Slawensik Poltergeist

A curious poltergeist case in 1806 in the Castle of Slawensik, Upper Silesia. Councillor Hahn, in the service of the Prince of Hohenlohe, was directed to proceed to Slawensik, where he stayed in the castle with his old friend Charles Kern, attended by John, Hahn's servant.

On the third day of their residence, the disturbances commenced with a shower of lime, apparently from the ceiling. This was repeated the next day, accompanied by the sound of heavy blows. Soon afterward, noises like a beating drum and a sound as if someone was walking around the room with slippers on and striking a stick on the door were heard. Soon various small articles in the room were thrown around, including knives, forks, brushes, caps, slippers, padlocks, funnels, snuffers, and soap, while lights darted from corner to corner. The showers of lime and heavy noises continued. Various witnesses were called and confirmed the phenomena.

One day, Kern saw a figure in the mirror staring at him, apparently interposed between himself and the glass. Another evening, Hahn was about to shave when the soapbox, razor, brush, and soap flew at him and fell at his feet. When he tried to sleep he was awakened by the heavy noises, and once it seemed as if someone had sprinkled water on him while he lay in bed, although he could find no water.

Hahn then made a journey to Breslau, but when he returned he was told that rather than be alone, Kern had asked Hahn's servant John to stay in the room with him.

As Kern lay in his bed, John was talking to him when he saw a jug of beer slowly lift to a height of about three feet and pour into a glass until it was half full. The jug was then gently replaced and the glass lifted and emptied as if by some invisible specter. John exclaimed in terrified surprise, "Lord Jesus! It swallows!" The glass was quietly replaced.

After some time, the disturbances ceased as suddenly as they had begun. Hahn wrote a detailed narrative of the events and signed it November 19, 1808. Many years later the castle was destroyed by lightning, and among the ruins was found the coffinless skeleton of a man, his skull split open and a sword by his side. It was believed by some that Kern may have been a powerful sensitive.

Sources:

Crowe, Catherine. The Night Side of Nature; or, Ghosts and Ghost Seers. N.p., 1848. Reprint, Philadelphia: R. West, 1978.