Newspaper Clipping of the Day

Via Newspapers.com

Who doesn’t love encounters with a headless ghost?  The “Frankfort Capital,” November 24, 1894:

Crown Point, Ind. Nov 23 — About four miles south of this city on the west side of the old Crown Point and Lowell wagon road stands a large 2-story frame residence in a plat of ground containing several acres. The house is a large square flat-roofed structure about 40 by 40 feet in dimensions and stands back in the lot fully 30 yards. It was erected some 80 years ago by a man named Nichols, who together with his family occupied it for a time and then gladly vacated the hated place. Mr Nichols told the neighbors about hearing strange and uncanny noises, rappings. stamping of feet etc., and many nights he could not sleep on account of the sounds borne to his ears.

Several months afterward the place was sold to an Ohio man for $500, less than the house itself had cost. The man from Ohio soon moved in with his family and he expended several hundred dollars in making the place more attractive. Within a short time he began to be annoyed by strange sounds, sometimes followed by chairs chasing each other across the room, the clock striking the full hour when the hands indicated the half-hour mark, etc., and on one light moonlight night near the midnight hour, happening to glance into the yard he was fairly frozen with terror by the spectacle he witnessed.  

Walking up and down the yard less than a dozen paces from where he was standing was the headless trunk of a man.  The Ohio man watched it make a few strides up and down the passage and then disappeared.  Fearing to inform his wife of the sight, groanings and moanings immediately began in the room in which he was standing and these were kept up until nearly morning, when they ceased as abruptly as they began. 

It is needless to say that the gentleman soon after abandoned the place, and during the 25 years that have elapsed since that time numerous tenants have moved in and out again, none remaining longer than a month or so at farthest. 

For the past six years the place has had no tenant and the yard and parcel of ground has grown up with a thick mass of grass, hazel-brush, and rank weeds. The house is fast falling into decay by the ravages of time, and altogether the place presents a wierd and uncanny aspect. 

A young Crown Pointer will not soon forget the experience he encountered near the place a short time ago. He had been to Lowell in a buggy, accompanied by his lady-love, and on their return they happened near the haunted residence at near the midnight hour. The horse was trotting along at a comfortable gait when a sight was encountered that almost froze the marrow in their bones. 

The horse no doubt observed the wraith about the same time the occupants of the buggy did, for he immediately stopped stock still with a loud snort of alarm. Not 20 paces distant, walking with long and swinging strides in the middle of the highway, was the headless trunk of a man, a wierd phosphorous light playing around his headless form.  For a moment the young couple were almost paralyzed with fright, then turning the horse hastily they drove back to the farmhouse on the road and aroused the inmates. 

The old farmer who came to the door was implored to robe himself and accompany the frightened couple beyond the confines of the haunted premises. This accomplished, the old farmer returned along the road alone but no more was seen of the ghost. The young man has been careful since that time when out driving with his lady-love to seek some other road and he declares he never wants to pass through a similar experience. 

The oldest inhabitant can remember of no tragedy or accident happening in the neighborhood of the haunted residence, and they are at a loss to account for the strange apparition. Several times a crowd have talked of going to the place at night to make an investigation, but so far it has only resulted in talk. The mystery still remains unsolved.