eight years, some
BOYS in the neighborhood obtained admls-
sion by breaking windows in the basement,
and amused themselves by "playing ghost"
She admitted, however, that the fact OF the
house being haunted was matter OF common
gossip i'm the neighborhO0d. The house it.
self Is an old.fashioned red-brick English
basement house, built on model very COM
mon quarter OF century ago. It's upper
or attic story--where the ghosts are believed
to dweIl-has peculiarly stunted appear
ance, owing to the windows being greater
in breadth than in height. These rooms
were originally intended for the servants OF
the family, who, in the estimation OF old
time architects, were entitled to half as
much air and light as their betters. The
house seems to be in fairly good repair, but
though neat and clean is not cheerful. The
ghosts are undoubtedly possessed OF beRig-
nant natures, since the house is only one
door away from a Baptist church. Judge
Angelrs decision was in favor OF the plain
tiff.