THE PIONEER EXPRESS — JANUARY 10, 1902
Peculiar and Mysterious Things Happen in an Indiana Home.
Elkhart, Ind., Jan. 4.—According to Mr. and Mrs. James McCarthy of this city, several boarders and ten or twelve neighbors, some very peculiar and mysterious things happened at the McCarthy house, and for the want of a better explanation they ascribe the manifestations to some unnatural power possessed by thirteen-year-old Bessie Currier, the daughter of a woman who lives with a daughter-in-law, Mrs. William Currier, just south of this town.
The manifestations occurred only in the presence of the girl and ceased when, at 4 o’clock, the girl was sent away, going to her sister-in-law’s home.
CHAIRS TURNED OVER
Bessie Currier had been with the McCarthys about a week, and nothing unusual occurred until after Mrs. McCarthy by mildly reproving her for shirking her work. The girl denies responsibility for the unnatural antics and declares her ignorance of the possession of any supernatural or abnormal power, declaring that she was scared herself at the manifestations and glad to be sent away. The girl is large for her age and has a strong, rugged appearance, evidently possessed of unusual vitality. Her complexion is fair, clear, with blonde hair and dark eyebrows and calm blue eyes.
All the statements made above were vouched for by half a dozen witnesses to whom your correspondent has talked. All who saw the strange happenings declare that they could not be deceived as to what occurred.
From—The Pioneer Express. (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]), 10 Jan. 1902. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.