Saturday 05 Jul 1845 (p. 2, col. 4-5) SUPERSTITION IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY. ----- "By my faith a marvellous story."—OLD PLAY. [continued] But Isaac had lost the power of utterance, and could only think, without saying this. The ghost was equally dumb, and, without breaking silence, "faded with the crowing of the cock." Next morning Isaac felt queer about his head—which he cured with a dram—and thought, as for the ghost, he must have been dreaming. He went to bed on the following night, and what happened we give in his own words, and from his own manuscript:— "STATEMENT OF ISAAC MILBURN. "The apparition of John JOHNSTON, late of Baxton Gill, in this township, did appear to me on the nights of the 6th and 7th of June, 1845, and I spoke to it on the morning of the 8th of June, about 6 o'clock, and the following conversation ensued between us:— "ISAAC MILBURN—What do you want with me? "GHOST—I came to acquaint you with the manner of my death, and what my effects were left, and I cannot get rest in consequence of both. "ISAAC MILBURN—What do you want me to do, or what can I do in the concern? "GHOST—My death was occasioned by blows, which I received from my nephew. First blow was struck on the back of my head, and when I was down I was kicked on the left side by the foot. From that blow I came by my death. This was all he said respecting his death. "ISAAC MILBURN—I inquired what was to be done with his effects. "GHOST—He answered, that if he had lived a few days longer he would have altered his will; but he wished that Jane FORSTER should get £20, Peggy JOHNSTON £12, and Wm. JOHNSTON and his wife should have £16 between them. "ISAAC MILBURN—When is the money to be paid? "GHOST—He was answered, immediately. "ISAAC MILBURN—I said that I thought the whole, or the most part, of Jemmy's money, was invested in the Thorny Knowe, and that with regard to him, I thought it was not a proper time for him to pay his share of the money. "GHOST—He replied, that what I said might be true, and that he would give until Christmas, and if it is not paid, then I will come back to them (James and Betty), and if possible I will tear them in pieces; but I will first come to you before I appear to them, and I will get rest now till that time (Christmas.) "But I forgot to mention, that he requested me to seek the Coroner, and get a jury, and hold an inquest over his body, and it will be seen the blows which occasioned his death." There is another thing that Isaac forgot; and it is, that on the re-appearance of the ghost, having now got on familiar terms with it, he jumped up and, seizing what he supposed was a bible, edified Jock's wraith with a short extempore prayer, grasping the bible with fervour the while. He left it open at the page from which he had taken the text, and laid it aside. On looking at it next morning he found the book was an old treatise on Horse and Cattle Medicine and Farriery. To proceed with our story, Isaac told his neighbours about the apparition—what he had said and what the ghost had said—and told Jemmy on his return from Hawick races. Jemmy was annoyed at it, exceedingly. He went to his father to ask his advice, for he could not endure to be thought a murderer, and he began to fear for next Christmas, when, for anything he knew, the ghost might again take a fit of walking. Jem o' the Scug, an intelligent yeoman who, by his industry, has become well to do in the world, has, it would appear, no faith in spirits, for, when consulted, his reply was, "hoot, hoot, lad, let him walk on—he'll sune tire o' that—keep the siller, and keep quiet, gin ye be wise." But Jemmy was not satisfied. He had heard that if a guilty man suspected of murder touched the bones or body of the corpse blood would flow—if it did not it was proof of innocence; and he determined on having Jock o' the Gill raised from the dead. The parties to whom the ghost had referred as defrauded, by Jemmy's alleged crime, of what he intended to give them, were equally anxious for the disinterment, and it was set about without delay. On Thursday week Jemmy and his friends went to the church-yard, at Kirkandrews-upon-Esk to open the grave. Some one suggested that, before the ground could be legally broken, the clergyman's leave must be obtained, and as that was wanting they desisted. But on Friday they returned at day-break. Whether the clergyman had or had not been consulted, we do not know; but there were Jimmy and his friends, the expectant legatees, two respectable surgeons from Longtown, and many other spectators who went out of idle curiosity; the active resurrectionists being duly supplied with pickaxes and shovels. The ground was opened, and the coffin raised. Jemmy was in agony of suspense until the lid was removed; but when the remains of Jock o' the Gill were exposed, lo! instead of the "perfect corpse" which Isaac MILBURN had led them to expect, there was literally a bag of bones! "Stand back," said a spectator, "we'll sune ken whether he's a murderer or no'." Jemmy tremblingly advanced to the coffin and touched the skull rather gingerly. No blood flowed. "Haud your finger down harder," cried one of the crowd, "we maun do a' things fairly." Jemmy did as he was bidden; still no blood flowed. "I'm an innocent man," he cried. "Hurrah!" shouted the crowd. "But we must look for the bruises," suggested one. "Let us wash the skull and the ribs, and then we shall see," cried another. And the skull and ribs were taken to the river and washed. They were examined by the surgeons, who said there were no marks of violence on any of them. The remains of poor Jock o' Gill were then put back into the grave, and Jemmy and his friends are enjoying the most perfect satisfaction at the result. The legatees expectant are disappointed in a corresponding degree. What we have related above is no fictitious tale. The statement is substantially, nay, almost literally true. Our Printer's Devil, who is a shrewd young rogue, suggests that the "methody parson" must have lost count of his tumblers when left in charge of Jemmy's farm, and dreamed he saw Jock o' the Gill's wraith; and that may be Jemmy played two midnight freaks in his uncle's clothes, with the view to give Isaac a "flay." The report in Nichol Forest is that the wrong grave has been opened!