Ghostly evidence

I was reminded of this story by an item in Sharon Howard’s blog Early Modern Notes about ghostly evidence in seventeenth-century murder cases:

The appearing of the Ghost of one Mr. Bower of Guilford, to an Highway-man in Prison, as it is set down in a Letter of Dr. Ezekias Burton to Dr. H. More.

About Ten years ago one Mr. Bower an antient Man living at Guilford in Surrey, was upon the Highway, not far from that place, found newly Murdered, very barbarously, having one great cut cross his Throat, and another down his Breast. Two Men were seized upon suspicion, and put into Gaol at Guilford, to another, who had before been committed for Robbing, as I suppose. That Night this third Man was awakened about one of the Clock, and greatly terrified with an Old Man, who had a great gash cross his Throat, almost from Ear to Ear, and a wound down his Breast. He also came in stooping and holding his hand on his back. Thus he appeared, but said nothing. The Thief calls to his two new Companions, they grumbled at him but made no answer.

In the Morning he had retained so lively an impression of what he had seen, that he spoke to them to the same purpose again, and they told him it was nothing but his Phantasie. But he was so fully perswaded of the reality of the Apparition, that he told others of it, and it came to the Ears of my Friend Mr. Reading, Justice of Peace in Surrey, and Cousin to the Gentleman that was Murdered.

He immediately sent for the Prisoner, and asked him in the first place, whether he was born, or had lived about Guilford? To which he answered, No. Secondly, He enquired if he knew any of the Inhabitants of that Town, or of the Neighbourhood? He replied that he was a stranger to all thereabout. Then he enquired, if he had ever heard of one Mr. Bower? He said No. After this he examined him for what cause those other two Men were imprisoned? To which he answered, he knew not, but supposed for some Robbery.

After these preliminary Interrogatories he desired him to tell him what he had seen in the Night? Which he immediately did, exactly according to the Relation he had heard, and I gave before. And withal deseribed the Old Gentleman so by his picked beard, and that he was, as he called it, rough on his Cheeks, and that the Hairs of his Face were Black and White, that Mr. Reading saith, he himself could not have given a more exact description of Mr. Bower than this was. He told the Highway-man that he must give him his Oath (though that would signifie little from such a Rogue) to which the Man readily consented, and took Oath before the Justice of all this.

Mr. Reading being a very discreet Man, concealed this story from the Jury at the Assizes, as knowing that this would be no evidence according to our Law. However the Friends of the Murdered Gentleman had been very inquisitive, and discovered several suspicious circumstances. One of which was, that those two Men had washed their Cloths, and that some stains of blood remained. Another, that one of them had denied he ever heard that Mr. Bower was dead, when as he had in another place confest it two hours before. Upon these and such like Evidences, those two were Condemned and Executed, but denied it to the last. But one of them said, the other could clear him if he would, which the By-standers understood not.

After some time a Tinker was hanged (where, the Gentleman has forgot) who at his death said, that the Murder of Mr. Bower of Guilford was his greatest trouble. For he had a hand in it; he confesseth he struck him a blow on the back which fetcht him from his Horse, and when he was down, those other Men that were Arraigned and Executed for it, cut his Throat and rifled him. This is the first story which I had from Mr. Reading himself, who is a very honest prudent person and not credulous.

I know you desire to have the Names of all the persons referred to in this Relation, and the exact time and place, but Mr. Reading cannot recollect them now, though he tells me he sent an exact and full Narrative of all to one Mr. Onslow a Justice of Peace in that Neighbourhood, with whom I have some acquaintance, and I will endeavour to retrieve it.

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The Names of all the Persons and exact time and place of all the actions, I find not amongst Mr. Glanvil’s Papers, but the story is so perfect as it is, and so credible, that I thought it worthy of a place amongst the rest.

Joseph Glanvill (1636–1680)

from Sadducismus Triumphatus (1681; text follows 1689 edition)


tags: ghost | apparition | crime | 17th century

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