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“My Diary in the House of the Talking Mongoose,” pg. 39

We were told by Mr. Irving that Jef can tell whether a penny is head or tail if it is placed in the porch window. I took a penny from my pocket, tossed it up and placed it on the window ledge. It was tail. As soon as I came into the room, Geff shouted: 'Tails'. I tossed again. He guessed correctly. The third time I did not toss. I left the penny as it was. Geff said: 'You did not turn the penny' (What was Geff's voice like?) Very high, screechy sort. I never heard a voice like that before. I don't know what animal could give it. Will took a penny next, went upstairs and put it on a chair. When he went up again the penny was gone. Later it was put back. This took place in Voirrey's bedroom. During the penny trick, Voirrey was in the kitchen near the window from where the porch window is not visible, Mr. Irving near the fire place and Mrs. Irving was sitting on the sofa. Mr. Irving took us up into Voirrey's bedroom and showed us the fasten saying that Geff sometimes shuts Voirrey into the room so that she cannot get out. Geff was asked to do it. Voirrey went into her room. Mr. Irving motioned to Will to step to the kitchen door and look up the staircase. Geff heard him moving and shouted: 'You are sneaking'. When he came back we heard a screechy sound. We went up and found the door shut on Voirrey. Mr. Irving once winked at me from the fire place. Instantly, Geff shouted: 'You are winking' Will Cubbon: I did the penny trick in the kitchen at the far end window. It made no difference. Geff guessed right. I threw a rubber ball into the loft through the hole in the ceiling in Voirrey's room. As soon as I stepped out of the room the rubber ball was thrown back. When I went down the stairs, Geff spit upon my back. I don't know where he was when he spat. But I heard it. It was a tiny squirt. Harry Hall: My cousin, Edith Bateman from Toronto was staying with us with her baby. She sung the tune: Daisy, Butter cup. Geff said that he heard this song in our house. Geff swears awfully. He asked Will: 'Can you drive a steamroller'. Will said "Yes." Geff answered "You, young bug, you would put it over the hedge' Will Cubbon: He told us to clear to hell. Several times he said: I'll wet on your heads. He did this to make us laugh and he laughed with us.

See: Harry Hall and Will Cubbon

Nandor Fodor, “My Diary in the House of the Talking Mongoose,” pg. 39, February 1, 1937. Folder “Gef the Talking Mongoose,” Box A, Eileen J. Garrett Parapsychology Foundation Collection, Collection 331, Special Collections, University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, MD).

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