The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1826-06-06 (London, England)

UNION HALL.  A Onosr.—Yesterday morning an elderly man of respectable appearance presented himself, and requested to be heard, while he gave an account of an extraordinary apparition that appeared to him the previous night, at his lodgings, giving him intimation of a murder that had been committed in the house some time ago. The applicant said his name was Dunn, and that he lodged at a respectable house in Tooley-street. Mr. Dunn, who seemed to be under considerable agitation, proceeded to state, with all the earnestness and solemnity of tone imaginable, that on Sunday night, before the clock struck 12, while lying in his bed alone, he first heard the sounds of footsteps pacing up and down close to his bed-side. He at first thought a thief had entered the room, and accordingly raised himself up in order to have a look at the intruder. Instead, however, of a thief, he beheld a personage that frightened him much more, and that was a tall grave.looking figure, dressed in deep black. He stared at the object for some time without the power of utterance, until at length the supernatural being, as he was now convinced it was, broke silence first, and in a hollow sepulchral tone exclaimed, " Wetherell, clean my boots and prepare my supper." Applicant was about to speak, and kept his eyes steadily fixed on the apparition, when, " lo," said Mr. Dunn, " I saw it vanish through the wall, as plain as I now see your Worship sitting in that chair." Mr. CHAMBERS here interrupted the narrator, observing, that his imagination must have been rather disordered on the night in question ; and asked him whether he had gone to bed drunk or sober ? Applicant—l can assure you that I was as sober and us perfectly collected then as I am at this moment. Well, then (said Mr. CHAMBERS), what more have you to say about this cock-and-bull story of a ghost ? The applicant appeared highly incensed at the outset of his tale having gained so little credit. He however declared that every syl. lable he uttered was true, and proceeded to give a further account of his nocturnal visitor. " Ni'hen," said he " I saw the alma. 'Won vanish, I mustered up the courage and resolution to jump out of bed, with the intention of opening the window-shutters, to admit the rays from the gat-lamp, but had scarcely made one stride from the hechside, when the spectre made its appearance again, and really I don't know whether I was standing on my head or my heels at the time, from terror ; but this I know, after being composed a little, it addressed me in a solemn tone. saying, Fain the ghost of a murdered man—my body is not far from hence—seek it and you shall find it ;' then waving its hand, and afterwards pointing down below. it vanished from my sight through the wall, as it had done before."  " Well," said Mr. CHAMBERS, " what have I to do with your story of the ghost ? You interrupt the public business of the office, and I would recommend you to hssten home and search after the body of the dead man." Applicant—That I cannot do by myself, and the object of my application is fo have the assistance of--a police officer, and I have no doubt the bloody affair will be all brought to light. It was evident to all that the poor man was labouring under a delusion of mind on the above subject; and lie repeatedly said during the statement, he was convinced that all who heard him would set him down as a madman, but notwithstanding what people might think, he was ready to make oath that he gave a true and accurate account of the circumstances, and if the Magistrate would condescend to accompany him home, and sit up in the room all night, he had no doubt the spectre would again appear and justify the above particulars. Mr. CliAmixas declined trying the experiment, and the appli. cant went away sadly disappointed, saving that be should apply at other offices for the assistance of the pollee in unravelling the mys