The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-02-08
How "Old Cunny" Lost a "Stin."

How "Old Cunny" Lost "Stif."
cincinnati Commercial.1
The stories about "Old Cunny," the
resurrectionist, are many, but as to the
following our authority for the story be-
ing as good as can be found, of course 1t
must be true. The night was cold and a
bright moon made the task of "body
snatching without detecting difficult
one, but a good "subject" recently
buried called Cunny" to take the risk.
So hitching up team and engaging q
partner to 20 along to keep watch and
help, they started out beyond Spring
Grove, to strike the Catholic burying-
ground from that direction.
On reaching the proper locality,
"Cunny" left his partner (who, blythe
way, was a green handy to watch, and
started across lots for the scene Of opera
tions. In much less time than a new
hand could possibly get through, cold
Cunny" was seen struggling over the
fence with a white bundle on his shOul-
ders, and ON reaching the wagon he
dumped his load, and, wiping the per-
spiration from his face with his coat
sleeve, asked "Bill" to produce his
flask, and having moistened their clay
started for town. Just before reaching
Cumminsville. however, cold Cunny"
said, Nov, Bill, it won't do to ride into
town with this here stiff in the bottom
of the wagon it is too early in the even
ing, and you see am so we'll known
the cops will be for having look to
see if l have got a job" "Well, old
man." said Bill, chow are you going to
fix it?' "Just hold up in the shade of
those trees, on your right, and I'll show
you trick, my boy"
Having hauled up in the desired shade,
the old man got back into the wagon and
proceeded to fix things. Taking off the
white cover, the body of man was ex-
posed, dressed in good suit of black,
which, with Bills help, the old man sue
ceeded in placing in sitting position on
the seat, when, taking the reins in hand
and directing Bill to get on the other side
of the corpse, having previously put a
slouched hat on the head of the " stiff"
they rode leisurely into Cumminsville.
As Cunny" expected, they were soon
accosted by a policeman, and the old
man stopped his team to exchange few
remarks with the star of the evening"
we'll knowing that any hesitancy on his
part, or an appearance of disposition
to avoid, would subject him to close
and careful inspection, and, after few re-
marks and look into the wagon by the
"cops," the team was again started for
town. Just before reaching the turn in
the road where the covered bridge is,
stands a saloon and car shed, and
"Cunny" suggested that they stop and
get something hot" After they had
dismounted, the old man, observing a
couple of men standing in the shadow of
the house, turned to the "stiff" and re-
marked in a tone loud enough to be heard
by them, Jim, you watch the team and
will bring you something hot"
turned and walked into the saloon with
Bill. One of the men in the saloon who
knew "Old Cunny," lounged to see if the
old man man had a COB" and seeing
the well known wagon, with the man on
the seat, spoke few words to the sup
posed driver, and looked into the wagon.
Finding nothing in the wagon, and re-
ceiving no reply from the man, his sus
picions were at once aroused, and jump
ing on the seat, the whole thing was at
once plain to him.
To plan joke on the cold man" was
the work of an instant, and tumbling the
"stiff" off the wagon and into one of the
street cars was the work Of moment.
To take the place of the corpse Oh the
seat and pull his hat down over his face
gave him just time when the cold man"
and Bill" came out of the saloon, but,
of course, they did not bring "Jim u
something hot. "Cunny" and "Bill "
were soon seated on each side of the sup
posed "stif," and away they started for
the city. While passing through the
covered bridge, at an easy trot, Bill F."
took hold of the arm of the "corpse u
to prevent it being jolted of, and turn.
ing to the cold man." said: "Isay
Cunny, this ERE stiff is thawing; hisarms
are quite Timber" go shut up, Bill
you're scared. l guess that last punch
got into your head"
After drive of few moments in 81.
lence, Bill's hands slipped down on the
hands of the supposed corpse, when he
said, in startled whisper, ~ say old
man, this stiff is getting warm did you
ever know one of 'em to come to life
again." "Shut up, l tell YER" said
Cunny, "he's too dead ter skim" and
turning half round, as if to give proof tC
his words, he raised the rim of the hat or
the stiff. The joker finding he was likely
to be discovered, and wishing to test
"Old Cunny's" pluck, give vent to
hollow groan. "Great God ~ said Bill
and with yell of horror jumped off the
wagon on the left side, and broke for the
hill, not even stopping at the canal, but
plunging in reached the opposite bank
and ran up the hill, as if the--corpst
was after him.
Old Cunny's yell was but an echo o.
Bills, and off he started, through the
creek, across the bottom, and when seer
by the joker was striking for the hills or
the other side as if his salvation de
pended on reaching the highest point in
the shortest time. The corpse (?) took
quiet possession of the lines, and drove
leisurely into town, and left the "old
mans" team at the first police station
claiming he had found it on the avenue
without driver.
The next morning, as the street-cal
driver went in to fix up his car for the
first trip, he was Mortified to find dead
man there. and Immediately reported tc
the saloon that a drunken man had gone
to sleep in his car the night before and
had frozen to death. There was con
siderable stir made, but the final dis
position of the body, or how soon it was
before cold Cunny" found his team, we
are not informed. But "Cunny lost his
stiff"
Discovery OF Gas.
Great was the amazement of all En-.
gland when, at the close of the last cen.
fury, William Murdoch discovered the
use of combustible air, or gas. So little
was the invention understood and be-