A HAUNTED MAN.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8122, 19 April 1906, Page 3

A HAUNTED MAN.

INEXPLICABLE RAPPINUS DRIVE TO MADNESS.

A queer story of a haunted man comes from the colliery /village of Sengbenydd, near Cardiff, Wales. The victim is a miner, named Craze, who has for some time past been pursued by unaooountable rappings. Even obauges of residence have not given him security from the ghostly annoyance and the man eeems likely to end his days in a lunatic asylum unless relief comes speedily. Craze's persecution bogan some thiee weeks ago, when he was living at Aber. Rappings on the wall—always in a series ot three—commenced to an noy the household, and it was observed that they alwayß came from a spot near to where Craze happened to be. Never when be was out did the members of bis family get any manifestations, and for a time THEY SUSPECTED THAT THE MINER himself was at the bottom of the mystery. But this man soon began to show signs of annoyance and fear that the idea be was playing tricks was discarded. Presently Craze declared ho could stand it no longer, and decided to move from Aber to Senehenydd. The noises followed him, and beoame so persistent that he sought the aid of the police and the vicar. They arranged to carry out some experiments. Graze was first of all taken to an upstairs room and THREE TIMES THE RAPPINGS were heard distinctly on the wall. The lights were turned out, but the officers suddenly switched on their lamps, in the hope of being able to solve the mystery. There was, however, nothing to be seen. The man was then placed in another room, and after waiting in darkness for a few minutes the rappings were again heard on this occasion from the cupboard' but again NOTHING WAS POUND to give a clue to the mystery. Following this Craze was made to sit on a chair in the centre of the loom. Here again the strange sounds were audible this time underneath, the chair. But there was no one in the room below. The knookings are three loud raps clear and distinct. Craze appears to have a peculiar presentiment of the approach of the . jjhOßtly visitor forj

HE GIVES A DEEP GROAN and his features are drawn and'strange and a mild look comes into his eyes. He says the groaning is irresistible. After carrying oat the experiments the vioai prayed earnesty and Craze too appoaled for peace. Their supplications however wero unavailing and every effort of the police to trace the rappings to a human agency have failed. The phenomenon is of course the TOPIC OF CONVERSATION in the district and Craze's house the centre of local interest. Evoiy night a number keep vigil outside his residence. The man goes iu fear of being mobbed by the ignorant and superstitious among his neighbours, some of whom appear to be firmly convinced that he is haunted as a punishment of some great crime secretly commuted, and therefore a proper objeut for hostile demonstration.