Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-05-02
THE GHOST DID IT
A Young Woman's Scheme to
Obtain Her Wedding Outfit.
SHE DECEIVED HER FRIENDS
The Spirit Of Her Departed Brother Made
Frequent Visits. -.,-&

He Story Generally Believed and Appeals
for Money Generously Responded To-An
Old Delaware q Hudson Engineer
Frightened-He Kept a Sharp Lookout
for the Strange Apparition. $685.
BINGHAMPToN, N. Y, May "A most
remarkable ghost story has just come to
light which, were it not for the standing
of the person who relates it would be un.
worthy of credence. Incredulous as il
may seem it can be vouched for. Two
pears ago Michael Connors, fireman on
the Delaware and Hudson Canal Com
pany's Railroad, was killed in the ttun.
mel. Connors was a single man and
lived with his parents in this city. The
incidents of his death had passed away
from the recollections of all Except his
most intimate friends and family, but
they were wildly recalled "a few weeks
ago when, it is alleged, that sister of the
deceased astonished the family by claim
ing that the disembowelled spirit of the
beloved and departed one was nocturnally
floating through space, and that on a
certain hour it was in communication
with her.
1t would appear at her chamber window
and gently tap on the pane for admission.
She claimed that the spirit was very
much annoyed on account Of debts that
Connors owed at the time of his taking
off, and she had been importuned to Sc
cure the money some way and pay them.
She said that it was the spirits request
that che lantern that her brother carried
should be kept burning at the foot of
her bed, as it had been his custom when
he was here on earth, as he desired to
make a spiritual trip to the spot where he
met his death.
The young lady was ill at the time, and
she insisted that the lantern should be
kept burning nights. The family were
nearly frightened out of their wits, but
she told them to have no fears as the
spirit would not harm her. The story at
the time became current among her
friends, many of whom called to see her.
She told them of the visit of the spirit of
the departed and beloved brother, and
that she needed money to Hquidate his
debts. His spirit would never rest in
peace until the obligations against him
were paid.
Her story was generally believed, and
her appeals for money were generously re-
sponded to, and as her illness was some
what protracted she secured a round sum
of the coin of the realm. For the pur-
pose of removing suspicion and making
her story generally believed she sent for
the engineer with whom her brother
worked. She told him of the spiritual
visitation, and stated that the spirit had
said to her that it had frequently visited
the tunnel and had ridden on the engine
The engineer was not a little exercised
over the strange story.
For weeks after that when he passed
through the tunnel he kept a sharp look
for the strange apparition. 1t worried
him somewhat, but he says that he saw
nothing that would in any way suggest
the presence of the supernatural. Soon
after the young lady recovered, and it
was supposed that she used the money as
the spirit indicated to pay her brothers
debts. A short time after her recovery
she was married, and her trousseau was
one of beauty and richness. It was not
until after her marriage that she told
some of her most intimate friends how
she secured the funds to pay for the we'd
ding outfit. She had no money and was
bethrothed; the wedding day was fast ap-
| preaching; in order to get money to pay
for her wedding outfit she conceived this
| ghostly tale, and she was thereby enabled
to fulfill her promise. The couple are
living in this city, and to all appearances
| are contented and happy.