Wichita eagle., 1889-10-10
eSNMiLa~
9ai1g gayle
A HAUNTED COURT HOUSE.
RESTLESS SPOOKS IN A TENNES-
SEE COUNTY BUILDING.


SEE COUNTY BUILDING.
Worlxuep Refuse to Tear the Old House
Down to Make Room for New One.
The Stories That Are Told in Explana-
ton of the Popular Belief.
Workmen refuse to tear down the old court
house building at Washington, Tenn, on ac-
count of mystery which has surrounded the
structure for nearly thirty years, and which
is vouched for by the representative citizens
Of the county. The county seat of Rhea
county was recently removed from Washing
ton to Dayton, and the court house, which
has stood for over fifty years, has become SO
out Of repair that it is deemed advisable to
tear it down, and especially SO as the county
has no further use for it. The ground which
it occupies is wanted for the purpose of erect
ing poor house, but it now appears impos-
sible to obtain worknen who are willing to
tear down the old building, as it has been
known for years as the haunted court
house"
"JI,MY LONESOME"
1t has been nearly thirty years since the
supposed spirits took possession of it, and they
have remained there ever since. The court
room and county offices occupy the first floor,
while the second story has always been va
cant, except one end, which was once occu-
pied as a lodge room, and a small room in the
corner Of the building which was formerly
used as doctors Office. In this room a skele-
ton was kept which was universally known
as Jimmy Lonesome" some Of whose bones
are still there. This skeleton was there when
the strange phenomena which have since
given the building widespread notoriety first
began.
About the same time man named Peter
son was shot and killed in this room by an
unknown hand Soon after this tragedy oc-
CURED Judge Frank Locke, who was the
clerk and master and circuit court clerk of
the county, heard strange noises in the upper
room every night. His Office was directly
underneath the small room in which Jimmy
Lonesome kept guard, and he would hear
footsteps start from the skeletons corner and
walk across the floor Sometimes the object
would fall heavily. Judge Locke was noted
for his bravery, and he determined to find
the intruder and eject him. Night after night
he would 60 up stairs Immediately after hear
ing the object fall, but nothing could be seen.
He himself stated that be had gone up there
at least hundred times between the years
1865 and 1885, but he never saw any form
whatever.
Nearly twenty years ago Col T. NJ. Burk-
EFT, now of Atkins, and one of the leading
members of the East Tennessee bar, was start
ing in the practice of law at Washington. He
was poor at the time, and in order to save
money obtained permission to sleep in the
haunted room, which he did. The first night
he heard the walking plainly, but could see
nothing. The object would walk up and
down the room and then seem to stand by his
cot. He is man Of unusual nerve and
bravery and returned the next night deter
mined to solve the mystery. Soon after he
retired he again heard the walking, when sud-
denly hand seized him and jerked him out
of the bed. He could see no one, and, trembling
with fear, he hastily left the building and
nothing could ever induce him to return.
WHY THEY DON'T STAY.
About ten years ago Mr.. W. S Shirley, an
attorney, living at Spring City, had been in
the upper room of the court house during the
day and had left book there. After supper
he went after the book, coming back on
run and never stopping until he had left the
court house far behind him. When ques-
toned, he said that as he stopped for the book
the form of a man leaned over him with
lighted blue candles about its head. He didn't
remain to cultivate an acquaintance with the
gentleman One night, few years ago, T. j.
Howard, now chief of police at Chattanooga,
was sitting in the court room with friend.
They had built fire in the stove which
isnited piece of cloth that had in some
way come in contact with the stovepipe on
l,a ar~I tai.
taking some matches TO light his way, and
succeeded in putting out the fire. Not know
ing where the stovepipo went, he climbed
into the cupola TO satisfy himself that the
fire was out As he descended the ladder
leading from the cupola his matches became
exhausted and be had TO grope his way in the
dark When he reached the bottom of the
ladder a voice said: rs the fire all out?"
Howard supposed it was his friend whom he
had left down stairs, and answered without
fear or surprise: Il think it is He felt n
sudden chill pass over him, because he could
neither see any one nor hear footsteps,
although the voice was directly in front of
him
When he reached the lower room he said
to his friend, who was sitting by the fire
where he had left him:
How did you get down here?"
why" said the friend, Il haven't moved
from this chair since you left"
Chief Howard says he wouldn't have gone
up stairs again for any price, although he is
far from superstitious.
The man, or apparition, whichever 1t is,
has been seen through the window few
times, but he is not often visible although
he can be heard walking the floor almost
every night. The character and standing OF
the witnesses give the court house widespread
notoriety as being haunted. There are three
theories extant One that 1t is the spirit of
the murdered man, Peterson, haunting the
place; another that Jimmy Lonesome is re-
sponsible for the disturbances; and a third
that the room has been occupied all these
years by a man who for some reason has ex-
lied himself from the world and has con-
structed a hole or place Of some kind where
he can disappear when the room is searched.
The mystery would probably be solved by
the tearing down OF the building, but the peo-
pie have become so superstltiouS concerning
il that it viii probably be impossible to util-
ize it as a poorhouse, as is now intended
Chattanooga Telegram.
French and American Gailantry.