Frightened to Death

The Camden Post – March 19, 1883

The Gloucester Ghost Folly Causes a Tragedy

How a Boy Sustained a Nervous Shock Through a Practical Joke

Since the burial of little Charley Thomas, on Sunday afternoon, the 11th inst., from the residence of his brother, on Broadway, in Gloucester City, there have been all kinds of rumors in circulation, as to the cause of his death.

Yesterday afternoon a reporter of The Post visited the boy’s late residence and learned the following facts: Little Charley was about fourteen years of age, and had been employed in the Gloucester Manufacturing Company, until that institution ceased operations, a few weeks ago. He was generally healthy, and was a bright, active, and intelligent lad. A few days previous to his death, he was out playing with several companions, on Broadway, adjoining the old Union Cemetery, and remained out, until after dark, when, his sister states, he came running into a house in a terribly excited and nervous state of mind and exclaimed, “Oh! I am so frightened; I have just seen a ghost!” After some time had elapsed he was calmed down, and then related what he had seen. As he was passing almost directly in front of the cemetery gates, on the opposite side of the road, where there are no houses, a white object approached him and frightened him so badly that he was fastened to the spot, and for a time lost all command of his faculties. It was afterwards ascertained that the white object was a young man named William Howarth, who, in a spirit of fun, had got a sheet from Nathan Cheeseman’s house, and, putting it around him, walked out with it on, which, with its white folds and its approach from the vicinity of a grave-yard, struck terror to the boy. This happened on Saturday night, and from that time until the Wednesday following he was noticed to cling to the house at nights, and was in a very nervous state.

On Wednesday morning a member of the family going into the store which is in the front portion of the house discovered him on the floor writhing in a terrible fit. From that time until the next afternoon he continued having fits until he had between sixty and seventy, when at about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, death came to his relief. Dr. Dubois, a homeopathic physician of Gloucester City, was called in attendance, but could not save his life.

When the reporter asked the family whether they contemplated taking any action in the matter he was answered the nothing had been decided upon as the physician did not say his death resulted from the fright.

Among the families in the near vicinity considerable indignation exists and loud threats are made should any one else attempt such diabolical work in that neighborhood again.