The Strange Case of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas B Cumpston

In early December of 1873, a couple Mrs. Martha Ann and Thomas B. Cumpston experienced a strange occurrence at the Victoria Hotel in Bristol, England. They were staying at Clifton but wanted to proceed to Weston-super-mare in the morning.

They never expected to experience something terrifying that night.

When they settled down around midnight they began hearing strange noises. They let the landlady know and reassured them that it was nothing and not to worry about it.

About 4 in the morning they heard noises again. When they spoke the words they said echoed back to them.  Thomas seemed to more affected by the noises than Martha. The floor felt like it was giving away and then bed opened up beneath them and they fell in a pit. They believed that they were in a den of rogues and thieves and were in fear of their lives.

Thomas fired his revolver at the ceiling when Martha asked him to. To scare off whoever was there.  They were so terrified for their lives they jumped from the window that was twelve feet from the ground. Martha had stated she didn't even remember how they were able to out the window. The two rushed to the railway station finding somewhere away from the room.

The couple was charged with disorderly conduct and firing a firearm. When they spoke in front of the magistrate the charges were dropped. The way they spoke made it seem like they both believed what they were saying. The Magistrate believed that the young couple was suffering from a shared hallucination.

SOURCES:
Cool Interesting Stuff
Scary Carries
Phantoms and Monsters 
Strange Company
The Bradford  Observer 
The Morning Post
Birmingham Daily Post
The Times