Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-03-19
4 Sensational Account.

fnl nursuit of resurrectionists under the super
vision Of tho ghoul DR.. Christian. They did an
excellent business and supplied many OF the
Western colleges with "stifs y" This was three
years ago. At that time it is estimated that
the Western trains took away from the city
more dead passengers done up in trunks and
dry .poods boxes than live ones. Widows and
orphans wept over empty graves while Hooslcr
medical students we're cutting up the amented
remains and making disagreeable remarks
about them. One day 10 November, 1874,
poccmau met carriage containing Maud
| Percy q shade, and number Of Bugs or
"night shirts. g.,
This led to 40 investigation, which resulted
in bringing The cheerful and profitable pursuits
Of tho three rcsurrectionists to 40 end. Since
| then they have sunk into comparative obscur'
itu DR.. Christian has kept away from the city.
he was arrested about year ago on an Old 10,
diclment end brought to this city, but escaped
from police headquarters. Maud and Percy
have led 40 humble and quiet life in this city.
A year or 70 ago Percy kicked young lawyer
out Of az Office, but has not otherwise brought
himself into public notice. They are q fine
couple add we're supposed to be man and vile.
Maud is about fifty seven years old, scFa"ny
and cadaverous. Percy is about the same age,
cadavcrous and scrawny. lie has salloW COM
peyion and hay.seed heard. There was some
thing wild and uncouth about them both.
Several mouths ago they Tell 10 with Dr.
Pratt. In the tumble.down two slory.and a.
half building on the northeast corner OF Sew
cnth and D streets was the Office OF DR.. n.
} Pratt. Two wooden teeth, grown yellow from
exposure, hanging from wires, and TIN sign
that crcaks in the wind, announce to the pub,
; lie that DR.. \. Pratt would be pleased to pull
, their teeth. One OF the old windows, bent out
of shape by The weight of the building, was
used 10 let light down into the throat OF the
victims of toolhachc, while DR.. Pratt stuck his
: thumb into their mouth and. clinching his
ninccrs with his other hand, inquired which
r was the refractory molar. But DR.. Pratt will
null no more teeth, for he is dead and has lett
his ly1czers behind him. DR.. Pratt found
copgcnial companions in Maud and Percy.
e Their occupation was OF cheerful nature, Ike
, his own.
'rbe Doctor learned to love the gentle Maud
and she ardcntly returned his affection. Three
or four months ago Dr. Pratt removed to Alex-
, andria. lie found it beneficial 10 leave Wash.
! ipgton The American India Rubber Company
were pressing suit very vigorously, and to
avoid paying his debs-which would have been
t contrary to his established rules of lylng--he
t took w his abode ia Alexandria, and started a
c modest little dentist shop on small capital 10
il that city. The trusting Maud went with him.
= Alexandria is 50 quiet, like graveyard, thet
c she became attached to the ancient burgh.
: Maud kept house for the doctor 10 a quiet way
Oh Prince street, between Henry aud Fayette.
. The Doctor was afflicted with dropsy, and
Maud uursed him tenderIy. Last Thursday he
+. sank very low, and it became evident that he
c was dying Percy and Dr. Coleman were
!. called 10.
t Coleman is q sccdy gentleman, who, though
G possessed OF abundant genius, never had the
c TACT 10 succeed in life. lie buttons his thread
. bare coat over his poetic bosom and, siruttDg
through the streets, muses. over the bad luck
that has ever followed 90 the heels of one Of
5 the +. +. Y. Since Dr. Pratt's removal to
. Alexandria he has conducted the office in this
CITY, and extracted numerous teeth 10 a man
\ ncr that cave gaucral satisfaction. Percy and
t Coleman were summoned BY Maud TO be pres
. ent at the death. bed and witness her grief
i There we're naturally Inquiries made about the
i Doctors personal property, and rs the Doctor
;, had forgotten 10 marry Maud when he was vel
and hearty, it vas decided best to have the
/ ceremony rerforred. 10 the meantime Perc;
: looked over the old clothes and picked out the
II best ana most entire suit. The Rev. DR..
;, Sprigg, Of Grace Church, Alexandria, per
e formed the marriage ceremony. The bride Sc
!. by the bed and held the hand Of the dying
8 msg. Percy loaned over the loo. OF The bed
ready to stir Up the Doctor If there were aoy
sigos Of his dying before the ceremony vas per
formed. The clergyman was solemn and Maud
2 vas sad When the Rev. DR.. Sprlgg icquired
c of the dying dentist whether he would take
T. Maud for his welded vile the dentist was sc
-, far gone thut his eyes were setting, aud Percy
y leaned over and gave him lab in the stomach
! with his elbow There was gasp, and the
- dying man articulatcd something, which wa:
:. recorded al au affirmative answer. ln this way
: Percy helped along the ceremony wonderfully.
- Tie marriage certificate was made out 10 the
: names Of Amos +. Pratt and Maud A. Low
ard subscribed to by Rev. Dr.. Sprigg. Maud
said she was never married to Percy, and her
came was l4ow. rot BrowG. After the clergy
Il man departed it was considered necessary that
t the Doctor should formally transfer his effects
& 10 the bIushing bride.
il deal lawyer was brought into The house.
Percy assisted the dentist to speak in the same
) effective manner as be had aided at the we'd.
ding The Docior whispered 10 him; he told
upatle TO make the lawyer hear, wrote the
words Of the dying man on slate. The lawyer
. wrote them down On piece Of paper, and the
instrument, when finished. stood as the last
will and testament of DR.. Pratt, settling his eff.
fees upon his vile Maud.
In two hours after the marriage ceremony
! the dentist died Maud's grief was short.
Percy, Colcman and Maud signed co-partuer-
ship agreement by which they were to enter
coojonlly upon the cDioymcnt OF the doctors
personal estate. The Dext mornlug-Frlday
mornng-the remains of the denust we're
buried in the Union cemetery Of Alexandria.
, The same day Percy appeared on the streets 10
dropsica vest aud pair Of pauts, which were
recognized as the property of the deceased
dentist. This and the hurried burial aroused
suspicious that there lad been foul play some.
where Detective Voss, of this city, invest-
gated the case Saturday, and his verdict was
that Pratt had died natural death. Maud
and Percy, and their partner Coleman are in
| Cp'c