1854 to 1871

A long investigation took place at Greehill-lane, near Alfreton, on Monday afternoon, January 5, before Mr Busby, one of the coroners for Derbyshire, touching the death of Robert Mitchell, agricultural laborer, aged 15 years, the son of Joseph Mitchell, who died on Friday se'nnight, from the effects of fright. The deceased was a healthy intelligent lad, and used to work with his father in the fields. He had been in the habit for about a fortnight past, after leaving his work at 5 o'clock in the evening, to go from Mrs Flint's, where he and his parents lodged, to the farmhouse of Mr Day at Roby-fields, near Alfreton, for milk. The deceased and his father worked for Mr Day in Draining the land. Mr Day had two servant lads, one named John Percival, about 20 years of age.
     On Monday evening, the 15th instant, about a quarter to six o'clock, Robert Mitchell, the deceased, came as usual for the milk, and remained till between 7 and 8 o'clock. Mr and Mrs Day, Percival, Hudson, and the deceased were the only persons in the house, and telling tales about some knocks that they had been frightened with. Percival and Hudson had arranged together, unknown to the deceased, that they should play the ghost. It was agreed that Percival should take a white table cloth and put it ovar him, and stand in a close not from the house, and Hudson was to conduct the deceased to the place, and pretend to be frightened when he (Hudson) saw Percival with the sheet on.
     About half-past 7 o'clock Percival called Hudson out, and said he was ready. He had a white tablecloth under his arm, and he told Hudson to follow him with the deceased shortly after. In about ten minutes or a quartee of an hour after this Hudson took the deceased out of Mr Day's house and Hudson told the deceased that he would go with him to Mrs Flint's, where he lodged. They went together along the footpath in that direction. After they had got about 120 yards from Day's house Hudson saw Percival with the tablecloth over him. Hudson said, "Look, Robert, what's that?" Deceased said, "Nothing, come along."
     Percival, "the ghost," was then about 40 yards from them. Hudson and deceased then went on further, until they came within seven or eight yards of the "ghost," Hudson feigned a scream, and the "ghost" was standing by the stile which they had to pass through. The "ghost" then moved a yard and a half behind the stile. Deceased stood still and said, "Jack." There was no answer, and Hudson ran and hid himself behind a tree in the hedge. Deceased went up to the stile and called, "Jack" a second time. There was no answer, and deceased went through the stile, when Percival made a noise like a moan. Hudson was only 10 or 12 yards off, Hudson then heard deceased say "Is it Jack?" and there was another moan, but afterwards Percival through off his disguise, but the deceased was much terrified, and went home, and arrived there about 8 o'clock with the milk. He was "all of a tremble," looked white, and stared wildly, and on being interrogated by his father, related what had occurred, though he did not believe that it was the servant-man Percival, and he could not account how he got home.
     Deceased ate nothing that night and went to bed, and to his work next day, but he was ceased with vomiting, and was obliged to be conveyed home, and complained of a pain in his throat. The deceased grew worse and raved in his bed about what had happened, and he died on Friday, se'nnight.
     Mr Belcher, surgeon, attended the deceased, who, he said, was suffering from extreme nervous excitement. He believed death to have resulted from exhaustion, occasioned by a shock on the nervous system which he had received on the previous Monday evening. The coroner told the jury that they must be satisfied that the death arose from fright, and, if so, whether it was a frolic in which all the boys were parties. If it arose from fright, the frightening was unlawful, and Percival would be responsible. After some deliberation, the jury returned a verdict of "Manslaughter" against Percival, who was committed to the assizes.

Mr. William Barton, of Cumberland-street, appeared to answer the information of a young woman, named Green, who charged him with having on last Friday morning assaulted and beat her. It appeared that the complainant, who is a servant in an establishment within a few doors of Mr. Barton's residence, on Friday evening, proceeded to Mr. Barton's house to see a female who had been a fellow-servant, and "for the fun of the thing," habited herself in a sheet, smearing her cheeks with whiting, so as to come as near as her fancy would permit to the appearance which, she imagined, is presented by ghostly visitants at the witching hour of night. Mr. Barton, unfortunately for her, but perhaps fortunately for his children, found her on his premises in this disguise, and very properly administered a summary castigation. This was the assault complained of. The Bench thought it was quite unnecessary to call on Mr. Johnson (who appeared on behalf of Mr. Barton) to reply to the charge, as shown by the defendant's own testimony, and dismissed the complaint. Mr. Johnson said that it would, perhaps, be of service that the complainant should be informed that to personate a ghost is an indictable offence, and she would see the necessity of avoiding a repetition of such pranks.

Mrs. Agnes Atkinson and Catherine Gorie appeared before the Court, on summons, to answer the information of Mr. William Barton, which charged defendants with having on the 7th April instant unlawfully conspired together to cause and procure, and did cause and procure, one Mary Ann Green to dress herself in a frightful, unusual, and unnatural manner, and so habited to appear before divers persons, pretending to be a spectre or supernatural being, to the alarm, terror, and annoyance of the said persons, and against the peace of our Lady the Queen. Mr. Johnson conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Thurlow the defence. Mr. Barton and Mrs. Atkinson, it appeared are neighbours ; Catherine Gorio is a servant in Mrs. Atkinson's establishment ; as also is Mary Ann Green ; during the past six months Mr. Barton has been annoyed by the pranks of Mrs. Atkinson's servants, who have indulged themselves in walking about visiting the servants in neighbouring establishments in funcy costume---that is to say, habited in a sheet or table-cloth ; in November last one of Mr. Barton's servants was so visited, and being unaware of the foolish joke, thought she saw a ghost before her, and fell into a fit ; the same thing had subsequently taken place, but, being then a known thing, no evil resulted ; on the 7th instant Mary Ann Green took it into her head to visit several of her gossips in this style, and among other places went to Mr. Barton's ; Mr. Barton was at home, saw the ghost, took her by the neck to the sink, and would have pumped upon her, but, as is frequently the case in the more elevated parts of the town, the water was off ; for this Miss Green summoned Mr. Barton for on assault, and in her deposition on that occasion there seemed something very like an implication of both her mistress (Mrs. Atkinson) and her fellow-servant (Catherine Gorie) in the affair. That case was dismissed, but on the deposition then made this information was founded. To-day, however, the evidence was given in a way which did not at all support the charge that Mrs. Atkinson was aware of her servant's act until Mr. Barton himself apprised her of it. Thenir worships dismissed the case without calling on Mr. Thurlow to answer it ; in doing so, however, their worships reprehended the practice as one fraught with danger, and expressed their opinion that Mrs. Atkinson was not altogether free from blame in not exercising that control over her servants which would prevent their indulgence in such a mischievous practice as that which had been under consideration.

Mrs. Atkinson, residing In Cumberland-street, and her servant maid, Bridget Gorie, appeared in Court, to answer a charge preferred against them by William Barton, likewise of Cumberland-street, for having conspired with other divers persons to annoy and alarm, by improper artifices, the family of complainant. Mr. Johnson appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Thurlow for the defence. Mr. Johnson, in his opening remarks, stated that the Indictment charged the defendants with with agreeing and conspiring together to dress up a certain female to represent a supernatural appearance with intention to excite alarm in the minds of others.
     No doubt the matter complained of might be considered as a piece of fun or a joke ; but he (Mr. Johnson) apprehended persons of that opinion should be taught that proceedings of that description, although they might be Indulged In with levity and without reflection as to consequences, were yet of a serious character. The defendant was a lady whom he felt regret in being obliged to prosecute as one of those who instigated the young person who represented the ghost, to apparel herself to frighten those people. The law was plain in the case ; any proceeding which was calculated to excite terror or alarm to others was indictable. There was a celebrated ca e on record which was familiar to most persons, which created great sensation in London ninety years ago, and which resulted in serious consequences to those who lent themselves to the deception.
     He alluded to the Cock-lane ghost story, where a young girl, at the instigation of her father and others pretended that she was visited by a supernatural being that made revelations to her, prejudicial to a certain person. The case excited great sensation amongst persons at the highest intellect, and so far from being a joke, it was seriously argued by literary men, whether or not lt was a deception. And a number of those gentlemen who were not sure that the thing was a deception, among whom was the famous Doctor Johnson, determined to investigate the matter, and if an imposture was practiced, do detect it if possible. The imposture was detected, and the result was, that the parties were tried at the Guild Hall and found guilty ; the father of the girl was sentenced to three months in the pillory, and to be imprisoned for three years ; the mother to one year; and the girl, who acted as interpreter, to six months Imprisonment with hard labour.
     The Court in this case passed the heaviest judgement they could find for a misdemeanour. It was an easy thing to say that sensible people would not believe in ghosts, but sendible people had believed In them, and few would wish to have their faith put to the test. The learned advocate alluded to the danger which such exhibitions were likely to produce upon young children, and continued, the ghost in the present case within six months made four visits to the house of the prosecutor, and upon one occasion so frightened one of the servants that she went into hysterics, and continued in a state of insensibility for a considerable period ; on that last occasion the ghost visited the house of Mr. Peek where she frightened a full grown man to that degree that it was a question whether he would not be sent to Tarban Creek. On concluding, Mr. Johnson proceeded to call the wltnesses. From their evidence lt appeared that Mrs. Atkinson, who lived next door but one to complainant, had n servant maid in her house named Mary Ann Green, who one day in the month of December last, about seven o'clock in the evening, dressed herself in a manner as she considered to represent a ghost, in the usual white sheet, and having her face whitened. In this disguise she appeared in the parlour of her mistress, who looked upon the matter an a joke, and told the girl to dress herself on some future occasion, and to go up stairs and frighten the young men (lodgers). To carry out the prank further, the ghost went out of the house, and shewed herself to the house of Mr. Peek and Mr. Barton. Mr. Barton was subsequently informed that the ghost had made other visits to the house, and upon one occasion so frightened one of his servants, that it was with much difficulty she was restored to consciousness.
     On the 7th April, the ghost made her last visit to Mr. Barton's ; having heard of its arrival, Mr. Barton went down to receive her, and, on opening the back door, he found her standing outside in her usual costume ; he at once seized her, and bringing her to the water cock, put her head in the gutter the purpose of giving her a ducking, but lt being the first Friday in that month, an the tapwater turned off, her ghostshlp escaped that punnishment. The prosecutor endeavoured to show that Mrs. Atkinson and the other defendant, Bridget Gorie, with others, conspired together to annoy and alarm the family in the manner described, Mary Ann Green, however, who had personated the ghost, swore positively that her mistress or fellow servant, Gorie, were not, at any time, aware of her leaving the house upon her ghostly visits.
     On the conclusion of the examination of the witnesses for the prosecution, Mr. Dowling intimated to Mr. Thurlow that he would dispense with hearing evidence for the defence. Mr, Dowling then addressed an admonition to Mrs. Atkinson, which he hoped would have the proper effect on others, not to allow her servants to be guilty again of such improper conduct, no matter how innocent the intention. The case was then dismissed, and the defendants discharged.

A little "furore" was created in town on Wednesday evening, by an assertion that one of the most energetic of our constabulary had seen the apparition of one of our lately departed neighbours, who had come rather late to give evidence at the inquest sold over his own remains. After having appeared to one or two of his former friends, he crossed the path of the worthy constable, who, remembering a hoax of a similar nature which had been played upon him some twelve months ago, and on which occasion he was laughed at for having taken to his heels and bolted, with a degree of courage that would be creditable to a Crimean dragoon, immediately gave chase, exclaiming in he most stentorian voice his excited state would admit of—"Be you man or woman, ghost or devil, begone, or I'll put you in the lock-up !" But the representative of neither "flesh, blood, nor bones" was too good a judge to be caught in such a "trap," so the moment after the hero of the P.F. threatened the terrors of the law, it, like Hamlet's father's ghost, vanished out of view ! Its dauntless pursuer stood bewildered for some seonds; but all his subsequent attempts to penetrate the mystery attached to his strange visitant have proved unsuccessful. One or two other persons assert that they saw the apparition, in the same locality, at a later hour in, the evening; but whether the whole affair was a silly "lark" perpetrated by some unknown, or a mere fancy on the part of those who say they were witnesses, it is difficult to say.

Aye, gentle reader, a veritable ghost ! ! There is some, five, or six miles from here a locality, named Back Creek, where about 100 or 150 Chinese and a small number of Europeans are engaged in digging pursuits. It appears that some evening late last week, a Celestial was quietly standing at a little distance from his tent, communing with his own thoughts, when lo ! there appeared before him a figure, so strange and awful that John was was rather startled out of his propriety and was filled with terror and consternation. The apparition was far above the human height and was accompanied by a rumbling noise, like distant thunder, and a most unearthly flavour of brimstone (at least so John avers, but then seeing that the poor fellow was fairly frightened out of his wits, I, for my part do not think much reliance is to be placed upon his statement). However, be that as it may, the apparition was there decidedly, right in front of John ; neither of them moving—neither of them speaking, until the Chinaman, who in his first fright had lost even the use of his tongue, set up a most dismal noise, at the same time cutting away as fast as his feet would carry him. Then, too, did the ghost grunt or rather roar, and with one gigantic stride he overtook the poor fellow, whose hair— some say his very pigtail,—stood erect with fright and horrible to relate, clasped him thrice in his arms or claws, whatever they were, at each embrace well-nigh strangling him. By this time, the noise had attracted some of the unhappy wight's countrymen, who however stood terror-stricken and were not at all inclined to cope with the dreadful apparition. The ghost, nothing daunted, forthwith charged another Celestial and repeated, the same endearments, where upon the whole mob scampered off to a respectable distance. On turning the ghost had vanished into thin air ; at least they could see nothing, and after having waited some time in fear and trembling they returned to their tents—though not I dare say in a very pleasant state of mind. But after a whlle the characteristic valour of our Celestial friends showed itself in a brilliant manner ; all sorts of arms were fetched forth, pistols, revolvers and guns were produced, loaded and fired off in the air, and (it was a moonlight night) at every shadow presenting itself. All this splendid display of valour, had I am glad to say, the desired effect, that of frightening the ghost, who did not put in any further appearance ; but the result was, that early next morning a number of Chinamen deserted the Back Creek for some more congenial spot. Such is the story of a ghost, which I have heard from reliable authority, but mind, not having been an eye witness of the occurrence, I do not vouch for it.

(From the Saturday Review.)

MR. RICHARD DOYLE has yet a chapter on our English social habits to draw. The manners and customs of the English are not complete without a night with Hume or Foster. It is as much a part of the London season to spend a cheerful evening with ghosts, as to assist at the heavy dinner de rigueur, which is known as a meeting of creditors, or at the heavier dance or matinee dansante twenty miles out of town in the first week in June. The evening with a fashionable "medium" may be lively or dull ; but all things are complimentary of each other. When the spiritual world is active and communicative—when triple tap succeeds triple; tap smoothly and in order—when mysterious harpings, played by no earthly hand, sound through the enchanted air, and the archimage himself, self-poised in the darkened but obedient ether, floats over the heads of a sympathising circle of devotees there is a good deal to be said for a seance while it lasts ; though on the pillow the unpleasant thought suggests itself of an egregious hoax. On the other hand, when the whole thing has been a dismal failure, when Cagliostro himself has been all but abashed, when every tapping and question has ended in the most ludicrous breakdown, then comes a happy reaction. If a successful night with the spirits, like all other riotous living, is succeeded by a morning of lassitude and suspicion, the unextinguishable laughter and the hour of triumph when the solemn mockery is over, and the discomfited medium has taken his departure, is well purchased by the two hours' bore which has gone before it. So, whether it succeeds or fails—whether the spirit world is communicative or suspicious—in other words, whether the circle consists of willing dupes or Sadducees, a seance is, as the phrase runs, a thing to do. The season is not complete and a whole without it ; and it is quite a moot point whether a break-down or a series of first-rate manifestations is the most amusing. Each is perfect in its way. Our own experience is, however, one-sided.

The inhabitants of Chapel-street, Airdrie, Scotland, have, during the past week, been much exercised by a rumour that a ghost was in the habit of nightly haunting Chapel-street and its vicinity. Various reports were circulated as to the affair—some affirming that the ghost had come out of Chapel-street Church yard, having been forced therefrom by the over-crowding that prevails that ; while others confidently stated that it was merely a silly prank. One night lately a young woman was proceeding home, and had reached a dark part of the street, when she met the ghostly appearance. She was so overcome that she fainted away. The girl's mother, looking out of the window of her house, also saw the ghost going down Wellington-street, and got such a fright that she took her bed, and we understand is still ill. Three young men, who heard of those circumstances, went out for the purpose of meeting the ghost and punching it. Their wish was gratified, but a sight of the 'fearful spectacle' as one of them termed it, proved too much for their courage, and they ran away. On Monday night the ghost proceeded to a brickfield in the vicinity for the purpose of obtaining a light tor his pipe at one of the kilns there, being evidently human enough to partake of the fragrant weed. While enjoying his smoke he was suddenly interrupted by the appearance of some of the workmen, who seeing his strange guise, seized him, and demanded his name. The ghost proved to be a tall man, with his face covered with a black mask, and having himself wrapped up in a white sheet. He refused to tell them his name, but stated that he was doing it for a wager, at the same time begging to be released. The men took pity on him and let him off and Chapel-street has since been freed of his presence. It is certainly to be regretted that the men did not detain the ghost for a night in the police cell, when the infliction of a smart fine in the morning would have made him hesitate the next time he was inclined to repeat his foolish and cruel pranks.