Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-23
HIS GHOST APPEARS.
The Uneasy Spirit of Ex-Representative
Smith Said to Haunt His Former Home.

The Uneasy Spirit of Ex-Representative
Smith Said to Haunt His Former Home.
The latest sensation in the career of the late
Hezekah b. Smith of Smithville, n. j., saws
the New York Herald is that the ghost of New
Jerseys erstwhile Congressman has been per-
ambulating around the scene of his former
triumphs at Smithville and making things very
uncomfortable for some of his former en-
ployes. That Mr.. Smith should take the re-
sponsbility of restricting himself at this par
ticular time is not surprising when one con-
siders the changes that have taken place since
his demise.
His deserted =ifo and children have estab-
lished their claim to his estate, and the money
which he had toiled and struggled for. and
which he devised should be devoted to the
establishment of a school for the education of
young men in the mechanical arts has no more
existence than the fabric of dream.
That the congressional ghost has been seen
very frequently of late there seems to be no
reason to doubt, particularly as the employees
at the shops are willing to make oath that they
have seen it repeatedly walking around the old
Mansion House and down by the mill Office in
the early evenings, Mr.. Smith was wont to
do when in the flesh. One of the employees
moved out of the town and took up his resi-
dence in Mount Holly because of his dread of
meeting the apparition.
1--WE seen it dozen tines he said. refer
ring to the ghost, ''and it goes along the path
in way that makes me all goose flesh. knew
the old man. as Mr.. Smith was Familiarity known,
well as any one about here. and if that ain
his ghost then l never saw anything. Several
Of our men have seen it and all describe it the
same way
The strangest part of the story is that told by
the night Waterman. George Gilbert. who was
on duty every night around the works. Sew
eral times as he sat in the mill Office the door
would open and the ghostly form of Mr.. Smith
would enter. walk to the desk with his hands
behind him in his usual way and after standing
there for while as if in thought he would
slowly walk out toward the mansion. The con-
slant repetition Of these visits had such terri
flying effect on Gilbert,s mind that he lost his
reason and was today conveyed to the asylum
for the insane at Trenton.
few days ago Gilberts place as Waterman
was taken by Jofeld Swetzer. a hardy Swede,
who is by no means superstitious, but now even
Jofield admits that there is something very
much like a ghost haunting the shops every
night, appearing and disappearing with a sud-
denness that makes his flesh creep. The other
night Jofeld. accompanied by his constant
companion, large watch dog, started to in
spect the interior Of the foundry, but the dog
couldn't be induced to enter the building: its
hair stood erect and it manifested every symp-
tom OF fear. just then the apparition was seen
moving through the rsar of the foundry
No one has yet attempted to explain this
mysterious visitation. although one Of the i'm
pecunious lawyers at the county seat offered to
secure an injunction against the ghost if he re-
ceived his fee in advance.