WEIRD EXPERIENCES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12663, 17 September 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

WEIRD EXPERIENCES.

The well-known poet-dramatist; Mr. Stephen. Phillips, author of "Paolo and Francesco" and "Herod," lias vacated his house under weird circumstances. He has told », press representative that he thinks it is high time the Psychical Research Society set about investigating the mystery of the ghost of Egham. '; Mr. Phillips recently leased, a detached house in Egham, the sleepy up-river town near Windsor. " I went there for peace and quiet," he said, "and yet, although many people knew my purpose, nobody had the pluck to tell me that the place had the reputation of being haunted. We found, it out pretty quickly ourselves, my household and I. No sooner were we installed in the place than the uncanniest noises conceivable beset us. There were knockings and rappings; footfalls, soft and loud, hasty and stealthy; hurryings and scurryings, sounds as of* a human creature being chased, caught, and then strangled or choked. Doors banged, and were opened and closed unaccountably, as though by unseen hands. I would be sitting quietly in my study, writing, when the door would open soundlessly. That in itself was eerie enough, in-the dead of night, to a man with his imagination aflame. It was susceptible of explanation, however. 'It is only a bit of a draught,' I would say to mysefit, as I held my breath and watched. But draughts don't., turn door-handles, and on my life the handle would turn '.is the door openedand there was no hand visible. This 'i happened repeatedly. All the household: heard the sounds and experienced the same sensations. My little daughter reported having seen a little old man creeping about the house. But there was no such person to lie found. In the light of a story I afterwaids heard this is important. What was the story? Well, all the details are unprintable, but it is common property in Egham, and the Psychical Research Society, if they believe in ghosts, v.-ill doubtless find that the incidents of it dovetail suggestively-into our experiences,- According to common report and local tradition, an old farmer strangled a child 50 years ago in the vicinity of cur house at Eg/ham. Needless; to say we threw up our lease of that. residence and got out of it like a shot. The servants left so piecipitately that they did not even take their boxesso you may imagine hivr sewed they ; were." Arid now, Mr. Phillips, as a man of [ reasoEablt intellect, wants an explanation.