Stead, the English editor and psychical researcher, relates the following case, which he accepts as truthful and correct, after careful investigation of the circumstances and of the character and reputation of the person relating it.  The story proceeds as follows: 

“St. Eglos is situated about ten miles from the Atlantic, and not quite so far from the old market town of Trebodwina.  Hart and George Northey were brothers, and from childhood their lives had been marked by the strongest brotherly affection.  Hart and George Northey had never been separated from their birth until George became a sailor, Hart meantime joining his father in business.  On the 8th of February, 1840, while George Northey’s ship was lying in port at St. Helena, he had the following strange dream: 

“Last night I dreamt that my brother 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.”

The story then proceeds to relate how Hart collected considerable money at Trebodwina Market, and then started to ride homeward.  George tells what happened to his brother on the way, as follows: 

“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.  I felt that my brother’s hour had come, and I was powerless to aid him!  Two men appeared, whom I instantly recognized as notorious poachers who lived in a lonely wood near St. Eglos.  They wished him ‘Good night, mister!’ 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.”