Gef The Talking Mongoose

In September 1931, the Irving family was having a pleasant evening meal at their home on the Isle of Man when they began to hear unusual scratching noises emanating from within their walls. Initially, they suspected that rats were the source of the sounds; however, as time passed, the scratching intensified and became more frequent. Eventually, the family began to hear a voice emerging from the walls, which identified itself as Gef, a talking mongoose purportedly born in 1852 in New Delhi, India. The family described Gef as being the size of a small rat, with yellowish fur and a large bushy tail. Gef claimed to be an earthbound spirit, a ghost in the guise of a mongoose, and he quickly formed a close bond with the family. According to the Irving family, Gef exhibited a whimsical and irritable demeanor, characterized by erratic mood fluctuations that ranged from contentious to affable. His introduction to the Irvings was notably unconventional, delivered with an unexpectedly lyrical flair: “I am an anomaly. I possess hands and feet, and should you lay eyes upon me, you would be overwhelmed, rendered immobile, transformed into stone, or become a pillar of salt!” Fortunately, the Irvings were not petrified, mummified, transformed into stone, or turned into pillars of salt, In contrast, Gef proved to be quite beneficial. He would alert them to approaching visitors and even extinguish the fire in the fireplace when they occasionally forgot. Over time, Gef became an integral part of the household, catching rabbits for the family and gathering gossip from the near residence. 

The story of "The Talking Mongoose" captured the attention of the media, leading to a frenzy of public interest, with many visitors flocking to the Irving residence in hopes of witnessing Gef. Despite extensive investigations over the years, no concrete evidence of Gef's existence was found and investigators did not dismiss the possibility that the Irving family was fabricating the tale. It was rumored that Laurie, the young daughter of the family, might have been making strange noises within the walls to deceive the investigators. The house's hollow walls facilitated such pranks. Some speculated that Laurie was, in fact, the true talking mongoose. Others suggested that James, the family patriarch who reportedly had a split personality, could have been the source of Gef. Even years later, journalists continued to publish stories about Gef, often labeling it as a hoax.

The narratives gradually diminished and were largely overlooked until the media revived interest following reports that local residents near the Irving residence had also perceived Gef's voice while observing the family. The Irvings vacated the property in 1945, and the subsequent owner asserted that he had captured and killed Gef; however, he informed the press that Gef was black and white, contrary to previous descriptions of yellow. Laurie maintained on her deathbed that Gef was indeed real.