|
mysteries |
The Murder of Hart Northey |
Other Information |
||
|
The following vision of a brother’s murder was recorded by the English journalist William T Stead, editor of the Pall Mall Gazette. Stead was a champion of social reform and in later life became interested in Psychical Research. He had been given the story by persons intimately acquainted with George Northey. The brother of Hart, the murdered man. From childhood their lives had been marked by the strongest brotherly affection. They had lived in St Eglos, Cornwall, England, which is situated about 10 miles from the Atlantic and not quite so far from the old market town of Trebodwina. George and Hart had never been separated since their birth until the former became a sailor. Hart at the same time joined their father in business. In February 1840 George Northey’s ship was lying in port at St. Helena. While there George had a strange dream, which he later related: ‘I dreamed that my brother Hart was at Trebodwina Market, and that I was with him, quite close by his side, during the whole of the market transactions. Although I could see and hear everything which passed around me, I felt sure that it was not my bodily presence which thus accompanied him, but my shadow. Or rather my spiritual self, for he seemed quite unconscious that I was near him. I felt that my being thus present in this strange way betokened some hidden danger which he was destined to meet, and which I knew my presence could not avert, for I could not speak to warn him of his peril... ‘[Brother having collected a considerable sum of money then started on his ride homeward.] My terror gradually increased as Hart approached the hamlet of Polkerrow, until I was in a perfect frenzy, frantically desirous, yet unable, to warn my brother in some way and prevent him from going further... ‘I suddenly became aware of two dark shadows thrown across the road... two men appeared whom I instantly recognized as notorious poachers, who lived in a lonely wood near St. Eglos... The men wished him ‘Good evening, maister,’ civilly enough... he replied and entered into a conversation with them about some work he had promised them. ‘After a few minutes they asked him for some money... the elder of the two brothers, who was standing near the horse’s head, said: ‘Mr. Northey, we know you have just come from Trebodwina Market with plenty of money in your pockets, we are desperate men, and you bean’t going to leave this place until we’ve got that money; so hand over.’ ‘My brother made no reply, except to slash at him with the whip and spur the horse at him. ‘The younger of the ruffians instantly drew a pistol and fired. Hart dropped lifeless from the saddle, and one of the ruffians held him by the throat with a grip of iron for some minutes, as though to make assurance doubly sure, and crush out any particle of life my poor brother might have left. ‘The murderers secured the horse to a tree in the orchard, and, having rifled the corpse, they dragged it up the stream, concealing it under the overhanging banks of the water-course. They then carefully covered over all marks of blood on the road, and hid the pistol in the thatch of a disused hut close to the roadside; then, setting the horse free to gallop home alone, they decamped across the country to their own cottage.’ George Northey’s vessel left St. Helena the next day and reached Plymouth in due course. During the entire voyage back home George Northey was constantly under the firm conviction that his brother. Hart, had been murdered and that the dream had shown him the details and the murderers. He eventually reached port and his family. His brother, Hart, had been murdered! The crime had aroused widespread horror and indignation, and every effort of the authorities had been bent upon finding the murderers and bringing them to justice. Two brothers named Hightwood were suspected. A search was made of their cottage, which revealed blood-stained garments, but no trace of the pistol was to be found, although the younger brother admitted to having one, but that he had lost it. The brothers were arrested and brought before the magistrates. The evidence against them was certainly not strong but their manner seemed that of guilty men. They were ordered to be tried at the forthcoming assizes at Trebodwina. Each confessed in the hope of saving his life, and both were sentenced to be hung. There was, however, some doubt about the pistol. Before the execution, George Northey arrived and told that the pistol was in the thatch of the cottage. ‘How did you know?’ he was asked after the weapon had been located, where he had said it was. ‘I saw the foul deed committed in a dream which i had the night of the murder,’ he declared.
|
Sources: Mysteries of The Unexplained |