Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-08-25
THE RESURRECTTONTSTS
A Husband Finds His Wife OEs fEie Dis
secting Table.

THE RESURRECTIONTSTS.
Husband Finds His Wife OF. tie Dis
secting Table.
From the Cleveland Plandealer.
Several years ago a regular organization
of 'sresurrectionists'' existed in the States
of Wisconsin aud Illinois, with headquar
ters at Chicago. They carried on q thirty
ing trade with the colleges and the mediea
men of that region, and were ready at al
times to furnish one to half dozen bodies
old or young, male or female They
managed their affairs so quietly and care
fully that the public knew nothing of tie
extensive robbery of graves going ou until
the disclosure OF an aggravated instance o1
body-snatching led to an examination OF
different burial grounds, when the astoun-
ding discovery was made that large pro-
portion of new-made graves had be
opened and the bodiss removed.
The case referred to was carefully sup
pressed at the time; but years have passed
since then, and the facts can now be made
public without violating any confidence OF
wounding the sensibiities of friends.
In the little village of R--, in the
State of Wisconsin, young and beautiful
married lady died suddenly, and was buried
in accordance with prevailing custom. A
!
husband repaired to the cemetery to make
arrangements for suitably inclosing and
adjoining the family burial lot, when he dis
covered certain unmistakable evidences
that the grave had been disturbed.
Calling in the aid of 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 an
guish produced in the mourning husband
by this terrible discovery. He had read Of
similar instances of body-snatching at dis
tant points, but never realized how much
of suffering and suspense these robberies
entailed upon the surviving relatives and
friends. The grief over a loved and loving
wife had almost crushed him, but the ad-
ditional blow drove him to frenzy. He re-
solved that neither effort nor money to re-
cover his wife's remains, and punish the
! ghouls who had despoiled her grave, should
! be spared.
Officers and detectives were sent out i'm
mediately in all directions, and a tempting
reward made the search a 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 a famous detective to
work up the case. In less than twenty
four hours s'point" was obtained. The
night previous two or three mysterious
E'packages" had been left with the janitor
Of 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
l +l,o4
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 APP
preached the ante-room leading to the
dissecting room several students were OBJ
served to pass themselves in with latch
KEYS, carefully closing the door behind
them. It was evident practical lecture
was in progress, and the detective deter
mined to effect an entrance to the lecture
room.
Lounging carelessly near the door, he
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 nyestiga-
| ton. The semi-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 a white cloth from head
| to foot The Professor had evidently been
! talking few minutes to his class, and was
| lust 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.
! 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 a thrill of terror through the assem-
bly, and blanched the Professors face with
fear.
''Great God my wife,"
A wild and tumultuous scene followed
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
up, and rushed peli nell from the apart
ment.
| A few words complete the story. The
rified grave once more received its original
occupant, and for many months constant
watch was kept over it. Legal proceedings
were commenced against the medical insti-
tuition. but the affair was compromised and
| settled without trial. The calling of the
! E'resurl ectionists" received a terrible blow,
and body-snatching, for years thereafter,
became both difficult and dangerous en-
ployment.