PLAYING THE "GHOST."

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19419, 30 August 1926, Page 12

PLAYING THE " GHOST."

INCIDENT AT A HOSPITAL. AN EX-ATTENDANT'S PRANK. An unusual story was told at the Southend County Court a low weeks ago by Edwin Jell, of Ealing, formerly a mental attendant at Bochford (Essex) Institution, who claimed £25, money paid toward his superannuation benefit. '.' Jell- told Judge Crawford that he had been discharged by the' Guardians. ''Three years ago," he said,' "there Were rumours that the institution was haunted. I had been' rising the ghost story in a London paper, .and, 'as' it .was time for a night nurse to'come on duty, I threw a sheet' over my shoulders .and waited for her in. tho doorway. Presently I heard footsteps, but instead of the nurse appearing it was thV niedital officer. He reported me to, the committee, and I was discharged." Y Blalnti# further-' alleged that a nurse told the committee that she had seen ah' apparition parading the wards and grounds With h|s .hands above his head/an# suggestod that he was that apparition. This he "t was discharged for playing a harmless joke," lie declared. . The Guardians denied liability, and their solicitor slatad that Jell had paid only £3 14§ While With fhem. Nurse Edith : Jones stated that, nurses were threatening not to go on' duty because, of tli6 "ghost,, She had seen Jell covered with a sheet in a corridor where therfe Wers patients suffering from mental derangement. The Judge adjourned the case, saying that it was one of great public importance.