Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1906-09-13
TRIPS TO GHOSTLAND
HAUNTED HOUSES INVESTIGATED BY
LOMBROSO.

Psychic Phenomena Which Proved
to he beyond solution by Any OF
the known Laws Of Physical Sci
ence-A Puzzled Physicist.
Professor LombrosO, the Italian phys
icist, contributed to the Annales des
Sciences Psychiques an account of two
psychic phenomena which he investi-
gated purely IN the interests of mate
gial science The article is entitled
Haunted Houses Which | Have Stud
led" and the professor confessed that
ne set about his Investigations with
nothing To be desired In the complete
ness OF his skepticism.
The phenomena in question, how
ever, proved to be beyond solution by
any known laws of physical science.
Frankly, the great Criminologist ad-
mlttcd that for the first time in his
life he was in the presence of the In
tangible and that he was worsted in
his attempt to grapple with the unsub-
stantial
Il was asked in November, 1900, to
investigate some strange occurrences
which had taken place at the house of
Sgnor Pavarino by way of Pescatorl,
Turin One phenomenon l was asked
to explain was the mysterious over
turning of cups and jugs, which were
preclpltated to the ground by some
unseen agency.
These occurrences We're accompa-
MED by loud knockings on the walls
and the pulling of bells In various
parts Of the house The youngest
daughter was awakened on several oc-
casions by blows aimed at her by some
unseen hand, and her body on exami-
nation was found to be covered with
bruises, the result of severe pinchings.
Her sister who slept in the same bed,
felt nothing and was not disturbed In
any way.
THE clash Of rapiers was heard In
the house at another time, accompa-
MED 10y cries of anger and groans of
anguish. Lights were also seen pass
ing to and fro in unlighted rooms. An
Alpine hat was continually moving
about the room, and even when 1t was
deliberately nailed to a chair an invis-
!blc hand precipitated it to the ground
All these mysterious happenings went
on for eight months, and In regard to
them | took the evidence of reliable
persons, who testified that they had
been cycwitnesseS of the phenomena.
Even when the bell ropes We're removed
{pl continual
at ull hours of the day and night.
THE scene changed to II house in the
next street, by way of Bava, adjoining
by way Of Pescatori where the news
papers of Turin began to chronicle mys-
terious occurrences Of almost Il similar
nature to these which occurred in by
way OF PcScatorl cups and saucers,
pans ana kettles being juggled about
by an unseen agency and causing at
the time most Internal row.
- In particular, one circumstance was
most noteworthy. In the cellar. filled
with full and empty bottles. much loss
to the proprietor was caused by the
smashing of the TASKS 10y some unseen
hand. but with every trace of method
and willfulncSS in the way In which the
breakugc occurred. On my entrance
into the cellar | lighted five candles,
thinking that supernatural spirit
would avoid the light On the con-
trary, | saw three empty bottles roll
about as Il pushed 10y II finger and
break close by me. | made every pos
siblc investigation to discover hidden
trick. but tu no avail. Several bottles
wcr" taken up IN the air as if lifted by
the hand and dashed to the ground.
The wife Of the proprietor left about
that tiIdc for Il visit 10 her fathers.
While she was away the occurrences
ceased. only tD break out again imme-
diatcly on her return by way Of Bava.
The waiter Of the house was then re
moved and the occurrences ceased al
together, leaving it to be supposed,
since 40 other hypothesis is probable,
that Lr was the medium through which
the phenomena were rendered possible.
In May. 1903. | was asked to inves
tirate another mysterious affair which
happened in the family OF a printer
named Ml@uottl. also in Turin. 1t was
noticed tllat when one of his children,
It little boy. went to bed at night loud
knUckiugs began TO be heard on the
wall next TO which be lay. A doctor,
the police and myself were called In.
We examined the walls and the rooms
with great care.
'As soon as the boy was placed in
his bed the knocking began. II was
evidently conducted In an Intelligent
manner, and it was possible to estab-
lish some sort OF communication. 1t
was only however, when the boy lay
awake that the phenomenon occurred.
AS soon as he went TO sleep the knock
ing became very vague and indistinct.
He was clearly The immediate cause,
though beyond a high fever, when the
phenomenon was most frequent, he
was in other respects n normal child.
| state these facts clearly and abso-
lutely as | Witnessed them and confess
my total inability to explain them."-
Public Opinion.
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