Northey Brothers

George and Hart Northey were two brothers who lived in St. Eglos, Cornwall during the early 19th Century. It was purported that the former experienced a clairvoyant vision of the latter's murder. Their case was recorded by the English journalist William T. Stead who had an interest in psychical phenomena.

From childhood the Northey brothers had been exceptionally close and had never been separated until George became a sailor. Hart at the same time joined his father's business. In February 1840 George Northey's ship was lying in port at St. Helena. It was during this time that George had a strange dream which he himself related:

"I dreamt 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 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 presence, 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 know 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 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 villains held him by the throat with a grip of iron for some minutes, as thought 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. Then they 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 proceeded to Plymouth. During the entire voyage back home George Northey was utterly convinced that his brother was dead . He eventually reached port and his family. Hart had indeed been murdered, precisely as he had envisaged. He was told that two brothers named Highwood had been arrested and brought before the magistrates after a search of their cottage revealed blood-stained garments. They each confessed hoping that they would be spared the gallows. Although no pistol had been found, they were clearly guilty and both had been sentenced to hang.

George Northey at once informed the authorities that the pistol was hidden in the thatch of the old cottage close to where his brother had been murdered.

"How did you know?" he was asked after the weapon had been found at the place he stated

"I saw the foul deed committed in a dream which I had the night of the murder," he declared.^[1]

References

1. ^ William T. Stead, More Ghost Stories, pp.35-36