The sun., 1873-09-01
GH0ULS OF TIE M0RGUE.
ExPOsURE OF PHILA
DEAD HOUSE RING.
Wholesale Ira nic in Human Bodies-six
Medical Institutions supplied with SUBJ
tccts - Ono Hundred and Twentv-ave
Bodies Cut up In Que ColIege,

PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 31.-The meanest
Ring In all Christie ndom, whore operations have
been confined to this city and extending over
period Of three years, has been exposed and the
entire coterie shown up to the public IA they have
deserved. The revelations OF the Morgue business
have created are intense INDIGNATION through
out the city, and will eventually prove dis
astrous to all persons connected with the coro-
ner's once. The prosecutions which the Detec-
tive Department is waging relentlessly against
the Moreue ahouls ls astonishing a great many
citizens who arc not versed in the
THE DARK WAYS OF RINGs.
The dead house Ring Ia composed OF a very
few influential and respectable officials and a
few dIsreputable subordinates. Thus far In the
vestigation, these officials have succeeded In
keeping thoir own skirts clean, and this has
been entirely owing to the lack Of tho Detective
Department to furnish any evidence that will
mplic ate them seriously.
THArFICKiNG IN HUMAN BODIES.
This dead house coteric have been trafiokinU
In the bodies of unknown persons that have
come under the notice OF the Coroner, and over
which inquests have been held at the Morgue.
Not only have they been engaged In a lively
business IN the sale Of human bodies to medical
colleges for dissection purposes, but some Of
the more dcprayed and hungry tools Of the in
famous Ring have been rinng and robbing the
bodies Of the unknown dead and pawning
whatever OF value the unfortunates might have
had upon them when they fell into the han DIS OF
these ghouls of the MOrgue. The stringent
ordinance OF the city Councils applying to the
government Of the cltv dead house have been
| violated la almost every section in order that
the pockets of these raplcious resurrectionists
might be enriched In this not only has public
decebcy been outraged and the city treasury
plur dered Of thousands of dollars 10y false pre-
SS' fsbSed be ~ heP deas dn1 Which,
instead Of being decently buried In the city
burial ground, where the bodies could have
been recognized and obtained by their anxious
relatives or friends when their whereabouts
should have become known, have been ccarted
to the pickling watts OF the medical colleges,
where dead men can tell no tales"
now THE GnoULs WE'RE EXPOSED.
THIS trade In human bodies was fortunately
discovered by the detectives who were proving
about for the corpse Of a wealthy and influential
Washington county stock raiser and farmer who
had mysteriously disappeared from his home
| while temporarily deranged. and was traced to
>shis city. The incentive Ia this case was re-
ward Of Sl.W0 for the recovery Of Thomas
| he was found drowned. his body plundered Of
valuable gold watch and AN unknown sum OF
money, and how. IN the end, the CORPSE was dls-
yersity Of Pennsylvania, has already been pub
lishsd in THE sUS. Deputy Coroner John G.
| Morgue, and VIM. McCuen driver Of the under
takers wagon Of the Coroner were all arrested
and arraigned before Justice Butler. McCuen,
| the driver was held for the robbery of the
| corpse. An Investigation was then pursued ana
1 some startling disclosures made. These reNtla-
tions have proved the Office OF the Coroner to be
notoriously corrupt and ranking with fraud.
This condition of Affairs Is not In the least sur
prsing, because there are but two department.
of the entire municipal Government that are not
IN the same category.
TUE RESULT OF THE rsvEsTIGATIoN
is the hndng OF the following facts That direct
trade or trafic In unknown and unclaimed bodies
| has been carried on Systematically from the
Morgue. That the chous have been supplying six
! medical and auf omi cal Institutions with subjects
4 from the Morgue, all of which the law prohibits
aud renders "A penal offence. That the body Of
| Munce was not exposed Y hours at the Morguo
| orr until decomposition set in as the law en-
Joins, but was carted TO the medical school
| within twenty-four hours after It was taken to
| the Morgue. That no photograph Of the de
ceased was taken, or any register made OF the
Joins, and, further, that the body Of a stranger
! or traveller brought under the notice of the
! Coroner and NOT Identified shall be buried and
| not be given TO colleges for the benefit Of
| science.
WHOLESALE TRAFFIC. IN UNCLAIMED BODIES
| The Coroner's hangers on have been engaged
! In wholesale tranic In these unclaimed bodies,
that have found their way to the Morgue from
/ the rivers and creeks from the streets and va
/ cant lots, aud from various other places where
people are likely to die, have been ever buried.
! During the last year many people representing
| recognized dead that have fallen into the hands
| OF the Coroner have traced the bodies Of those
they have sought TO the Philadelphia Morgue.
| There they could md no clothing or valuables
registered % aid them in Identification, for the
| to the South street Jews and pocket the pro-
! ceeds. They have then been taken Ia the city
the bodies had been received hut when the
| graves were opened at the spot ind Gated by tho
| superintendcnt's books, they have been found
Ia every case to be empty. The unfortunates
| friends have thus been turned away by
an unsuccessful search, little dream
ing that the corpses of their beloved dead
had been sold to the colleges for manipulation
under the knives and scapels OF the students.
| The medical department of the University cut
up 125 human bodies last year.
PLUsDERING THE CITY.
The investigation has shown that the Coroner
has been pundering the CITY 10y collecting fee
Of a. for the burial Of bodies that have never
been taken within u grave yard, but instead have
been disposed OF to the schools for So each.
The sun, of Sl3 from every recognized body
amounts in year to very snug sum to distrl-
butte "among the resurrection Ring" The books
Of the city Comptroller proved that the burial
fee Of Ss had been collected fro..i the city by the
Coroner for the iuterment of the body Of Muncc.
yet the corpse of the poor man was found with
- others picked In salt and water in the vat
of the dissectng room.
WHY THE EXPOSURES WERE MADE.
This nght against the Coroner is within the
family of Bill Mann's Republican party. These
! made, for they VIII do the party much injury,
were it not that Mayor Stocklc, wants to be the
next reform Mayor Of the city, ana John o.
SEES. the present efficient Deputy Coroner. has
the inside track for the nomination for Coroner
next year, Stockley wants to block him oil. lie
has evil intentions upon tue office himself, and
desires the place for man uamed Cyrus Horn,
!
Within the last few days the friends of several
persons whose boG.es have been traced TO the
MurSuc have been searching Tor them, and II the
corpses can be traced 20 the medical colleges
the Coroner and his hangers on will lnd a hot
climate in Philadelphia, as the Detective De-
partment are determined TO cast Us much disre-
pute upon the onlce as they eau.
WHO THE RISG ARE.
The Ring Of the Morgue is composed OF Com,
missioner Of City Property Pugh, the Coroner
the Superintendant Of the Morgue, Thos. baxter
the Coroners undertaken. and VIM. Taylor, tn,
superintendent of the City Burial Ground
Taylor has been signing certificates for the Cor
oner ot the burial Of bodies that have never beer
taken to the Potter's Field. lie is mere tool OF
the Ring, and holds his position because he car
be used To the best advantage. No action has
yet been taken against him, but he IL likely to bt
brought in shortly IN otner cases that may fol
low.
FRAUD At THE ALMSHOUsE.
There Is fraud and corruption IN the under
takers department Of the Hlockley AlmshOust
ia this city. The burial fee for the iutermcnt oi
the bodies of paupers Is being collected from
the city and the COrpSes taken u the medical
colleges, and s. collected fur the cartlug. Last
p Thursday man complained to certain de-
partment Of the police that his brother was
suddenly taken IN upon the streets, aud being
q stranger, was taken TO the hospital Of the
Bocklcy Almshouse. lie was stranger in the
CITY and died the following day, hi.
body hcing carted by the undertaken L.
the city burial ground, pom Lis person ha
| had two $500 checks. Ills brother, hearing