The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-12-15
Noted Body snatehers Arrested.

j NOte0 B00y Snatcners AKTesteu.
George A. Christiana, white, Chester
Green, colored, and Margaret Harrison,
white. were arrested here Friday night,
charged with being body snatchera,
When arrested, Christiana was search
ed, and loaded revolver found on hi,
person together with papers from which
it appears that he was formerly a clerk
in the Surgeon Generals Office, and
that he has been carrying on an exten-
sive business as a body snatcher for
some time, the dates showing his
transactions with several medical insti-
tutions in Cleveland, Ohio, Virginia,
and the District of Columbia, to which
he has sent bodies for about six months
and during that time he must have
sent off several hundred bodies. A re-
cent order from an institute in Virginia,
desires him to pack two bodies in
whisky barrels, tight, and use sawdust
for packing. One from Cleveland
tells him to use strong boxes instead Of
barrels, as barrels get loose and might
occasion suspicion. One memorandum
shows that he went to Potter 8 field
for Harry Young's body, who was re-
Gently hung, aud was disappointed,
having taken the body OF another man
instead of Young's The books show
that he has taken bodies from almost
every cemetery in this district. The
Virginia University and the medical
departments OF other colleges have been
customers of his. Christiana's diary
contains notes for every day in this
year, from which it appears that he
has been attending medical lectures, but
no reference is made to subject until
July last and then there is reference to
the body of Beau Hickman. A corr
respondence show that the price
demanded by him was forty dollars
per corpse, was considered too much by
some of his customers, who considered
that thirty dollars ought to be enough
to salty him. In his pocket was also
found a card of membership in the
Young Mems Christian Association.
The arrest OF Christians and his &c
completes caused great Indignation here,
especially amony the colorcd people,
who believe these parties guilty OF steal.
ing the bodies of a number Of thtir
friend7 aud relatives.
Thc Cuban Question.
The debate in the House on Friday
on the Cuban question which arose in
cidentally on the bill appropriating
100000 for the Navy Department,
has been a most interesting subject Of
conversation in hotels and other public
places, but not so much between Con-
gressmen as between Congressman and
some of their constituents who are pres
enr in the city. The sentiment among
gentlemen from all parts OF the coun-
try is largely in favor OF the views
expressed by Mr.. Cox and Mr.. Archer
that whether the war feeling consequent
on the Virginius affair shall or shall
not pass away. The country de-
mauds the recognition OF beliger-
encv Of the Cubans, and that
the government should be pre-
pared with powerful naval forces to
eustains itself in case we should be
called upon TO defend such recognition.
Mr.. Hawley's eloquence as to the hor-
rors of war, and Messrs. Hale and Gar
fields defence of the sdministratration,
for its diplomacy, which they positive
" cav has arrived at peaceful solu-
OF the question, were well received, but
many claim that the government might
have taken such action as would at
least have secured peace il not indepen-
dence to Cuba, and might have secured
also, better commercial terms between
that Island aud ourselves. The argu-
ment is used that the Island naturally
belongs to the United States, and Con-
gressmen are told they should consider
the question partly in q financial and
commercial point OF view. They are
urged to remember the fact that the
Secretary of the Treasury has within
a day or two asked tor millions OF dol
lars to meet the deficiencies in therev-
enues, and to couple that with the fact
that we pay annually millions of dol
lars to Cuba for products Of that Is
land. The fact is, the Cuban question
will not be considered settled even
with the surrender OF the Nirginlus and
the payment OF the indemnity without
another effort in Congress TO induce
the government to take some more de-
cided and positive action.