Conan Doyle and a "Ghost"
Conan Doyle and a "Ghost" is an article published in the Weekly Dispatch on 2 december 1917.
Conan Doyle and a "Ghost"
Sir William Barrett Also Goes in Search.
An enormous amount of interest in the world of psychical research has been caused by the story which comes from the little village of Cheriton, near Folkestone, concerning strange happenings which are believed to be occult vault origin.
In an air-raid dug-out being built at Enbrook Manor bricks, stones, and sledge hammers, propelled by no visible force, flew around, while the candles, used while the excavating was going on were mysteriously extinguished.
During the week Sir William Fletcher Barrett, the ex-president of the Psychical Research Society, and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, conducted very strict investigation, Speaking to a representative of The Weekly Dispatch yesterday, Sir William Barrett said:
"I went down to Cheriton and found sufficient to convince the that some very untoward and mysterious thing, had happened. Whether the cause is a psychical one I am not yet prepared to say. I have interviewed all the people concerned in the matter and have taken shorthand notes of their evidence. I shall probably go down again to try and get at the bottom of it all."
SIGNS OF THE OCCULT.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, who arrived at Cheriton a couple of days after Sir William Barrett, stated to a Weekly Dispatch representative that he had found unmistakable evidence of some extraordinary occurrence. "I saw the marks on the wall-made by the stones,"
said Sir Arthur, "although naturally enough nothing happened while I was there. You cannot make these things to order. I am getting the other of the hand to excavate around the dug-out to see if the phenomenon can be satisfactorily accounted for. I hope to go to Cheriton again in a few days' time and make more complete investigation."
The exact locality of this extraordinary affair is said to be an air-raid dug-out at Enbrook Manor, the residence of Mr. H. P. Jacques, J.P.; the chairman of the Urban District Council. Mr. Jacques has so far maintained silence on the matter, but a most interesting story is told by Mr. Frederick Rolfe, who is a builder in Cheriton. This is Mr. Rolfe's version of the many strange happenings:
"About six weeks ago I started work on the dug-out for Mr. Jacques, and during that time I have gone through experiences which you would hardly credit. All my life I have been deed against such things as spiritualism — they missed them as impossible and absurd. What I have seen, however, through this remarkable period makes me realise that there is hidden force which I cannot account for.
Mr. Rolfe said on one occasion a large stone from quite another part of the dug-out hit him on the crown of the head like scar is still visible; on another occasion he received a severe hit on the hand like wounds inflicted are also visible.
"The candles were respectively extinguished by air and a jet of sand accompanied by a sharp whiz, such as might he expected from a current of air, blown through a peashooter.
"On several occasions pieces of rock varying from 8lb. to 20lb. were hurled by some unseen foe from one position to another."
DANCING BRICKS.
A boy named Penfold, who assisted, declared that he saw the stones hit themselves an inch and then drop again; then about three inches and drop once more. Soon after they would fly off by themselves to another position. There were bricks on the floor. These, too, lifted of themselves and shifted positions.
"Subsequently," Mr. Rolfe continued, "things became worse. Rocks and stones flew about, and so much so that an iron stove and iron pipe were smashed to pierce. Then, to crown all, a short hammer, such as bricklayers use, weighing about 4lb., threw itself towards me. The boy Penfold then shouted 'Look out, perhaps the sledge-hammer will come also.' Hardly had the lad uttered the words than the hammer, weighing with handle about 11lb., flung itself at me from a considerable distance, as did also soon after a pickaxe.
"There were three chairs in the place, and one of the moved about in an alarming style. There were only myself and the boy in the place.
"There was a heap of stones in one corner of the place and, incredible as it may appear, these shifted themselves, from on point to another."
Mr. Rolfe, was so concerned with all that he had gone through that he consulted Mr. T. Hesketh, engineer manager of the Folkestone Electricity Supply Company. That gentleman, after witnessing the occult experiences, was so impressed that he communicated with Sir A. Conan Doyle and Sir William Barrett.
