The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-28
HOT WEATHER GHOSTS.
Curiosity of the NeighbOrhOOd
About Mrs. MatsOn'S House.
People 1" See Things" While
Going Past the House.
Another Matson Ghost Appears in
the County Jail and Comes
From Novels Cell.

The mother of Mrs. J.. r. Ly
tie, Mrs. Lucy Cheesborough, lies close
to deaths door in the old Matson house.
The superstitious attribute her illness
to supernatural causes though Mrs.
Chees borough herself, has little fear of
ghosts and she does not insist upon be-
ing taken from the house supposed to
be haunted by the ghost of Mrs. Mat
son.
The illness of the old lady is some
what mysterious. Her sOn-in-law and
! members of the family say that it is
due to a weakness of the hearts action
but they have waited Unavailingly for
an Improvement in her condition.
Mr.. Lyle said today that he still
| hopes that his mOther-in-law will recov-
er but he says that the condition has
| been gradually growing worse. He does
not attribute her illness to the pres
ence of supernatural agencies and
thinks that the ghost at the Matson
house is not to blame for her cOndi-
ton. His neighbOrs however, do not
share his confidence. One of them said
today:
Il do not believe that the woman will
get well until they take her out of the
house She may not see anything to
frighten her but just the same she will
not get well until she is taken away
Mr. Lyle says that the woman is
not able to leave the house and it is
/ that fact that is preventing him from
moving right away
The Lyle family has not been dis
turbed for the past three or four nights.
Several people who passed the house
however, have seen a form fitting
through the south window of the room
in which Mrs. Matson's mutiIated body
was found.
A farmer who lives southeast of To-
peka who was passing along Fifteenth
on Wednesday night, says that when
near the corner of Fifteenth street he
saw before him in the road the form of
a woman. She seemed to be gliding,
rather than walking and her course was
from the railroad toward the old stone
house in which the Lyle family live
1t was very late and for that reason he
watched the woman closely. Her head
was enveloped in a shawl and for that
reason he did not see her face. He
thought nothing strange of the occur
renee until the supposed woman rose in
to the air and glided over the fence dis
appearing through the window in the
southwest corner room of the stone
house. He was very much frightened
and drove out of town as fast as he
could go.
There are rumors that other people
nave seen the same thing during the
week but nothing definite can be learn
ed. Mr.. Lyle says if there have been
noises this week they have been so
slight as TO not disturb the family.
The spiritulaists are organizing to con-
duct a series of meetings in the Matson
house in the hope that something de-
finite can be learned. An effort will be
made to have a seance at the house
soon in the hope that there will be some
manifestation. The spiritualists think
that the spirit of Mrs. MatsOn is really
in trouble and lowering around and is
anxious to reveal something. They pro-
pose to give her the opportunity she
seeks.
Mr.. Lyle says that he has decided to-
allow the spiritualists to hold their
seance and he will today make some
arrangement with them He is as anx-
a n n
that have frightened his family.
The prisoners at the county jail are
in a state OF terror every evening be-
cause of queer things they see and they
think there is some connection between
what they have seen and the Matson
house ghost.
Last night Bob Marshall who has a re-
putation for being brave man and
who says he is not afraid of spooks''
was put on the corridor of the upper
cage. He says he was not afraid. Fol
lowing is his story:
It had only been asleep about 10
minutes when 7 felt as if someone had
called to me and 7 awoke and raised up
on my elbow I looked up and there
standing over me was someone dressed
in white without a head. The arms
were uplifted as if he was going to
jump on me. I struck at the thing and
it went away don't know where and
knocked my knuckle against the side of
the corridor" and he showed a place
where the skin had been torn from his
right hand.
Marshall yelled at the top of his voice
and Turnkey Mcknight who was on
duty ran to his assistance The prison
ers were in an uproar and several of
them corro borated what Marshall said.
Il jest know what is the matter" said
Marshall. During the hailstorm Jerry
Merriweather cussed the Lord and he
is after him. That is what he is" The
form has appeared to Merriweather and
he refuses to stay in a cell by himself.
He firmly believes that the ''spoOk' is