Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-09-05
TRIPS TO GHOSTLAND
HAuNrEG HOUSES INVESTIGATED BY
- IOMBRoSO.

Psychic Phenomena which Proved
10 He Beyond solution BY Any OF
the Known LAWS OF Physica' ScI-
ence-A Puzzled Physicist.
Professor LombroSo, the Italian phys
iciSt. contributed TO the Annales des
Sciences PsychiqucS an account of two
psychic phenomena which he inveSti-
gated purely i'm the interests OF mate
rial science. The article is entitled
"Hauntcd Houses Which l Have Stud
led and the professor confessed that
he set about his Investigations with
nothing 20 be desired in the complete
ness of his skepticiSm.
The phenomena i'm 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-
stantlal.
Il was asked in November. 1900 TO
investigate some strange occurrences
which had taken place at the house Of
SignOr Pavarino 10y 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 10y 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 10y blows aimed at her by some
unseen hand, and her body on exami-
nation was found 10 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 nj 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 il was
deliberately nailed TO chair an invis-
IDLE hand prccipitatcd it u the ground.
All these mysterious happenings went
on FOR eight months. and I'm rcgird to
them I took the evidence Of reliable
persons. who testified that thcy had
been cyewitneSSes OF tine phenomena.
Even when the bell ropes wcreSemoved
from the bells the unl5ling continued
at all hours OF the day and night
The scene changed 10 house in the
next street. 10y way OF Bava. adjoining
10y way OF PcScatori 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 PeScatorL cups and sauccrs,
pans and kettles being jugSlcd about
by an unseen agency and causing at
the time most Internal row.
In particular. one circumstance was
most noteworthy. In the cellar. filed
with full and empty bottles. mach loss
10 the proprietor was caused by the
smashing OF the TASKS by some unseen
hand. but with every trace OF method
and willfumcss In the way IN which the
hre0kage occurred. ON my entrance
into the cellar I lighted five candles.
thinking that a supernatural spirit
would avoid the light. ON the con-
trary. l saw three empty bottles roll
about as II pushed by n finger and
break close by me. / made every pos
sible investigation TO discover hidden
trick, but 10 no avail. Several bottles
We're taken up in the air as IL lifted by
the hand and dashed 20 the ground.
The wife Of the proprietor left about
that time for a visit TO her fathers.
While she was away the occurrences
ceased. only 10 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 II 10 be supposed,
since no other hypothesis is probable,
that he was the medium through which
the phenomena were rendered possible
In May. 1903. I was asked TO inves-
tigate another mysterious affair which
happened In the family Of a printer
named AIignotti, also in Turin. Ii was
noticed that when one OF his children.
a little boy. went TO bed at night loud
knOckings began TO be heard on the
wall next TO which he lay. 4 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. 1t was
evidently conducted in an Intelligent
manner, and il was possible to estab-
llsh some sort Of communication. 1t
was only, however. when the boy lay
awake that the phenomenon occurred.
As soon rs Ire went to sleep the knock
ing became very vague and indistlnct
He was clearly the Immediate cause.
though beyond n high fever. when the
phenomenon was most frequent, he
was In other respects n normal child.
state these facts clearly and abso-
lutely as l witnessed them and confess
my total inability to explain them
Public Opinion
Japanese Lacquer.
Il 10