The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-21
STEALTHY STEPS.
Heard in the Old MatsOn House
Night After Night.
Then Someone Heard Running
Rapidly Downstairs.
But When the Family Living
There Investigate
THEY FIND NOTHING.
They Can't Stand the Noise
Amy Longer
And Are Going to Vaeate the
Premises
FHEY FIND NOTHING.

In a short time the old Matson house
at Fourteenth and Monroe streets will
again be deserted. For more than a
year the place has been tenanted by
J. r. Lytle, a colored barber, but he
has been compelled to give it up and
he will move out as soon as he can
find a house. There is something
wrong in the house." said Lytle, though
he will not admit the presence OF
ghost, for he is not superstitiOus. But
Mr.. Lytle, incredulOus as he is, cannot
live in the MatSOn property any longer.
For three months the family has been
disturbed by noises that startled them
from their sleep and made their blood
stagnate in their veins. The house
mas been turned upside down from cell
lar to garnet to find whence came the
nOiSes, but without anything being re-
vealed
Though the family still lives in the
house, 800 would not hire Mrs. Lytle
or any of the children to go to the eel
lar after nightfall. 1t is from the eel
lar the family received the first scare,
about three months ago, but the matter
was kept a secret in the belief that
the report arose from the disOrdered
fancy of Bert Lytle, a 14-year-old son.
1t was just after dusk when Bert
Lytle was sent to the cellar on some err
rand for his mother. He had scarcely
entered the cellar when his mother
heard a scream and a moment later
the boy rushed into the house almost
dead from fright.
He said that he had entered the eel
lar without thinking of anything. when
upon looking up he saw standing before
him the form of an old woman. Her
hair was disordered and there was blood
upon her face He was terribly fright
ened and fed as fast as he could.
When Mr. Lytle came home he laugh
ed at the boys story and went into
the cellar; there was nothing there. He
hi ha
at a shadow and thought no more
about it.
It was a week or two after that and
about u o'clock at night when Mr.
LytIe was awakened by what he sup
posed was someone walking down
stairs. The steps were like someone
running down the stairs rapidly. He
supposed that it was one Of the chill
dren and he got up and called, but
there was no answer. He took a lamp
and went all over the house, but he
could find nothing and returned to bed
and heard no more.
A week or two afterward Mr.. I.ytle
was again awakened. This time some
one in stocking feet was walking in
the room used by Mrs. MatSOn for a
parlOr. He listened awhile and de-
cided that it was a heavy person. for
the house seemed to tremble while the
person walked. Then he arose and
tiptoed to the door carefully and peep
ed IN There was no one there.
Mr.. Lytle became mystified and the
members of the family were in a state
next to terror. In two weeks the sounds
were again heard. Some one seemed
to be running down stairs and then
there were the heavy footsteps on the
parlor floor.
The house was again searched, but
still nothing was found. Since then
Mr.. Lytle has tried to pay no atten-
ton to the noises, though he is often
awakened by them. He says that he
has never been frightened, but he can
not explain the noises.
A Journal reporter called on the col
ored barber and talked with him about
the mysterious noises. He did not care
to talk.
not know what they are. My family is
frightened, and I cannot explain the
noises 1 have heard, but I do not be-
lieve in ghosts.
when I first heard the noises I
thought some of the children were
walking around in the house. I got up
but I could find nothing. searched the
house all over and then supposed had
The first time it sounded like some one
rolling something down stairs.
The next time I thought some one
was walking in the ROOM I thought it
sounded like a heavy person in stocking
feet. I got up again, but I could find
nothing. I do not know what to make
of this business. l cannot make out
where the noises come from, but they
DOInGG US, anu we Will nlON6 Out OL luG
house.
I moved into the house a year ago
last Christmas, and it was several
months before I heard anything. Then
Bert thought he saw Mrs MatsOn in
the cellar, but I did not take any stock
in that It almost scared him to death
and you could not coax any of the chill
dren into the cellar now.
My wife and the children would not
stay in the house alone for anything,
and I cannot stand it any longer, so 1
will hunt another house"
The Matson house was the scene over
two years ago of the most brutal muir
der in the history of Topeka. An old
woman who lived alone was murdered
with an axe. The body was found IN
der a pile of old clothing three weeks
later with the head crushed. A colored
man named Frank Nevels was arrested
for the murder and convicted, but while
a motion for a new trial was pending
he died of consumption in the county
Jail.
mainly instrumental in the conviction
of Nevels, also died of consumption
soon afterward. The whole story was
full of tragedy.