The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-09-12
TRIPS TO GHOSTLAND
HAUNTED HOUSES INVESTIGATED BY
LOMBROSO.


10 BE Beyond Solution by Any Of
the known Laws OF Physical Sci
eace-A PusxIed Physicist.
Professor Lombroso, the italian phys
.cist contributed to the Annales des
Sciences Psyehiques an account OF two
psychic phenomena which he investi-
gated purely in the interests of mate
rial science. The article is entitled
Haunted Houses Which | Have Stud
led" and the professor confessed that
be 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 adj
mitted 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
II was asked in November, 1900, to
investigate some strange occurrences
which had taken place at the house Of
Signor Pavarino by way Of Pescatori,
Turin. One phenomenon was asked
to explain was the mysterious over
turning of cups and jugs, which were
precipitated to the ground by some
unseen agency.
''These occurrences were accompa-
MED by loud knockings on the walls
aud 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.
1.-THE clash of rapiers was heard in
the house at another time, accompa-
MED by 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 it was
4 deliberately nailed to g chair an invis-
| ible hand precipitated it to the ground.
| All these mysterious happenings went
on for eight months, and in regard to
/ them l took the evidence of reliable
persons, who testified that they had
been eyewitnesses of the phenomena.
! Even when the bell ropes were removed
from the bells the tinkling continued
at all hours OF the day and night.
1.-THE scene changed to a house In the
next street, by way of Bava, adjoining
by way of Pescatori, where the news
papers of Turin began to chronicle mys-
FERROUS occurrences of almost a similar
nature to these which occurred in by
way of Pescatori, cups and saucers,
pans and kettles being juggled about
by an unseen agency and causing at
the time a most Internal row.
TN particular, one circumstance was
most noteworthy. In the cellar filed
with full and empty bottles, much loss
to the proprietor was caused by the
smashing of the TASKS by some unseen
hand, but with every trace of method
and willfulness in the way in which the
breakage occurred. On my entrance
into the cellar l lighted five candles
thinking that a supernatural spirit
would avoid the light. On the con
trary, l saw three empty bottles roll
about as If pushed by a finger and
break close by me. l made every pos
sible investigation to discover bidder
trick, but to no avail. Several bottles
were taken up in the air as if lifted by
the hand and dashed to the ground.
THE wife of the proprietor left abou
that time for visit to her father
While she was away the occurrences
ceased, only to break out again imme
diately 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 no other hypothesis is probable
that he was the medium through which
: the phenomena were rendered possible
I'm May, 1903, / was asked TO inves
tigate another mysterious affair which
happened in the family of a printe
named Mignotti, also in Turin. 1t wa
little boy, went TO bed at night louo
knoekings began to be heard on thu
wall next to which he lay. 4 doctor
the police and myself were called in
We examined the walls and the room
with great care.
GAS soon as the boy was placed Il
bis bed the knocking began. 1t wa
evidently conducted In an inteiligen
manner, and it was possible to estah
lish some sort of communication. l
was only, however, when the boy la
awake chat the phenomenon occurred
AS soon as he went TO sleep the knock
ing became very vague and indistinci
He was clearly the immediate cause
though beyond high fever, when tn
phenomenon was most frequent, b
was in other respects a normal child
! ! state these facts clearly and absC
lutely as / witnessed them and comics
my total inability to explain them
Public Opinion.