"GHOST'S" CONFESSION.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLII, Issue 1808, 5 May 1921, Page 8

"GHOST'S" CONFESSION.

GIRL CAUGHT IN THE ACT. The credit for materialising the author of the mysterious occurrences at uyra, leading to a confession by the girl who was supposed to have received messages from'her dead sister, is apparently due to a Sydney policeman, Constable Hardy. He is a native of the Guyra district, where as a boy' about 15 years ago he assisted in clearing up a case of a similar nature. He was sent from Sydney to assist in the investigation of the stone-throw-ing and rappings at the Bowen residence and succeeded. On -April 21 the constable was in Bowen's residence when a stone struck the wall near where he was seated. He rushed out and stood at the corner of the house, when a second stone struck the wall near him. On the following night Constable Hardy organised a secret guard, including some of the leading and most trusted residents of Guyra, to watch the house, but nothing occurred. Next night, in company with the local sergeant, the constable took up a position in the bush on the southern side of the house, while Mr Starr, a local farmer, watched the northern side. The latter saw the 12-year-old girl, Minnie Bowen, throw several stones at the cottage. He informed the police, who questioned the girl. She at first denied any knowledge of stone-throwing on that day, but when confronted with Mr Starr, in the presence of her parents, she admitted having thrown stones. The girl afterwards admitted that she was responsible for the knocking on the wall, which she ecected by striking the inner walls at night time with a stick, when people were keeping' watch outside. She remarked, "I was always careful that I was not watched or seen by,anybody."

The, police are of the opinion that the girl is responsible for most of the annoyance and damage to property caused recently at Guyra, assisted Jjy relatives and local youths of the larrikin type. From statements made unofficially to the press by the Guyra police, it is evident that a number of persons were found to be conected with the affair, and that by segregating them it was found that the strange noises ceased, thus proving conclusively their participation in the affair. \