Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-08-26
THE Observation-Disclosures.


THE RESuRRECTIOSISTS. g...z
% A Husband Finds His wife ON the Dis
q 1tt -frf > seeting Table. -
.aFrom tho cleveland Paindlealer.
Several years ago n regular organization
= of 'resurrectionists" existed in the States
of Wisconsin and Illinois. with headquarr
ters at Chicago. They carried on thriv-
ing trade with the colleges and the medical
men of that region, and We're ready ut all
times to furnish one to half dozen bodies,
i u old or young, male or female. They
managed their affhifs SO cihietlysna care
fully that the public knew nothing ofthe
textensive robbery ef'grsves going-ou until
j the disclosure of an aggravated instance OF
\ body y-srA te.sings led 81 a. examination OF
different burial grounds, when the astoun-
ding discovery was. made that large pro-
portion of neX-made graves had be
opened and the bodies renewed
The case referred to was carefully sup
I pressed at the time; but years have passed
Since then, and the facts cafi now Be made
\ public without viclatihg any confidence or
twoundfrIg the sensibilitics of fficnds
In the little village Of II ~ in the
Estate Of Wisconsin, young and beautiful
4 married lady died suddenly, and was buried
i'm accordance with prevailing custom. A
day or two after the funeral the bereaved
husband repaired to the cemetery TO make
engagements for suitably inclosing and
adjoining thesfainily burial lot, when be dis
covered certnin nIi>talSable evidences
thatthe grave had been disturbed vag
aCGlling in the aid Of the sexton, the new
MAIDS grave was soan opened and the worst
fears OF the poor widower were confirmed
!. The coffin and casing were still in the
grave, but the corpse had been removed
No words can describe the horror and an,
guish produced in the mourning husband
! BY this terrible discovery. He had read of
similar instances Of body7snatcbing. at dis
tant points. but never realized how much
of snffaring apd suspense. these robberies
entailed upon. the surviving relatives and
/ friends. The griei over q loved and loving
I wife had almost crushed him, bnt the ad-
ditionaf blow drove him TO frenzy. He re-
solved that neither effort non money to re-
cover his wifes remains, and punish tie
ghculs who had tiespoiled hergrave, should
be spared. 'si. 7'd' f'l n 9-vl -y9
Officers and detectives were sent ont inn !
mediately in all directions. and a tempting
reward made the search thorough and
energetic one. But two days elapsed, and
no clue TO the perpetrators of the outrage
had been discovered. The husband him. |
self repaired TO Chicago, and at once Sc /
cured the services of q famous detective to
work up the case. In less than twenty
four hours a '.point" was obtained. The |
night previous two or three mysterious I
''paclSages" had been left with the janitdr 7
of ,the Medical College; and, armed with
the necessary official authority, the detec- |
tive and his employer visited the institu- |
ton that afternoon. ~. ?, ,..-- 8"
The business had been managed so |
ix- hat
aroused in. the college, and the visitors
were allowed TO stroll through the library.
the museum, and other interesting depart {
ments of the institution. As they ap-
preached the ante-room leading TO the
dissecting room several students were Oh
served to pass themselves III with latch
keys carefully closing the door behind /
them. 1t was evident practical lecture
was in progress, and the detective deter
mined to effectsn entrance to the lecture =
room. ihh ID tt..i.f -..i.t --f tl..-t+ -li /
Lounging carelessly near the door, lie
watched for the coming of another student
and had soon pressed his way through the
passage and into the dissecting room. He /.
was followed closely by the person most
interested in the result of this investiga-
tion. The sefni-circle OF seats, arranged
like those of an ampitheatre, was well filed
with professional spectators.
On a long table below lay an outstretched
form, covered with white cloth from head
to foot. The Professor had evidently been
talking fow- minutes to his class, and was
just getting ready TO illustrate, practically,
his subject. On the other side of the corpse !,
several cases of instruments were arranged,
and two assistants stood by with aprons on .
and sleeves rolled back s..
The order TO remove the covering from ,
the corpse was given, and as the cloth rolled
back, exposing the face and bust of a fe-
male, an exclamation was heard which
sent q thrill Of terror through the assem- ,
bly,, and blanched the Professors face with ,
i ar.
''Great God my wife, |,
a wild and tumultuous scene followed. Ill
The frantic husband rushed to the table. ,
pistol in hand and, recovering the exposed ,
face OF the corpse, threatened with instant
death whoever should -again uncover, or :
touch it. The lecturer and his class were ,
not disposed to dispute the claim thus set /
mp, and rushed pell neil from the apart ,
nent. -se-t ,
A few words complete the story. The {
rifled grave once more received its original {
and fot many months constant
watch was kept over it, Legal proceedings l.
were commenced against the medical insti- ,
.ution. but the affair was compromised and :
settled without q trial. The calling of the :
'resurrectionists" received terrible blow, /,
md body-snatehin9,. for years thereafter, :
became both difficult and dangerous en- :
ployment. !
Il