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Gef the Talking Mongoose
In 1931, a family on the Isle of Man claimed a talking mongoose named Gef lived in their farmhouse walls. He sang, swore, and spied on neighbors. Investigators heard a voice but never saw him clearly. The case was either an elaborate hoax or one of history's strangest hauntings.
1931
Isle of Man
20+ witnesses
The talking mongoose that baffled investigators.
The Family
Irving family:
- Doarlish Cashen farmhouse
- Isle of Man
- James, Margaret, Voirrey
- Isolated location
- 1931 onwards
The Creature
Gef’s description:
- Claimed to be mongoose
- Size of a rat
- Yellow fur
- Long tail
- Human-like intelligence
What He Did
Gef’s activities:
- Talked fluently
- Sang songs
- Threw things
- Killed rabbits
- Spied on neighbors
The Investigations
Who came:
- Harry Price (ghost hunter)
- R.S. Lambert (BBC)
- Local reporters
- Heard voice but…
- Never clearly saw Gef
The Voice
What visitors heard:
- High-pitched voice
- From walls
- Intelligent conversation
- Voirrey nearby always
- Suspicion of ventriloquism
The Legacy
Was it real:
- Hoax by daughter?
- Poltergeist phenomena?
- Mass delusion?
- Never proven either way
- Books written