Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-06-23
LOMBROSO AND THE SPOOKS,


lolnnros.. the well known italian
physicist and crimuoiogist. has at last
encountered some phenomena that he
cannot explain Hc gives an account
of his experiences ir a contribution
20 au Italian scientific journal trans
lat'on OF which appears In Public
Opinion.
Lombroso says that IN November,
1904. De was asked 20 Investigate some
strange occurrences al certain house
In Turin Among the strange happen
ings were the mysterious oysrlurnIug
of cups aud jugs, which were precipi-
tatod 20 the ground by some unseen
agency These phenomena were ac-
companied by loud knockiugs on the
walls. the ringing Of bells tho clash Of
rapiers. cries Of anger and groaus Of
anguish. Lights were also seen pass
Ing to and fro. at times
IN a house al another street similar
doings were observed. says LombToso.
cups and sauccrs, pans and kettles
were juggled about by some unseen
power. lie relates one noteworthy in
cidentG
In the cellar hlled with iull and
empty bottles. much loss 10 the proc
pr.etor was caused 10y the smashing II
the TASKS by some unseen hand. but
with every trace OF method aud WiIful-
ness IN the way 10 which the breakage
occurred. On my entrance into the
cellar / lighted i've candles thinking
that supernatural spirit would avoid
the light: on the contrary I saw three
/ empty bottles RON about. as f pushed
by finger. and break close hy me. I
made every possible investigation o.
discover a hidden trick. but 90 no avail
] Several bottles were taken Mp iu the
air. as II lifted hy the hand. and
/ dashed 20 the ground. The wife OF the
proprietor LEFT about that time for a
visit % her fathers While she was
away. the occurrences ceased, only %
/ break out again Immediately on her
I return 20 via Baya The walter n
! the house was then removed and the
/ occurrences ceased altogether leaving
/ a 20 be supposed, since no other hypO-
I thesis is probable that be was the me-
] dunn through which the phenomena
were rendered possible
Lombroso relates another almost sim
far case which was Investigated by
| himself police officers. and a doctor.
/ lie concludes. u state these facts
! clearly and absolutely as ] witnessed
them, and confess my total inability TO
explain them"
The Italian scientist ls less fortunate
in his Investigation % these cases than
was a New Yorker who undertook 20
hnl out all about some mystic occur
/ rences in a haunted" house on Lover
/ Greenwich street ln this building had
been heard mysterious rapp.ngs at
/ night followed by a womans scream.
/ Several persons had heard these IN
. cauny sounds a night Waterman had
seen l.ghts On the deserted building.
. And q appears that many persons
[ employed IN the vicinity had died sud
denly after having tried 90 solve the
| mystery Of the spooks. one 81 The
watchmen had been slapped On the
face by a "ghost' and heard raps and
others had seen pieces Of wood
/ hurled through the air.
The fellow who Investigated these
] unrarnv occurrence nonrfuHeH that tht
slap In the face mentioned was al.
minlFtered boy bat The raprlugs. M
thought. were due 90 the shaking a
the elevated road by trains az Bat.
terry place station Lights reflected by
trains accountsjfor the llFht phcnomc
"a. and then a monkey that had bro
ken out from an animal store had ais.
played tho role ~ a hobgohlln Thh
New York investigator. as win be seen
was more resourcsfu in explanations
than the Italian scientist And D.,
was only plain Jim Morris,
II Is curious bow stories Of spook.
and ghosts viii live in tradition. and
. u scientists undertake % strengthen
the popular beiItf In such stories. W,
may look for a revival Of the cnt.r,
: ghoEi-lole.
], Is not - very long since the sior-
was told. that Queen Elizabeth ha,
been seen walking IN the library Of Ii