The ghost was known as the Pontefract Poltergeist, but was also nicknamed the Black Monk of Pontefract due to a belief that it was the spirit of a monk killed during the 16th century. Coventry resident Lisa Manning claimed that the phenomena was genuine, and that the poltergeist killed the family’s otherwise healthy dog by pushing it down the stairs. The poltergeist followed, and Esther was seriously injured when a pocket knife flew from the hand of the innkeeper’s son straight into Esther’s back.