St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-09
The Malicious Ghost of a
Tramp Plays Hob Down in
Mississippi.
1t Kills Dogs ond Hurls Their
LifeIess Bodies to Their
Masters.
A Gypsy Ghost Performs Some
Blood-Curdling Feets in
Ohio.
Weird Spirit Dance Reported
From Sereven County,
Georgia.

James W., prominent farmer Of DE
Kalb, Miss, has created quite sensa-
ton by reporting himself the victim of
the malicious spirit of tramp who died
Oh his place last summer. Mr.. w. says
that the ghost has killed his watchdogs,
MANNED his sheep and injured his
horses, besides not permitting him to
have 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 re-
fused, very CURLY saying he was sick. He
was then given meal, but told he could
notsleep on the premises. upon which he
grew very violent in language, and left
vowing vengeance. AS the man did
look delicate and ailing. he was allowed
to 90, though it was feared he would re-
turn and do some mischief, but the next
morning he was found dead in an ada
cent field and buried by the town, so
nothing more was thought of the mat
ter. 1t was not many weeks, however,
before the VS.. began to be prosecuted
by an invisible agent that emptied the
milkpans, let the cattle out, broke the
crockery, and generally made itself
nuisance firing of this, and grow
ing more vindictive. it began wiring
ing the necks of the poultry, choking
up the well and undermining the out
buildings. Mr.. W.. being skeptical in
regard to supernatural interferences,
for a long time refused to admit these
tricks to be aught but the mischief of
some ill-disposed person, but was at
last compelled to accept the manifesto
axyfr j nj !
self lock and guard his hen house at
night, only to hear the frightened fowls
screaming and fluttering, though when
he opened the door his lantern revealed
the place to be empty, though the head
less, still living bodies were indisput-
able evidence that they had just been
killed.
When the dogs were brought they
showed the greatest reluctance to enter
the house, and, whining piteously, shlv-
cred 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 powerful hand
through the open door to their masters
feet. Several of the most prominent
and respected merchants of the neigh
borhoOd vouch for this. The horses
cannot be sufficiently guarded to keep
the ghost from turning them out, and
frequently the family are aroused by
the clatter of hoofs past the house,
a 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 sup
port this statement by declaring that it
is no unusual 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. Occasion
ally the ghost grows so aggressive that
the family is Obliged to leave the place,
when it subsidies for time. Mr.. W.
says that he has frequently been at
tackled by it. and that once on entering
the house in daylight he was knocked.
nearly senseless by blow on the side
of his head, while on another Occa-
sion he was crossing an unlighted
wall by a powerful hand holding his
throat. He managed to gasp out cry
for help, when his wife came running
with lamp in her hand, which showed
the hall to be empty, save for himself.
Recently Mrs. W. heard her youngest
child, an infant, of a few months, cry
ing in room up stairs, and rnnnlng to
it, could hear distinctly the sound of
violent slaps. and on opening the door
found the baby covered with welts and
red from head to foot. 1t is believed
that Annie W., aged 6, can see the
ghost. as she will frequently fix her
eyes in space, saying: Poor man, is
you sick?" and she of all the family has
escaped molestation from the malicious
spirit.