The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1883-12-27
GhOstly Thieves.

Genuine haunted houses, with genu.
me spirits as their inhabitants, have be-
come of late years rather rare in thit
city, but one of these abodes of ghostly
apparitionS has been recently attract
ing the attention of persons residing IL
the vicinity of Rincon Hill. The three
story bay-window house on Silver
Street, nearly opposite the Silver Street
Primary School, occupied by gentle
man named Roberts and his family, is
the building in question. For two OF
three years the place has borne the rep
utation of being haunted. Mr.. Roberts,
on first renting the premises from his
landlord, was not aware of this fact,
but on moving in during the month Of
October, 1882, soon made the acquaint-
ance of the spirits. Neither he nor
any one of his family had hitherto be-
lieved in spiritual hocus-pocus of any
kind, but the manifestations becoming
so frequent and alarming, he was forced
to draw conclusions to that end, as
nothing of tangible earthly nature
which he could hold responsible could
be discovered by him or the force OF
amateur detectives into which the
whole neighborhcAd had resolved it
self. For awhile the ghostly visitants
did nothing that was particularly dis
tressing to the nerves of the uew-
corners, the only phenomena being the
opening of doors by unseen hands, the
sudden and unaccountable eXtinguish-
ing of lights in a room, the mysterious
movements of picture frames and other
ornaments and loud knockings on walls
and other noises at various times
of the day and night; but
this did not disturb the equa-
nimity or happiness of the house
hold to an alarming degree, and even
more striking manifestation than all
these-the playing of ''Shall We Gather
at the River?n on the piano at mid
night was borne uncomplainingly. But
when small articles, such as work
baskets and their contents, sewing ma
chine fixtures, sheet music. toilet arti-
cles, books, knives and forks, spoons, a
cologne bottle, box of pills, and even
small pieces of furniture, became miss
ing with provoking regularity, in spite
of the strictest vigilance on the part OF
the people dwelling in the house, it be
gan to look rather discouraging.
At any rate it was thought time to dc
something in the premises. The police
were called in, but without avail, as the
articles went their way in the stillines:
of night as if possessed of legs OF
wings, and the noises and other mani
festations became more violent thar
ever.
As last resort a spirit medium was
brought in, who conversed with one OF
the unseen invaders. 1t claimed to be
an "unrecognized and troubled spirit,
seeking rest and finding it not. The
recognition" sought would not appear
to be of a very high order. probably 8
Police Court notoriety. The medium
made the intruder promise to vacate the
premises. which it did for several
months and up to last night. when it OF
or somebody. fully as mys.
terious, entered the house, took fine
set of iewelry from a bureau drawer,
secured some silk handkerchiefs, 9
watch and chain and lot of small bui
articles. The house was gen
orally ransacked and everything porta-
BILE that could be carried away by one
Or two persons at one time was noise
Iessly removed. The ghostly thieves
have not yet been captured. San Fran
cisco Chronicle.