Throughout the 19th century, numerous accounts of ghosts appearing in all parts of the country were reported in the newspapers of the age.
Some apparitions’, such as the Plaistow ghost, were proved to be nothing more than mass hysteria.
Other ghost scares sometimes ended in tragedy, the Hammersmith ghost being a prime example of this.
The Staffordshire Advertiser, in its edition of Saturday the 25th of December 1830, published details of yet another supposed spectral appearance:-
THE WOLSTANTON GHOST
The peaceable village of Wolstanton, near Newcastle, vulgarly called “Hoositon,” has, the last four or five weeks, been disturbed by very ill-behaved ghost, which, (it is confidently said) has been knocking, scratching, &c. at most tremendous rate; and not driven away in the meantime its presence will doubtless throw a gloom over the anticipated “merry Christmas” of the good folks of Hoositon.
The nocturnal visitor (like other great folks) has not been satisfied with one house, but has been playing his pranks at two habitations, and, as is customary with “his order,” has assumed as many shapes as Profeus.
THE WITCHING HOUR
The exploits of this unearthly agent have, of course, been noised abroad, and multitudes have gone at “the witching time of night,” anxious to gratify their curiosity, and prove for themselves the truth of the reports which drew them to the spot.
Our readers may learn from the following declarations, which were actually made the other day before the magistrates – when some parties from Wolstanton appeared before them on an assault case growing out the ghost affair – in what light the thing has been viewed in the village.
A SUPERNATURAL MONSTER
One individual, premising that he was of sound mind and strong intellect, not easy to be imposed upon, said he believed that some supernatural monster came night after night to disturb the peaceable inhabitants of “Hoositon.”
He added that, though he had never seen the ghost, he had witnessed its foot marks!
THE SCRATCHING SPECTRE
A second person declared he had heard the ghost scratching for some time before it made its horrid appearance!
Being asked whether the scratching was like that of rat or cat, he replied “it was in this manner” – knocking at the same time on the magistrates’ table with his elbows, and hands like a pair of drum-sticks: this mechanism kept in motion for a good while, to the great amusement of all the persons present.
LADY MARY HENRIETTA
A third supporter of the marvellous, a female, calling herself “Lady Mary Henrietta,” affirmed that she had both seen the ghost and felt it, therefore she could not be mistaken!
It first appeared like a man’s arm, afterwards it changed to a horse’s head, &c. &c.!
This witness politely invited the magistrates to go and see the ghost themselves, at which invitation, as well as at the ridiculous statements which had been made before, they laughed most heartily.
A POTTER ASSAULTED
With respect to the assault case, we are informed that it arose out of the following occurrence:-
The head of the constabulary force, considering it his duty to lay the ghost in the Red Sea, went with “a trusty brother of the trade,” properly armed, and full of courage, vowing vengeance on the poor ghost for his strange vagaries.
Forward they went with uplifted truncheons; and whether their eyes were full of stars we know not, but true is it that they mistook for the monster whom they sought “a little potter,” who, like many others, had been led there by curiosity, and was groping about to see the ghost.
The little man was seized “sans ceremonie”, manacled, and, in order to complete the capture, a good number of sound blows were dealt upon what was thought to be the head of the foul fiend, to prevent his again troubling the peace of Hoositon.
NOT WITH MALICIOUS INTENT
The mistake was shortly discovered, and that which the constables had assumed to be a ghostly appearance turning out a real substance.
The potter applied to the magistrates for a redress of his wrongs, he having received “grievous bodily harm.”
As the assault was not with malicious intent, but merely an error in judgment, the matter was made up to the mutual satisfaction of the parties.