The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-08-09
ATTEMPTED BODY .sNATCH1Na.
What Once Happened in the Town Of Cav
endhsh. =

What Once Happened in the Town Of Cav
endish. b..
About midway between the village of
Proctorsville and what 10 known as "Plym-
outh Kingdom" on Twenty-mile stream
road, is situated fomewhat antiquated
but well cared for grave yard. The Incl
dent of which the following is but an i'm
perfect recital, transpired at this point;
A coodly number of years ago, but
within the recollection Of not a few but
Sigh tly past the meridian of life, occurred
a case Of attempted body Snatching at this
grave yard. A man by the name of Whit
ney had died and been inferred. 1t would
seem he had had some misgivings before
his death that his body might fall prey to
some unprincipled medical students, to be
used for dissecting purposes. Accordingly
before he died he made at least one of his
brothers solemnly promise that he would
guard his grave for given length of time
after his death. In compliance with this
sacred promise, this brother and neigh
Dor whom he had induced to bear him CON-
papy, were watching the grave on Satur-
day night in the month of July, little
dreaming that the fears of the deceased
were in fair way of being speedily re-
allied.
The night was still and moonless. No
sound met the ear except the whir OF
nocturnal insects or the fit of the leathery
winged bat. Occasionally gentle breeze
WI uld stir the shivering leaves Of the pop
lar trees that stoGd like sentinels around
the sacred enclosure. or sudden, the
two watchers stand transfxed. In low
whispers they ask each other "What did
you hear Was it the footstep of some
person, or the movements of some harmless
animal ?"
Peering into the almost unreieved dark
ness what was their constirnation to cato b
the indistinct forms of two persons nois.
lessly accommodating just outside the en-.
closure of the yard, evidently for the pur
pose of ascertalning whether persons were
on guard or not. Having evidently salts
fed themselves that everything was safe
they near the new-made grave and place
their spades in the but recently broken ant
now easily TO be removed earth. With the
utmost care they lay aside the yielding
earth and yet, as rattles the gravel from
their polished tools, they sincerely wish
they could work with even less noise thar
they are necessarily obliged to make
Meanwhile the faithful watchers, having NJ
firearms (for what reason we are unable tC
say take the next best weapon they car
use, a supply OF cobble stones, find stealth
| lily approaching the graceless vandals, will
| well directed aim they preclpated shower
| of rocky missiles against their unprotected
| heads.
Utterly surprised, they rush down pre-
clpitous bank, (for it will be recalled tina
the grave yard is on quite an elevation
dash through thick network OF lascerat
ing brars, over the enclosure, and as If t,
partly repay them for their nefsrious worl
land in quagmire well nigh arm-pi
deep. ExtricatiDg themselves as best the,
Can, they take circuitous route through
the meadow, and finally bring round int,
the highway in the vicinity of where the,
had left their team. During this stamped
the wa cheers had alarmed the nearest resi-
deut, Mr.. William Spaulding. (not yer.
long since deceased) and with him returne
towards the scene of action. Just her
was where our watchers lost golden op
| portunity. They had actually passed tn
| in IN hinh The naFar1arn
which was tied beside the road on thei
way to call up Mr.. Spauldng, but were 8
excited that they had not even noticed it
BY the time they had got to where tn
team was the second time, the "resurrec
tonists" were Just getting aboard to be of
An atlemp, was made to take the horse b
the bit, but failed. Mr.. Spaulding, how
ever, who had just come upon the scene
succeeded in doing so, and SO far ran th
carriage into the ditch as TO throw one Q
the occupants out. He Immediately sclam
bled back, and, drawing pistol, exclaimed
'I.et us 90 or We will fire you through,
and, euiting the action to the VOID, fired
The firing had the effect to so far frighte
the horse that. with the unremitted appl
cation of the whip, he broke from the vice
| ike grasp OF Mr. SpduiulDS, anu lne udt
tsrdly scamps were free once more an
dashed on towards Proctorsville. The
left number of utensils they had take
with them to aid them in their work, anon
which was a key-hole saw. shovel,
quantity Of rope and hammer, and one of tn
scamps lost his hat and went away bare
headed. 1t was ascertained soon afterward
that they hailed from Woodstock, where a
the time was a medical school. No arrest
were made, the suspected ones leaving 70
parts unknown before any legal steps coul
be taken.
1t should be observed before closing thi
hastily written sketch Of what happened 1
"yo olden time," that one of the suspecte
persons taught school in Cavendish III
winter previous, and that Mr.. Spauldln
recognized his voice when he threatened t
shoot those who were attempting to detail
the team. The relatives Of the decease
person were SO exercised by the attempt I
eAhume the remains Of the departed ths
they had them disintered aud buried else
where, on private premises we think. Thu
ended what came very near being a success
full attempt at body snatching in the some
what staid old town of Cavendish.