The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-10-17


Mont cello Constitution tells this blood
curdling story:
There has been for two months in
the past land still continuses) an
alarming excitement among our
citizens in reference to the supposed
ghost performance at the Proctor
place located on the road half way
here to Lloyd's.
If you will spare me the space, |
will give your readers my views in
reference to the matter. Several OF
our citizens have visited the scene and
report it an incomprehensible affair
A posse of our citizens visited the
place one night las week, and as they
entered the yard they heard a
knocking under the house. There
was also quite crowd present. This
knocking would only respond to the
questions asked by the law-de flying
negro, Watly Campbell, who is
one Of the occupants Of the cabin.
Watly was requested by one of our
men to ask who was it knocking.
When he said, "Is that Mr.. Proctor:
if 81, knock once" no knocking wa
done. He then sail, "It that is Mrs.
Proctor, knock times" when 3
light blows were struck. He then
said "don't knock so light, give us
knocks little louder" The opera
ton was repeated with double force.
He called again for the same sign,
when blows were struck as with a |
sledge hammer. The knocking
ceased for some time, the house wa
examined and every living human
made to stand off % or 80 steps un-
til further investigation could be
made by the parties. Watly then
asked if there was any money buried |
about the house. eff so, knock one
time" The knock came. He asked
for louder knock when a blow fairly
made the house tremble. A third
question was asked: SHOW much
money is buried under this house?"
Seventy-two distinct blows were
struck and all was silent. a fourth
question was asked: IF each blow
represents one dollar, knock twice."
when two distinct blows were struck.
allow much Of this money do you
want Watly to have?" Twenty seven
blows were struck. Sat VIII It place
in the house is the money buried?"
Then knocking commenced in the
southeast corner of the house. "How
deep is it buried?' Iwenty-one
blows were struck. docs each blow
mean an inch or foot? If an inch,
knock three times" Silence pre-
vailed. eff q foot knock three
times" Three blows were struck
The crowd then decided to remove
the floor and see what could be seen
a large torch was brought and all
the plank stacked in the centre of
the cabin, with one plank laid to one
side of the pile, under the middle Of
which the knocking commenced.
One Of the boys went to the end and
lifted the plant up waist high at one
end, while two went to the centre,
one with the torch, and one laid his
hand right on the plank, just over
where the knocking was going on,
and could distinctly feel each blow
but could not see anything at all. A
spade was brought, and Watly was
put to digging in the place directed.
He dug about four hours, when all
hands left the place to return the
next night. The next night still
larger crowd was present but Wa'ly
said the old lady had made con
tract that she would not come that
night, so everything was quiet.
1t is stated that the knocking still
continues in all parts of the house
and that the house often shakes as if
it were going to fall. Several brick
bats are said to have fallen on the
floor.
, The house since the death of Mrs.
, Proctor, five or six years ago, has
, been occupied by a white woman,
, Mrs. McDermitt, and her dau4 hter, a
= stout, bodied woman, about the
age of 20 or 81. Several years ago
she suffered her daughter to take up |
, with this Watly Campbell. Watly
has lust about got to believing he is
as good and honorable as "Mr. Any
BODY" and boas s, among his color,
of his ine-looking white wife. Our
people and neighhoring communities
have remained mute and suffered this
. most diabolical crime to go on in our
: midst. Circuit courts have convened
and sdjourned, grand jurors from all
sections of the county have met time
: after time, and the perpetrators of
. the horrible crime still remain unpun-
,<pvy