“Again—our attention was directed at different times during the night to certain sounds on the bed’s-head and walls, resembling the scratchings of two or three fingers; but in no instance were they ‘the clawing of a voracious animal after its prey.’ During the night I happened to leave the spot in which the party were assembled, and to wander in the dark to some more distant rooms in the house, occupied by no one member of the family (but where the disturbances originally arose), and there, to my astonishment, the same scratchings were to be heard.
“At another time, also, when one of Mr. Stewart’s children was requested to hum a lively air, ‘most scientific beatings’ to every note was distinctly heard from the bed-head; and at its close, ‘four blows’ were given, louder (I think) and more rapid than any which had before occurred.
“Neither ought I to omit that, at the commencement of the noises, several feeble ‘moans’ were heard. This happened more than once; after a time they increased to a series of ‘groanings’ of a peculiarly distressing character, and proceeding (as it seemed) from the bed of one of Mr. Stewart’s children, about ten years of age. From the tone of voice, as well as other circumstances, my own conviction is, that these ‘moans’ could not arise from any effort on the part of the child. Perhaps there were others present who might have had different impressions; but be this as it may, towards daybreak four or six shrieks were heard—not from any bed or wall, but as hovering in the atmosphere in the room, where the other noises had been principally heard. These screams were distinctly heard by all, but their cause was discoverable by none.
“These, Sir, are the chief events which occurred at Syderstone Parsonage on the night alluded to in your paragraph. I understand the ‘knockings’ and ‘sounds’ have varied considerably in their character on different nights, and that there have been several nights occurring (at four distinct periods) in which no noises have been heard.
“I have simply related what took place under my own observation. You will perceive that the noises heard by us were by no means so loud and violent as would be gathered from the representations which have been made. Still, as you are aware, they are not on that account the less real; nor do they, on that account, require the less rational explanation. I trust, however, Mr. Editor, your readers will fully understand me. I have not related the occurrences of the night for the purpose of leading them to any particular views, or conclusions upon a subject which, for the present at least, is wrapt in obscurity: such is very remote from my object. But Mr. Stewart having requested me, as a neighbouring clergyman, to witness the inconveniences and interruptions to which the different members of his family have been subject for the last sixteen weeks, I have felt it my duty, as an honest man (particularly among the false statements now abroad) to bear my feeble testimony, however inconsiderable it may be, to their actual existence in his house; and also since, from the very nature of the case, it is not possible Mr. Stewart can admit the repeated introduction of strangers to his family, I have thought it likewise a duty I owed to the public to place before them the circumstances which really did take place on that occasion. In the words of your paragraph, I can truly say: ‘I had a variety of thoughts and explanations passing in my mind before I was on the spot, but I left it perfectly bewildered,’ and I must confess the perplexity has not been diminished by the result of an investigation, which was most carefully pursued for five days, during the past week, under the immediate direction of Mr. Reeve, of Houghton, agent to the Marquis of Cholmondeley, the proprietor of Syderstone and patron of the Rectory, and who, on learning the annoyances to which Mr. Stewart was subject, directed every practicable aid to be afforded for the purpose of discovery. Mr. Seppings and Mr. Savory, the two chief inhabitants of the parish, assisted also in the investigation. A ‘trench’ was dug round the back part of the house, and ‘borings’ were resorted to in all other parts of it to the depth of six or seven feet, completing a chain round the entire buildings, for the purpose of discovering any subterranean communication with the walls, which might possibly explain the noises in question. Many parts of the interior of the house, also, such as ‘the walls,’ ‘floors,’ ‘false roofs,’ etc., have been minutely examined, but nothing has been found to throw any light upon the source of the disturbances. Indeed, I understand the ‘knockings’ within the last four days, so far from having subsided, are become increasingly distressing to Mr. Stewart and his family—and so remain!—I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
“John Spurgin.
“Docking, June 5, 1833.”
“To the Editor of the Norfolk Chronicle.
“Norwich, June 5, 1833.