Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-10-14
miscellaneous.
THE GHOULs OF CHICAGO.

In the little village of R, in the
State of Wisconsin, young and beautiful
married lady died and was buried in &C.
cordance with prevailing custom A day
or two after the funeral the bereaved hus-
band repaired to the cemetery to make ar
engagements for suitable inclosing and ad-
orniDg the family barying lot, when. be
discovered unmistakahle evidences that
the grave had been disturbed Calling in
the sexton, the new made grave was soon
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
anguish produced in the mind of the
mourning husband by this terrible discov-
cry He had read similar instances of
body snatching at distant points, but never
before realized how much suffering and
suspense these robbers entailed upon sur.
viving relatives and friends. The grief
over the death of loved and loving wife
had almost crushed him, but the addition
al blow drove him to frenzy. He resolved
to spare neither effort nor money to recov-
er his wife's remains, and punish the
ghouls who had dsspoiled her grave.
Officers and detectives were sent out i'm
mediately in all directions, and the tempt
ing reward made the search thorough
aud energetic one. But two days elaps-
ed, and no clue to the perpetrators of the
outrage had been discovered. The hus-
band himself repaired to Chicago, and at
once secured the services of a famous de-
tective to work up tie case. In less than
"a hours point" was obtained. The
night previous two or three mysterious
packages" had been left with the janitor
at the Medical College and armed with
the necessary official authority. the detec-
tive and his employer visited the institu-
ton that afternoon.
The business had been managed so
quietly and well that no suspicion was
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 apteroom leading to the
dissecting room, several students were OBJ
served to pass themselves in with latch
keys, carefully closing the door behind
them. 1t was evident that practical
lecture was ia progress, aud the detec-
tive determined to effect an entrance to the
lecture room.
Lounging carelessly near the door, he
waited for the coming of another student,
and soon pressed his way through the pas
sage into the dissecting room. He was
followed closely by the person most inter
ested in the result of this investigation.
The semicircle seats, arranged like those
in an amphi- theatre, were filled with pro-
fessional spectators.
On long table below lay an outstretch-
ed FORM The Professor had evidently
been talking few minutes to this 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 up.
The order to remove the covering from
the corpse was given, and as the cloth
rolled back, exposing the face and bust of
a female, an exclamation was heard which
sent a thrill of terror through the assem-
bly,, and blanched the Professors face
with fear.
'Great God (! my wife p
A wild and tumultuous scene followed.
The frantic husband rushed to the table
pistol in hand, and, recovering the ex-
posed face of the corpse. threatened with
instant death whoever should again un-
cover or touch it, The lecturer and his
class were not disposed to dispute the claim
thus set up, and rushed, pel nell from
the apartment.
A few words complete the story. The
rified grave once more received its origi-
nal occupant, and for many months con-
slant watch was kept over it. Legal pro-
ceedings were commenced against the med
ical institution, but the affair was COM
promised and settled without trial The
calling of tine "resurrectionists" received
a terrible blow, and body-sratcbing, for
some time thereafter. became both diff
cult and dangerous employment.