The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-28
OF SPOOKS
Strange Happenings Related
by st. Marys Man.
Uncanny Events in House OF
His Grandfather.

a communication expressing belief
in the supernatural comes to The State
Journal from A. L. Verschelden, OF
St. Marys, Kan. The author is at loss
to--understand strange happenings In
the home of his grandfather. Many
times distinct sounds of thieves were
heard in the home but on investigation
no thieves were discovered. At one
time a cupboard fell forward with Il
clatter of breaking dishes, but on
opening the cupboard not a dish was
found broken.
"I will explain in plain words what
happened in the home OF my grand
father Mr.. Nerschelden writes. His
father and mother made their home
with his grandfather on farm where
the house, barn, stable and pig house
were under one roof, according to
Mr.. Verschelden's description. The
granery was above the living room.
"One night while eating supper"
Mr.. Verschelden continues, they
heard somebody scooping grain, fill
ing up sacks. Being convinced of
robbery, grandfather rushed upstairs
to find everything intact, and went
back to finish his supper. After
while they heard somebody walking
forth and back from the granary to-
ward the barn which was next to the
house. A general search began but
to no avail; there was nobody to be
found. None of the family was anx-
ious to go to bed that night Next
day they invited two cousins to stay
with them over night. After supper
all played cards in room adjoining
the kitchen. All at once the cup
board fell down, breaking the plates,
cups and saucers to pieces. They
jumped up to open the door and TO
their surprise found everything in
tact. The reader must know that the
dishes were placed on a cupboard in
the kitchen in a long row, the style
in those days.
Heard Sound of Scoop.
pretty soon they heard the SCOOP
ing of grain again. the letter reads,
land the cousins had enough of visit
ing for they ran for home full of
fear Grandfather, who had the old
Belgian blood in his veins, had no fear
He went upstairsS took the lantern and
a big iron club with him, but could
not notice or see anything wrong. or
course the story spread over the coun-
try like wild fire. On another occa
from the wall. taking with it half
dozen pictures: once they had a sack
of peas standing in their bedroom
when they woke up from the noise OF
the sack being turned over under their
bed. to find 10 their surprise every
thing untouched. These are some of
the incidents that happened in the
period of about a year. Neighbors
came in groups to satisfy their curl
osity, but could detect nothing. Only
those of grandfather's blood relation
could ever hear the suspicious sounds.
Father and his kinsfolks could hear
nothing. Grandmother, who was a
| fleshy woman, was losing her strength
| from fear. She wanted help and con-
| ISOLATION whatever the COST. She re-
| lated her experience to many learned
men, but they usually sent her home,
! telling her it was all imagination. In
the meantime the devils performance
went on
| zone day the old couple went to see
an old learned man. He was a doctor
/ of philosophy. This man. well know
| ing that those black tricks existed
took them in separate room to exam
| inc them. He asked them if they had
any relative who had died with anger
! against them, assuring them that it
was no ghost or spirit. If it were a
ghost they should meet an animal,
such as n chicken, pigeon, rabbit, or
anything else, which they never did.
| They had to admit they had such a
| relative with whom they had lived in
enmity. After a few months they be-
came unconcerned over what had hap
pened, and the strange events ceased
Fifteen or Twenty Witnesses2
st leave the reader to judge about
this accident" Mr.. FVerschelden con-
| cludes. but if it should be taken as a
| matter of insanity. as Doctor Hyslip
put it, why should fifteen or twenty
people who witnessed the performance
| be judged insane? Not a single case
of insanity can be traced in our ances-
try. L do not believe in such things as