"GHOST" CALLS POLICE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19762, 8 October 1927, Page 2 (Supplement)

"GHOST" CALLS POLICE

UPSET BY LOSS OF BED. OLD WOMAN OF TOMBSTONES. SLEEPING IN CHURCH PORCH. Weird noises among the tombstones late at night, and the flitting figure of a little woman dressed in black and carrying an umbrella, recently caused disquiet among people living in the vicinity of the parish church at Bromley, Kent. Almost every night, approaching 12, the dark figure has been seen to pass through the lych-gate, glide along the path, encircle the church, and vanish into the porch. Girls and young inen employed at drapery stores overlooking the churchyard at the back, disturbed by the nightly visitations, kept watch. Each night the " ghost " was seen to visit a certain tombstone and , pausa there lor some time before disappearing into the church. Deciding to "lay" the "ghost," they scaled the wall and crept round the churchyard to the porch Suddenly blue! cei.ec up and flapped jat them I'hej (led Feeliiij. bruve it

broad daylight, they returned next day and made a search of the churchyard. Behind the tombstone which the " ghost " was seen to visit the searchers found a heap of rugs, blankets, and a feather pillow, hidden under an old door leaning up against the tomb. To see what would happen, they hid the " ghost's" bed in a distant corner and that night kept watch again. This time the " ghost " appeared as usual about 11 o'clock and visited the tomb, from which it roamed about as if in frantic search for its lost bed. Early next morning a quaint old woman approached the constable on duty at Market Square. She flourished an umbrella and told a tale to him of thieves who had stolen her property. She followed him to the police station and made a complaint. There she was recognised as the 75-year-old Miss Mary Squirrel, tho strangest character in Bromley. For years Mary Squirrel has not had a roof over her head. She has been sleeping out of doors ever since she had a fight with the Bromley Town Council about her rates. For some time it was known that she slept in an unfinished building, slipping in when the workmen knocked off at night. Then the building was completed, and Miss Squirrel had to find a new shelter. Nobody knew that Miss Squirrel had taken up her quarters in the porch of Bromley Parish Church except the vicar, Canon W 7 ilson, and the verger, Mr. Henry Brown. " Yes," Mr. Brown said, " I have known about the 4 ghost ' for some time.

The vicar does not like to turn her out, as she has nowhere else to go. Yet she is well off. I believe she has an in come of £2 a week from various sources, including the old age pension. She was formerly nurse to a titled lady. " We let tier keep her bedding in the churchyard on condition that she does not leave it in tho .porch in tho way of tho congregation. Trie old door she props up against the entrance. Before she goes to sleep she hoists her umbrella to keep out tho draught and rain. She is nearly tSO, but is as hard and healthy as any man. She has her meals in the local cafes, and woe betide any waitress who does not treat her with deference. Despite, her age, Miss Squirrel is keen of sight, and likes nothing better than an afternoon at the pictures. The rest of the day she reads and knits in the public library." The Bromley police know all about Miss Squirrel, for she has appeared at court several times in the past few years to get " a settlement of her rights/' as she says. She declares that they are all frightened of her.