NEW WAY TO GET TENANTS OUT

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 19 March 1921, Page 7

NEW WAY TO GET TENANTS OUT

X farmer and his family living in a country village have been greatly exercised by the appearance of what they took to be a Christmas ghost (•■'ays a i writer in the London Times). This manifestation from the spirit world took an original form. It paid its visit in the form of a human being clad only in shirt, trousers, and braces. Even in this cosfumo it seems to have inspired a good deal of terror, and there began to be fears—or hopes—that an authentic Christmas spirit had revealed itself. Investigation, however, has exploded yet another ghost even before psychical experts could make an examination.

i Some nights farmer and his wife went to bed rather early. ; Their bedroom is a large! room on the first floor of the two-stori-ed bouse. The door of the room was left open. About 2.30 a.m. they were awakened by the visit of a figure clad only in shirt, trousers, and braces. This apparition stood in the doorway, extended its hand, and began to make what were described to me as "diabolical faces." The farmer and his wife were not, however, properly awakened until the intruder began to speak. All that it said were the three words: ".Mother, mother, mother!" It then vanished. The farmer's wife thought that it might have been one of her sons, and went to their rooms, only to find that they were both fast asleep. On her way back to her own room she encountered the figure again. It was still clad in shirt, trousers, and braces, ;md was crouching in the corner of the landing. From that position it gibbered at her, in what she described as "a very] frightening manner," and she j hastily returned to the bedroom. I This time she remembered to shut the door behind her. 1 went to see if the eccentric spirit had made any further calls. The haunted house is at the end of a desolate; lane. Tlw farmer was at home. 1 asked him whether he had anv fears of its making another appearance. He said that he had not. 1 asked him why. and he answered that the ghost was not. a ghost at all. This, he said, was the explanation ; the house had been bought over his head. The buyer was anxious to get into it, but he had no intention of going! out. He offered the buyer the use of one or two rooms temporarily, and this offer ' was accepted. The buyer moved in. Soon, however, the farmer said, lie began to find hi.s accommodation rather restricted. He asked for more rooms, and was refused. The farmer supposes that the buyer resorted to strategy, and the ghost was (he stratagem.

The fanner now thinks that he has identified the ghost. Ho stales that it lives in another village several miles away, and was imported in order to carry out one spiritualist., performance. Ho admitted that it had caused some fright, bub pointed out that its efforts had otherwise been abortive. As proof of this he explained that he had now obtained an order from the local justices by which entire possession of the house was handed over to him ami his family, The other occupants, therefore, have to vacate : "ven the accommodation which they found so restricted. The ghost is understood to be again carrying out its ordinary tcrresrial tasks.