The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-20
DISSERTATION OF THE DEAD.


Removed from the sullivan Street
Methodist Church-The Bones Smashed
Up and Huddled Together in Small
BOxes-Investtgation by the CITY In
spectOr-Interesting neutrality-suspicious.
Deiavan Reprimands the Accused and
Threatens to Revoke Their Permit, &c.
The City Inspectors Office the scene OF novel in
vestgaton yesterday, arising out OF singular charges
preferred against certain persons engaged in removing
dead bodies from the vaults of the Methodist Episcopal
church in Sullivan street, between Amty and Blocker
Tho substance Of the accusation is that the trustees OF
tho said church employed persons to perform the work
with a sole view TO economy, and without any
gard whatever to the manner in which the work
10 he executed permitting the most dsgrace!u acts
muaton upon the dead and allowing the aborers to
plnnder the collins OF their lids and Innings portion
their rerqusies These the principal allegations
the complaint against the trustees they quite
sufficient, matter Of course, high state Of
excitement and Indignation among the people living in
the vicinity. Some few persons having relatives buried
in the vaults Of the church visited the place ascertain
whether there any truth in the outrageous
and found to their disgust is alleged that the Of
affairs than they had been led to suppose
Among those who witnessed with their eyes the
proceedings complained of Lieutenant Demarest and
Robert A. Miller, residing in the Eighth avenue. The
latter, Immediately after viewing the conduct Of the
aporers repaired to the Office of the City Inspector aud
charges against the trustees and the aborers
employed by them. Colonel Delavan, therefore, with
commendabo 7promptness, sent suitable person to
make personal inspection Of the work and report
whether there any truth in the charges This
person reported that the charges in the main
rue and that the operations Of the laborers NEST
dis graceful. Colonel Deavan Immediately ordered
investigation. and summoned the trustees and several
witnesses to appear before him at noon yesterday.
The complaint Mr. Miller rather out OF the usual
style Of such Documents but nasmuch as was the only
document upon which the charges founded give
it, uer0atins ct iieratim, as follows
HoRRIBLR AND INHUMAN DESIGNATION THE DEAD
sp
The eongregson that formerly occupied the Sullivan
large and proud 70 worship heren they built large
wish 10 sell the old one to help to pay for the new the
coored people who will take it Il the dead are removed
Of the new Church appointed 70 attend to the
breaking mp ali the collins be they mahogany or white wood
Of former they mos, all sound They breaking
OIL and thrown aside. together with the Innings,
or
S ys ns s each and s work assp
under the direction the who employ fitted
' e % % Of wm e
ba n, w ed and SSa h too ong %
box and I the body TOO high his foot breaks the ribs
Inc aborers together with Week. on TOP Il the
has been soing on weeks slight notice only being
given in one OF the morning papers. as not to let tho
by persons who give this the
benefit Of the friends and the P KosE gsPs,a MILLER
266 Eighth avenue, Twenty fourth st. eet York
city
The investigation was commenced by City Inspector
Deavan about half past twelve O'Clock yesterday after
rotary of the City inspector, read the above complaint
which Mr. eavan called the attention Of the trus
the fact that when he granted them the permit TO
the remains the following provisions werc insert
ell theren:--
Thc removal Of the OF deceased PERSONS inter
red above, shall be made in all respects with Just
regard to legal rights and interests OF the friends and
relatives OF the deceased and Of all persons interested
therein and such removal shall be elected in proper
and respectful manner having consideration for the feel
pgs and wishes Of all persons interested therein, either
Is relatives or friends and With due regard to the
public. -. sasSF<zdAunscs - -.
sTbe person persons 10 whom this permit granted
TO report the completion Of the the number OF
probable number Of persons whose remains have been
dsnierrcd under the provisions OF this permit and TO
the to the City Inspector The permit snii
any be revocabe at the pleasure OF the Mayer or
City Inspector, either Of them, deemed advisable az
pubic consideration preserve the public health"
AIR Deavan further remarked that he granted the
permit to Mr. Geduey Of the trustees, he gave him
advertised n the HERALD and other morning papers so
that the friends OF the dead might have due notice the
proceedings. He had idea tnat when lac granted the
permit any such dsgracefn proceedings would be allowed
occur nasmpch he knew the applicant 70 be man
of the highest respectabity II was tue first time since
his accession TO Office that such complaint had been
made, and he hoped 1t would be the last.
Eighth avenue who testified foltows;-Am on special
recruiting duty the city for Spinola Empire brigade
Mr. Miller, friend, asked me 70 step 10 WIN
him to see what was going on IN the vaults OF
the Methodist church In Sullivan street, we went
together, and men engaged In breaking the bones
the dead aud packing them up IN tall Collins heard
done under tho direction Of the trustees saw Ger.
aborers Jump on the bones TO get the lid on, and
also tearing the lids and Innings OF the collins.
examined BY Of the accused pafties-Dd Mr.
Haeck, the undertaken, ask you 70 call 10 ,heref
Question by the City Inspcc,orDd you have relatives
incrrcsi theTeY
wi,ness-No, sir; went there TO see what was going
Robert Miller was the next witness. He testified that
he had beeu uauctor; lived in Mr. Hailecks house IN
Eighth avenue had heard about the manner IN which TIC
being removed from the sullivan street church,
there and found engaged IN smashing up the
collins the plates on the lids torn OIL aud thrown
into box OF the collins in good condition;
using and splitting open the collins and re-
moving the dead bodies breaking their bones; while
there observed man who got on the centre ' the
backs OF the bodies and rampled them as TO break
bones OF the skeletons Ia order 70 Of into the box
could distinguish IN the dark whether Mr. Weeks or
one of the Germans employed engaged In that
work. man get upon the lid OF the box when was
too full and trampe II down in that manner.
A person here understood remark that the wit
not an interested party In the removal OF Tue
bodies
terested IN the work
wilness-Heard Mr.. Halocs talkngabout the matter,
there through curiosity 70 ascertaio the Facts
were true thsnen instance. take the skull
OF one of the bodies, wrench II OIL and break the rios o.
body with MS root
Mr.. Weeks the trustee who was charged as being
the super inondent Of the work, was next examined
lie said that tho removal Of the bodies commented
weeks ago, under his personal supernendence
In the vaults for the first Eve days and once or
twice every day since denied that the ourage charged
by Mr. Miller had been porpetrated; employed careful
men TO do re work boxes In which bodies
put 10 eight fee, long instructed the men no TO
pat more than two three bodies 10 each boz.
City lnspecor-l thought expressly agreed tnat
you would empty decent and prudent sexton TO remove
the remains, SO that no conflict With those interested
should occur
wtness-A sexton had been employed TO perform the
work; did not know that anything improper had &C.
CURED 10 the removing Of the bodies.
City lnspcctor told you that before the bodies should
be removed you must give public notice in the paiers
aud specified the HERALD and other papers Of large CIR
| culaton
Mr. Geduey stated that the removal Of the bodies was
publicly advertised some times he the notices
himself.
The City Inspector was sorry at such an occurrence es
pecaly Us II called forth toe nrst complaint ever made
/ IN that department.
Mt Gedueyl ba,e several relatives inferred In those
vaults.