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THE MYSTERY THAT WAS "JEFF" There are some rthings so strange they dom't fit linto any kDown category-neither fish, fowl, human nor unhuman. One such thing was "Jeff'. The story of [this creature is so Ibizarre that many people will fmd it impossible to credit. Nevertheless, it is abundantly docu mented. It was investigated by numerous reporters and psychical researchers, includ ing Dr Nandor Fodor, a noted psychoana lyst, R. S. Lambert of the British '-<0 ~/]~~('0 _ ------~~/ Broadcasting Corporation, and famed ghost-hunter Harry Price. The story began in the fall of 193 ~ on the Isle of Man. James T. Irving and his fami ly caught glimpses of a strange animal skulking around their yard. It was described as about the size of a full-grown rat with a flat snout and a small yellow face. Soon the Irvings became aware that the creature had moved into the house with them. They heard its furtive, rustling move ments and found traces of half-eaten food the intruder had pil fered. Then-and this was a very queer developmen t=the famHy heard Ithe creature apparently mimicking them in a peculiar imitation of human speech. Over a period of months it acquired the ability to talk in an odd, high-pitched voice. Before long, swore the family, the thing was carrying on con versations with s ~ -L.l- them. Yes, Ithe story Itakes some ibelieving thus far. But it gets worse. The animal, or whatever it was-it never showed itself but lurked in hiding places in the walls from which it conversed with the family---called itself"Jeff'. It addressed each member of the Irving family by his or her flfSt name. Irving was· "Jim", his wife "Maggie", and their teenage daughter "Voirrey". Jeff, according to the Irvings, did extra ordinary things besides talking. They began fmding freshly-killed rabbits on their kitchen floor, gifts from their mysterious guest. But the rabbits had been strangled, not killed by teeth as a mongoose or weasel (as some thought Jeff to be) wouFd have done. More than 50 tabbits were left in this way. If the Irvings alone had vouched for Jeffs existence" one might say that it was all a practical joke, or that th~ whole family was mad. But others encountered Jeff, too. Jeff hated strangers and when they came to the house to try to make his acquain tance, as many did, he often threw things at them-crockery, or on one occasion a large iron bolt. As time passed, Jeff branched out lin guistically and was heard uttering phrases in what appeared to be German and Russian. 5S·NEXUS DECEMBER m993 -JANUARY 1994 )