What evidence is there that the "headless horseman" is a trick played on Ichabod to scare him from The Legend of Sleepy Hollow?The author gives...

In Washington Irving's delightful ghost story, "The Legend
of Sleepy Hollow," Ichabod Crane has designs upon the daughter of very wealthy Old
Baltus Van Tassel, Katrina.  When he receives an invitation to partake in the
"merrymaking" and "quilting frolic" at the Van Tassel castle, Ichabod is ecstatic. 
However, Brom Bones, a suitor of Katrina's also attends. Since he and Ichabod are rivals
for Katrina's affections, and he has already played practical jokes upon Crane. 
Therefore, he may well have tricked Crane after he left.  Here are
points consideration: 

1. When Ichabod departs from the
party it is the "witching time of night" in the legendary haunted region of Sleepy
Hollow.  As Ichabod rides along,

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All the stories of ghosts and goblins that he had
heard in the afternoon, now came crowding upon his
recollection

and, as he
approaches the stream that is believed haunted by the ghost of Major Andre, who had been
taken prisoner in this area, Ichabod becomes unnerved.  He kicks his old horse Gunpowder
so it will trot quickly across the dreaded bridge, but the horse runs broadside into a
fence, instead.  Then, Ichabod urges old Gunpowder forward, but the horse balks.  Crane
hears something and beholds a black, towering, misshapen form.   However, whether his
perceptions are accurate is not certain because Ichabod has been frightened by all the
ghosts stories that the old wives have shared throughout the evening, and he is at what
is considered a haunted bridge.

2. After Gunpowder is
found, calmly munching grass in the front yard of his owner, van Tipper, there is no
trace of Ichabod Crane.  After much searching,

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on the bank of a broad part of the brook, where
the water ran deep and blck, was found the hat of the unfortunate Ichabod, and close
beside it a shattered
pumpkin.

This pumpkin could
well be what Ichabod has believed to be the head of the headless
horseman.

3. After Ichabod Crane disappears from the area,
Brom Bones marries Katrina Van Tassel.  And, whenever the story of Ichabod is
told, 

he
always burst into a hearty laugh at the mention of the pumpkin; which led some to
suspect that he knew more about the matter than he chose to
tell. 

Of course, Brom Bones
is known for his horsemanship and he owns a black, spirited steed in Daredevil.  And, he
has already been known for his practical jokes played upon Ichabod
Crane.