Tales of Terror
The Horror of the Heights
TheideathattheextraordinarynarrativewhichhasbeencalledtheJoyce-ArmstrongFragmentisanelaboratepracticaljokeevolvedbysomeunknownperson,cursedbyapervertedandsinistersenseofhumour,hasnowbeenabandonedbyallwhohaveexaminedthematter.Themostmacabreandimaginativeofplotterswouldhesitatebeforelinkinghismorbidfancieswiththeunquestionedandtragicfactswhichreinforcethestatement.Thoughtheassertionscontainedinitareamazingandevenmonstrous,itisnonethelessforcingitselfuponthegeneralintelligencethattheyaretrue,andthatwemustreadjustourideastothenewsituation.Thisworldofoursappearstobeseparatedbyaslightandprecariousmarginofsafetyfromamostsingularandunexpecteddanger.Iwillendeavourinthisnarrative,whichreproducestheoriginaldocumentinitsnecessarilysomewhatfragmentaryform,tolaybeforethereaderthewholeofthefactsuptodate,prefacingmystatementbysayingthat,iftherebeanywhodoubtthenarrativeofJoyce-Armstrong,therecanbenoquestionatallastothefactsconcerningLieutenantMyrtle,R.N.,andMr.HayConnor,whoundoubtedlymettheirendinthemannerdescribed.
TheJoyce-ArmstrongFragmentwasfoundinthefieldwhichiscalledLowerHaycock,lyingonemiletothewestwardofthevillageofWithyham,upontheKentandSussexborder.Itwasonthe15thSeptemberlastthatanagriculturallabourer,JamesFlynn,intheemploymentofMathewDodd,farmer,oftheChauntryFarm,Withyham,perceivedabriarpipelyingnearthefootpathwhichskirtsthehedgeinLowerHaycock.
