Observations placeholder

Ernesto Bozzano - Psychic phenomena at the moment of death [110 cases suggesting survival after death]

Second category - Cases in which the appearances of deceased are still perceived only by the patient, but relate to persons whose death he did not know.

26-th case. - This fact was gathered by Rev. C.J. Taylor, Member of the "S.P.R."

November 2, 1885.

On the 2-nd and 3-rd of November, 1870, I had the misfortune to lose my first two sons, David Edwards and Harry. An epidemic of scarlet fever took them away. One of them was 3 years old, the other 4 years old.

Harry died at Abbot's Langley on November 2, 14 miles away from my Apsley Vicarage. David expired the following day, at the Vicarage itself. About an hour before death, he had sat down on his bed and, pointing to something invisible at the foot of the bed, had cried out: "Here is my little brother Harry calling me." Then I am told that the child had added: "He has a crown on his head," but I do not remember those words.

But I must add that my pain, my weariness were such that it is perfectly possible that they escaped me. But I am perfectly sure of the authenticity of the first sentence, which was also heard by the child's nanny.

(Signed: X. Z., vicar of H.)

In letters and a conversation with Mr. Podmore, Mr. Taylor added the following details:

The Rev. Z. assured me that measures had been taken to prevent David from knowing about the death of his brother Harry, and that he was sure that David did not know it. Mr. Z. himself was present and heard the words of the child. At that moment, these words were not delusional. - (Charles Taylor, in Proceedings of the S.P.R., vol.V, p.459)