Low Down Articles
Echoes from the Past
Article 33 of 111
This article first appeared in the "Echoes from the Past" column of the The Low Down to Hull and Back News.
Reprinted with permission. Search complete list of Low Down Articles.
o o o
Incredulity?
In the year 1894, and lasting, as it did almost a year there were weird experiences in the home of James Brown, back of Rockhurst (near Wakefield) which had the whole countryside on edge. The demonstrations were much of the same character as took place in the Hetherington home in South Hull in the 1970s.
In the Rockhurst district at that time there were a number of James Browns and for differentiation each Jim was given a nick-name. There was Black Jim, Butter Jim and "Notch" Jim, who was called so because his home was in a "notch" of the land. It was at the home of "Notch" James Brown that the peculiar happenings took place.
As told by Newton Sully the weird demonstration started suddenly and ended as suddenly. As was the case in the Hetherington home the happenings ended after the supposed spirits had been exorcised by David Morriset, of Masham, and Rev. Seaman, the Anglican Minister of Wakefield. Morriset had a country-wide reputation of being able to counter-act evil spirits.
Suddenly in the Brown home chairs began to be knocked over by invisible hands, lamps and candles blown out. Later clothes were torn and the life of the Browns made miserable in many ways.
Neighbours hearing of the "doing" began to pay visits. The wraps they laid aside were torn before their eyes. The news spread and visitors came from far and wide.
One night a neighbour walked in, took off a heavy web belt, threw it on the table, and said: "The divil himself couldn't tear that." In a second the belt was picked off the table by unseen hands. First it was torn lengthways, the whole length. Then it was torn crossways in several places. The people gasped!
Strange to say no attempt was made by the spirits to personally molest either members of the family or visitors, or to touch any clothes they had on their persons. But no piece of clothing was safe that was laid down.
At last after the demonstrations had become unbearable the family decided to try what effect prayer or exorcising would have and sent for Rev. Seaman, at Wakefield. Mr. Seaman went in, and in the presence of a large gathering read portions of Scripture and then prayed abjuring the evil spirit to depart from the house and never return. From that night the family was left in peace.
The above story came from George H. Wilson's column OLD TIME STUFF in the Evening Citizen, Ottawa, 10 August 1929.