With apologies, we are back. We apologize to the people who have provided us with information for our most recent posting, in case we don't seem sincere or get the facts wrong. But we are sincere.

Seems our senior editor was manning his post at the Museum yesterday (Tuesday, August 4, 2009) when he answered an incoming phone call. The call came from a lady in the next town over who was looking up information on an 'unwelcome visitor' who had taken up residence in her daughter's apartment in Canton. Not being the most gullible type, the editor at first that the unwelcome visitor was of the living type. That assumption was wrong.

Always charitable to patrons and passers-by, our editor took notes and information from the lady on the other end of the phone. The lady (who we shall identify as JB) went on to say that the visitor's name was Arthur or McAarthur or something like that. He was from Reading, PA.. He was possibly a magistrate or judge. He was also relating what happened to him as being around the Truman era. The man appeared to be very confused.

At first, our editor thought - a little slow on the uptake we might add - is this some man claiming to be some sort of long-lost relative taking up residence in her daughter's apartment (whom whe shall call TB)? Turns out he was wrong - dead wrong. The gentleman - errr, spirit - turns out to be a spirit... At this point he told the lady that this raised her case from the interesting to the singular (shades of Sherlock Holmes)...

Also, there was some sort of association with a woman named "Joan". Though Joan is a familiar name, we told JB that it really is an uncommon name around here. She remarked that yes it is. Regarding the demise of the 'visitor', all he would say to TB in response to questioning was the short phrase "Lights Out". (We did not discuss, nor were aware of any connection to the old radio program Lights Out - which show appears to be contiguous with the Truman era). Apparently, the gentleman had met with a sudden, violent end. Suicide? Murder? The place was in the Joy Road and Haggerty Road area.

As a result of the persistence of her visitor in seeking her attention, TB has been spending some nights on JB's couch. We must say that JB repeated these many elements to the story many times. Which gives us reason to believe in her version of this. Further, he (the editor) did not feel (using whatever empathic abilities he may have) any intent to deceive on the part of JB. We have not spoken to TB. Our editor remarked that he was not aware of any family by that name in the Canton area. But, checking the white pages, there may be.

JB also remarked about her brother, JS, who has psychic abilities - as apparently does TB. TB appears to be an 'empath'. Our editor remarked at one point that he has had at least one similar experience with his niece. See our previous postings.

Of further interest, JS (the brother) had been called upon to 'send over' the deceased spirit of one Jim Hunt. Apparently, Jim Hunt worked as an informant/mole inside the infamous Purple Gang and paid for it with his life. Seems that Mr. Hunt went to a meeting with the gang in a nearby town (with bad feelings) and against the warnings of his boss. That was the last of the mortal Jim Hunt. And, yes, JS had successfully found a way to 'send over' (to the other side) Mr. Hunt. Mr. Hunt's spirit no longer haunts these environs.

Apparently TB's visitor is remarkably attached to her. He has touched her garment (without permission). He has yelled at her when upset. Though we find these phenomena of great interest, there is a problem with all this. TB appears to be the only person that can see and hear 'Arthur'. Further, he appears to fear contact with the living and 'hides' (which reminds us of 'Tony' in Steven King's 'The Shining'...) This does appear to stretch credulity. Further there is more than one spirit haunting TB and her apartment. But, JB's sincerity tempers our incredulity - as well as our experience with the other world. We understand the very real fear and concerns the living have in dealing with the dead.

TB is 22 years of age at this writing. She had confessed to having this disturbing...ability...since she was 12 years of age. Which, curiously, may overlap with the release of M. Nignt Shyamalan's 'The Sixth Sense'. Do we have a case of life imitating art? (We know, some of you might disagree with calling this or other Shyamalan's films as art). Or is it something more?

Our senior editor, however, had decided to take a more scientific approach and offered to do some research for JB in the archives to see if he could find information on this poor spirit. He did this and spoke to one of the senior curators of the Museum - who is also a long-time resident of Canton. The curator knew of no such person nor violent incident when he recounted the tale of TB and 'Arthur'. The archivist suggested that such a thing may have been covered up. The editor (thinking of this previously) agreed and then recalled the infamous case of Leonard Tyburski and furthered his discussion with the curator and the archivist.

In 1989, Mr. Tyburski was arrested and convicted for the murder of his wife. Seems that (one of them) his daughter (or both) had been having nightmarish visions of their mother who had gone missing for some years. Seems that the (deceased) mother had been relaying information that she had been murdered by her/the husband. After which, he had deposited her remains in the basement freezer - and had sealed it with a padlock. Concerned by this disturbing vision and the disappearance of the mother, the girl(s ?) checked the freezer. And, yes, there she lay. It was quite a sensational story in the local news at the time. Our editor recounted this story to JB in a follow-up phone call to her.

JB seemed greatly appreciative of the return call and remarked on that several times. Her gratitude and interest and the almost-hour long conversation indicated the depth of her sincerity. He did get some more detail out of JB - which she remarked as having forgotten (apparently, 'Joan' has a last name and/or middle name). He reported that his research turned up nothing on 'Arthur', McArthur, McAarthur and Joan and all the variations on the names. There was no record, no notes, no death certificates, nothing that he could find in the archives. He did not mention that news articles from that period of time were rare. But, we expect he will check back on that... After all, Henry Ford passed away about that time, and there are newspapers still available on the topic. (Ford, too, passed away suddenly - and unexpectedly - due to an accident - though you won't find the details in the Wikipedia...).

He did report on similar local family names (particularly those that start with the letter 'A'), and some who had perished around the same time. One named 'Frank' who passed away on Oct. 24, 1952. Also, that Haggerty Road (mentioned above) had been renamed - it had been previously named for the same family name that 'Frank' belonged to. We gave JB a list of questions to ask this spirit:

1) When and where was he born? (JB suspects he will answer Reading, PA.).
2) That he has a friend here from Pennsylvania (the editor's mother was from Wilkes-Barre).
3) 'Joan''s last name?
4) Was he in love with/marrying Joan - was it a love triangle?
5) Where is his physical body (in case it had never been found)?
6) Was he visiting a particular farm/family/piece of property at the time?
And many other questions...

Eventually, (it took about an hour) the conversation ended and JB thanked our editor again.

And our editor returned to work he had planned to do for the remaining 2 hours of the day (the case had so far taken 4 hours...by the way it is Case # 01_111_2009...we'll correct that later if it is in error...)

That night, our editor, still intrigued, took it upon himself to search for more clues in his own historical resources on Canton. He may have found 'Arthur' and 'Joan', he thinks, but requires further investigation. He hopes to hear back from JB or to speak to her again. Also, he thinks he needs to talk to one of his other associates at the Museum...JT.

To be continued?...