Newspaper Clipping of the Day

Via Newspapers.com

Ghosts get notoriously snippy when earthly affairs are not arranged to their satisfaction, as this news item from the “Chester Chronicle,” January 16, 1858, will illustrate:

Within one mile of Llangollen station, at a place called the Fron, there have been some strange and singular scenes. Some months ago a person named Joseph Hughes died very suddenly on his way to chapel. Unfortunately he had neglected to make a will way as to the bequeathment of his property, which consisted of a few pounds in gold, a silver watch, some household furniture, a fine pig, and a large hog of potatoes. The property has been left to be divided between three surviving sisters, two of whom reside in the neighbourhood, and one in Chester, or its vicinity.

It appears that the elder one has thought she had a greater claim upon the property so left, and, in opposition to her sisters, had taken possession. This conduct made such a commotion in the family, both dead and alive, that it is said their late brother Joe, like the ghost in Hamlet, is “doomed for a season to walk the earth," and pays (much to the astonishment and terror of the neighbourhood) a visit to his late residence with the intention of settling matters, and enquiring as to where his money has gone, in such words as these, “lle Mae pwrse Goch Joe"--English, “where is Joe's red purse?”  After each sentence he would run with the swiftness of a greyhound round the garden. On one occasion he was seen in the attitude of making a fire and then walking about the house as though in search of something. Not content with this, he makes his appearance at the hour of midnight, hurling bricks and other missiles in and about the house, which has not been inhabited since his death, and seriously affrighting a family which resides in the adjoining tenement. He was heard to say recently, "O Sarah! Sarah!”--alluding, it is supposed, to one of his sisters--"if these matters are not settled to my satisfaction, I will haunt this place by night and by day." If so, the sooner matters are squared the better.

I certainly can’t disagree with that last remark, but, unfortunately, I haven’t been able to learn if “Joe” ever got his wish.