Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-09-10
ROBBING THE GRAVE.
The Outrage Upen Beau Hieh man's

The Washington Chronicle tells re.
voting story OF the stealing of poor
Beau Hickman's dead body from the
Potter's Field, where, by the kindness Of
some charitable people. il was deceatly
inferred. The Chronicle says: f..
About the same time that Beau's body
reached the P0tter's Field, on Tuesday,
the body Of a colored mar was brought,
and side by side they were buried. Upon
the arrival OF the undertaken at the
grave the party commenced the digging,
but soon discovered that the grave had
been tampered with, aud, before reach
ing the casket, his grave clothes were
thrown up with the dirt, and. upon reach
ing the coffin, horrible sight was re-
vealed. II had been broken into, and
nothing was left save the trunk Of a
body, with the arms taken out at the
sockets, the legs cut and un.
jointed at the hips, and the head
severed from the body. The skin Of the
body appeared TO have been cut down the
center, and, in scalping like process,
taken completely from the skull and
thrown in the coffin with the trunk. The
lungs and vital parts Of the body were
taken out and made away with, except
the heart, which was found in the bushes
near by wrapped up in a copy OF the
Daily Morning Chronicle. The ghouls
had evidently taken this important or
gan out first and carefully wrapped it up,
and in their hurry TO get away had
either forgotten it or failed to find where
they had laid it. Part Of the casket on
the inside was charred slightly by a
burning candle, which lighted the desc
orators while they were at work. Near
the grave was found dissecting ivory
handled knife, a Chicago paper and a
sealed envelope marked Sherman House,
Chicago. There was nothing in the en-
velope. The paper was in bloody con-
dition, having evidently been used in
lieu Of a towel.
The news of the desecration had by
this time spread to the vicinity where a
large force of workmen we're engaged
upon the construction of the new Jail.
The grave was soon surrounded by a
number of the workmen, who were loud
in their denunciations Of the robbery.
Word was sent to the asylum of Mr..
Buchly, and the commissioners, Messrs.
Bailey and Cross, who were then in ses-
sion, Immediately took action upon the
matter and addressed letter to Major
Richards in order to show that the asy-
lum authorities were not to blame in the
matter, detailing the circumstances OF
the case, and calling the attention of the
Major that it was against law and de-
cency, and requesting him to take steps
to find out who the parties who commit
ted the act are, that they may be brought
to justice.
What remained of poor Beau's body
was gathered together and placed in a
sew coffin by Mr.. Buchly's assistants,
and taken to the public vault in the
Congressional Cemetery, from whence
they will be removed in a few days to
their final resting place on earth. In
that silent city of the dead his coffin will
rest undisturbed.
AN AFFECTING INCIDENT.
Had it been known that science was
to be thus subserved, the burial and ex-
humation would not have been neces-
sary, and the kind attention of the un-
paid Sisters need not have been in vain.
He was brought to the hospital in Just
what he wore" and no friend thereafter
came to better his condition, and on the
calm afternoon of last Sabbath the still
ness of the west front Of Providence
Hospital was only broken by the noises
of his efforts to shuttle off the coil which
held him to mortality, and while Sister
Beatrice, with our reporter, hanked his
bed, five year old boy, on a pallet
opposite, and propped up with pillows as
a relief from restlessness, called, in his
innocence and appreciation of the dread
scene before him, saying, SISTER, if
poor Mr.. Hickman dies please put this
on his grave" at the same time drawing
from under the bed.clothing, where he
had concealed small bouquet Of flow
ers (the gift of some mother or sister,,
and presenting it to her for that purpose.
That bouquet was placed on his coffin,
which latter was supplied by and at the
expense Of the Sisters in charge of the
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