St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-09-24
A MALICIOUS GHOST.
He Haunts and Worries Farmer
Who offered Him Work.
De Kalb CMiss.) Special

De Kalb CMiss.) Special
James W., prominent farmer of this
vicinity, has created quite a sensation
by reporting himself the victim of the
malicious spirit of tramp who died on
his place last summer. Mr.. w. says
that the ghost has killed his watch
dogs, MANNED his sheep and injured his
horses, besides not permitting him to
have a chicken or turkey about him.
The tramp applied for supper and bed
last August, when Mr.. W., being short
of hands, offered him work, which he
refused very CURLY, saying he was sick
He was then given meal, but told he
could not sleep on the premises, upon
which he grew very violent i'll language,
and left vowing vengeance. As the
man did look delicate and ailing, he was
allowed to go, though it was feared that
he would return and do some
mischief; but the next morn
ing he was found dead in
an adjacent field and buried
by the town, so nothing more was
thought of the matter. 1t was not many
to be prosecuted by an invisible agent
that emptled the milk-pans, let the cat
tie out, broke the crockery and general
ly made itself nuisance. firing of
this, and growing more vindictiye, it
began wringing the neckS of the poul-
try, choking up the well AID under
mining the out-buildings. Mr.. W.,
being skeptical in regard to super
natural interference, for long time
refused to admit these tricks to be
aught but the mischief of some ill-dis-
posed person, but was at last compelled
to accept the manifestations as extra
ordinary. He would himself lock and
quad his hen-hOuSe at night. only to
hear the frightened fowls screaming
and tluttering, though when he opened
the door his lantern revealed the place
to be empty, though the headless, still
living bodies were ndisputable evil
dence that they had just been killed.
When the dogs were brought they
showed the greatest reluctance to enter
the house, whining piteouSly, shivered
and cringed, though of fierce and game
breed. Forced into the house, they
were heard to give a sharp shrek, and
the next moment their lifeless bodies
were hurled by a powerful hand
through the open door to their
masters feet. Several Of the most
prominent and respected persons of
the neighborhood vouch for this.
The horses can not be sufficiently
guarded to keep the ghost from turn
ing them out, and frequently the fam.
lily is aroused by the claUter of hoofS
past the house, when on looking out
they see horse fully saddled go tear
ing down the road as if ridden by some
hard-puShed rider, though none is to be
seen. The neighbors support this state
ment by declaring that it is no unSual
sight to them, and that nothing can stop
one of the w. horses when thus ridden
The poor creature, broken down and
nearly dead, is often found many miles
away, while several have died by such
treatment.
Occasionally the ghost grows so ag-
gressiVe that the family is obliged to
leave the place, when it subsidies for a
time. Mr.. w. says that he has fire.
quently been attacked by it, and that
once on entering the house in broad
daylight he was knocked nearly sense
less by blow on the side of his head,
while on another occasion he was cross
ing an unlighted nail, when he was
pushed against the wall by a power
full hand holding his throat. He man,
aged to gasp out a cry for help,
when his wife came running with a
lamp in her hand, which showed the
hall to be empty, save for himself.
Recently Mrs. w. heard her Youngest
child. an infant of few months. crying
in room up stairs. and, running to it,
could hear distinctly the sound of vio-
lent slaps, and on opening the door
found the baby covered with wells and
red from head to foot. 1t is believed
that Annie W., aged three. can see the
ghost, as she will frequently fix her
eyes into space, saying, Poor man, is
you sick?" and she of all the family has
escaped molestation from the malicious
spirit.