Ghost Riot and Fakery, 1897 February 20, 2018
Author: Beach Combing | in : Modern , trackback
An 1897 ghost story, with a small ghost riot, exceptional for this extraordinary illustration from the Illustrated Police News. Regrettably the story was not more widely reported. Can anyone give more? drbeachcombing AT gmail DOT com
PLUMSTEAD, near Woolwich, has for the past week been the scene of a ghostly visitation, in which the ‘spirit’ has appeared enveloped at night in white array. Several children who saw the apparition were so alarmed that they have been laid up from the effects. Its haunts were principally the grounds of St. James’s Church and schools, where lads to the number of about 100 assembled to waylay the ghost, who was seen flitting about. The assailants hurled stones by which several panes of glass were broken, and on the police appearing two of the ringleaders were arrested, but on being brought up at Woolwich they were discharged. One night the visitor visited the grounds of Mr. J. Rt. Jolly, J.P., and was seen in a tree, arrayed in white apparel. The freak referred to has been traced to an individual of solid flesh living in the neighbourhood, and the ‘ghost’ has been put under restraint. Illustrated Police News (6 Nov 1897), 3. Note that the illustration was at the end of the review.
28 Feb 2018: Rob L writes in ‘first, a typo (I don’t know if it is in the original source): Plumstrad –> Plumstead [corrected]’ Attached, Woolwich Gazette of October 29, 1897.
Rob points out that this will be the naughty Arthur Coton.
29 April 2018. Harold W ‘Another possibility, sometimes diversions were set up to bring in crowds so that pick pockets could work… If there were just children that does not sound very promising but if there were some adults kicking around here.
