Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-09-26
WELCOME LULL
IN KENNEBUNK
SPOOK ACTIVITIES

BlQQeIOTQ, Me-, sept - nc LIN
deford Journal says concerning the
''Spook' activities at Kennebunk-
port:
My, wife now feels that we are to
have good rest from the spooky
happenings at our home in North
Kennebunkport and I plan to return
to my position as night Waterman at
the car barn" said Arthur Hartman
to the Journal this morning. Mr..
Hartman came over to Biddeford
this morning on the $50 Atlantic
Shore Line car and was met by the.
reporter in City Square. He ap-
peared as greatly relieved. Nothing
has developed in the Hartman home
in the line of spooks since Sunday
night, except that the family was
saddened by the announcement of the
sudden death of Mrs. Harriman's sis
ter at Rochester, \. H., about mid
night Wednesday night. Mrs. Harri-
man is of the opinion that the spooky
happenings were forewarnings of the
death of her sister. She told her
husband that she was satisfied that
the spell was broken. While the
mysterious rappings were going on
in the walls of the Hartman home,
washstands and chairs toppled over
rugs performed stunts on the floor
plastering was broken in the walls
and attempts made to open doors that
were locked, Mrs. Hartman begged
her husband to give up his position
at the car barn, as she figured it was
all a warning that something terrible
was to happen. She believes that il
was a warning of the death of her
sister and that the noises and weird
happenings in their home will cease
forever. Mr.. Hartman feels conf
dent that it is all over.
Mrs. Hartman and daughter Flor
ence went to Rochester Thursday to
attend the funeral of Mrs. Harri-
mans sister. Mrs. Everett Rowe of
Brown street, kennebunk, also a sis
ter of Mrs. Hartman, at whose house
mother and daughter stopped for
several days after the narrowing
Tuesday night of last week at the
Ben Drown cottage. North kenne-
bunkport. had planned to go to
Rochester to attend the funeral but
changed her mind when she dis
covered that Florence was going with
her mother and returned to her home.
She has fear that something is
wrong in connection with Florence
and does not care to be near her
Mrs. Rowe. in conversation with
John T. Garside, the painter who
lives on Birch street, told him over
the telephone that it was all true
about the stunts at her home and il
was a great relief to her when Flor
ence left the house. Dishes would
fall from the sideboard and the con-
tents spill on the floor Mr.. Garside
called the Rowe house to get in com
munication with Mark Broadbent Of
Lowell. Mass, who is a relative of !
Mr.. Garside. Florences nightgown /
was torn from her body. a chunk
taken out of the mattress and the lin |
ing of an overcoat was torn out The !
coat was put over the girl to keep her
warm. An apron was torn from Mrs.
Rowe wherf Florence put her arm
lovingly around her. A basket of po-
tatoes was upset on the floor
Mr. Hartman wishes TO deny the
story that last Monday night the
ghost visited Florence and that he
talked with her. Mr.. Hartman said
he awOke and thought he heard Flor
ence whispering. He listened for a
few minutes and then heard her snor-
ing.
Mr. Hartman does not deny that
he has been charging so for a pic
ture of his daughter and interviews.
Il did it to try to stop them coming
to me- said the North kennebunk-
port man to the Journal. Il have
received s25 so far while it has cost
me over so to date. 1t is not the
money | want but to make them let
me alone. | have had people call me
out of my house at II o'clock at night
and want me to go through the whole
story again. 1t is getting on my
nerves. | want to be social with
everybody but there is a limit. If
there should be a renewal of the
noises at my home | Shall call Sheriff
Roberts and Deputy Sheriff Jones
and put as many good reliable men in
my house as l can in order to let
somebody else besides myself tell
about it. Some people are calling
it all fake and | want to put it up
TO others. l earnestly hope it is all
over so that my family and myself
may live a quiet life