The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-01-22
WAS It A GHOST
IN CLIO HOME1
HENRY MORRIS AND FAMILY SEE
STRANGE APPARITION
Nocturnal Visitor Vanishes Through
Trap Door and Completely and
Utterly Disappears


perhaps, dead, ghost story. Not long
since, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Morris and
their eight children, came to this town
and purchased home at the end of the
street east of the NJ. P. Church, which
they have occupied, the two older sons
and the father working in the plant of
the Clio Condensed Milk Co. On Mon
day evening after the family had re-
tired, one of the sons who had view
of hallway whence trap door leads
into small cellar, claims he saw the
figure of a man who was peering
through some portieres into the room
where he lay. A Winchester rifle was
standing nearby and young Morris
sprang from his bed and leveled the
weapon at the intruder who swiftly and
silently retreated to the trap door,
through which he disappeared into the
cellar as noiselessly as shadow.
When he first saw the nightly visitor,
young Morris let out a lusty cry OF
alarm which aroused the other men,
bers of the family, several of whom
also claim they saw the mysterious in
truder. The young man who first saw
the strange presence, and who grabbed
the Winchester, was speedily joined by
his brother, who armed himself with a
shotgun, and together they covered the
hole in the floor which they claim was
securely closed before the family re-
tired. Then the father was sent to
arouse the neighbors and secure the
attendance of Village Marshal Charles
Best. The marshal made careful ex-
animation of the newly fallen snow
about the house and claims that he
could not find the faintest signs of foot
prints. Then by making signals to the
two sons, who otherwise might have
turned their artillery upon the marshal.
the latter entered the house and made
what it is claimed was more or less
superficial examination of the cellar.
When the marshal appeared the elder
of the Morris boys tainted dead away,
and the former failing to explore the
cellar to the complete satisfaction of
the family. advised them to keep watch
of the trap door until morning. This
was done and in the morning the mar
shal was again on hand and thorough
search of the cellar was made but not
the slightest evidence was discovered
of the presence of anyone. or that it
had been occupied the night previously.
Something else was discovered, how
ever, something that proved far from
reassuring to the Morris family, to-wit,
a heap of bones that gave evidence of
having been covered with quick lime.
Moreover, these bones, when submitted
to the examination of physician, were
said to strongly resemble parts of the
human anatomy. The Morris family is
creditable; its members declare they
were not mistaken as to what they saw,
and also that the ghostly visitor simply
vanished. There are rumors afioat that
the house, which is an old one. was in
early days the home of physician and
that persons disappeared in the long
ago who have never since been ac-
counted for, which rumors would seem
to connect the bones that we're found
with surgical operations or more sinis-
ter deeds. 1t is also said that other
families who have lived in the old house
have been more or less disturbed by
uncanny sights and sounds. Since Mon
day evening, however, the ghost has
evidently been on his good behavior as
nothing has been heard or seen of him.
Marshal Best has been the subject of
considerable banter since the event, but
those who know him well will know
that he did all that proper discretion
warranted to corner the spirits, which
is always mighty hard job.