The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-04-19
THE BODY.SNATCHERs SECRET.

THE BODY-SNATCHER'S SECRET.
Hundreds of stories are related of the
horrible deeds of the body-snatcher, but
among them all none is more remarkable
and soul-harrowing than the one just
about to be narrated. The facts were
given to the writer recently, and it it be-
Geved that they are now published for
the first time.
In the town of Kilmare, In the North
of Ireland, reside many families of dis
tinction. The head of one of these was
q MIR. Bell, young gentleman of %.
He inherited large estate from his I'M
Gle, and soon afterward removed from
his former abode to take possession of
the family mansion in Kilmare. He mar
ried the only child of a wealthy East In
dia merchant residing in Liverpool, by
whom he had two children. In the
fourth year of their welded life Mrs.
Bell was taken suddenly i'll, and expired
the next day. The symptoms were of a
peculiar nature, and the limbs 80 in
creased in size Immediately after death
that magnificent diamond ring of great
value could not be removed from the la
dy's finger, and was buried with her. OF
course, this fact was well-known to the
inhabitants of Kilmare, as Mrs. Bell was
the wife of the most considerable man
thereabout, and naturally, therefore, all
concerning her was matter of converse
ton and rumor.
The old churchyard of Kilmare stood
on the side of a hill, and Immediately in
the rear of the church and adjoining the
chancel was the tomb of the Bell fami-
ly. Here, in accordance with immemo-
rial usage, the body of the deceased ia,
dy was to repose, and thereit was depos-
tied on the third day after her demise.
After the ceremony the key of the vault
was put in it's usual place by the sexton
In the vestry OF the church.
The day had been gloomy, and as
night drew on thin rain fell, which in
creased at about midnight to smart
shower. Mr.. Bell, who was about re-
firing, went to an open widow, and as he
did so fancied he saw White figure
crossing the lawn in front of the house.
The next moment it disappeared, and,
satisfying himself that he was the sub
ject OF delusion, he commenced to I'M
dress. Suddenly the clear tones of the
SaOOL -DCi1 IdhB bhIOuSh blC 4.
Mr.. Bell paused, and moved toward the
door of the apartment to listen. In a
few seconds the sound again reverberat-
sd through the house, and Mr.. Bell
opened the door and stepped out into the
corridor. At that moment, as he glanced
down the stairway, he saw the house.
keeper moving toward the front door.
Then he heard her set the small lamp
she carried on the table, and open the
lock and bolts of the massive door.
Then dreadful and prolonged shrek
followed, and at the same moment, Mr..
Bells butler ran along the hall tow ard
= the front door. /. Mr.. Bell had reached
, the head of the stairs, and was in the act
of descending when the butler reached
the spot where the housekeeper lay on
the floor apparently in a swoon. What
was Mr.. Bells surprise to see the butler
raise his hands, fix his gaze upon the
door. and then sink to the floor as though
struck dead.
Utterly bewildered and confunded.
Mr.. Bell fastened down stairs. The
sight that met his gaze when he reached
the center of the hail almost froze his
blood. There stood the figure of his
wife in her grave clothes, leaning against
the pillar of the door, with one hand
thrown across her breast. For mo-
ment Mr.. Bell was almost overcome.
Then he remembered the white figure
which he saw crossing the lawn few
seconds before the bell rang, and anoth-
.er glance showed him that the garments
of the figure before him were dripping
with rain.
"Julia, my darling, my wife |" Mr..
Bell exclaimed, and stepped toward the
figure.
1t made a movement toward him, and
the next instant it was ..infolded in his
arms.
The scene that ensued battles all des-
cription. 1t was indeed the wife, but
that day buried, who was restored to the
arms of the bereaved husband and chill
dren. The explanation which she Of
fered was very imperfect and unsatisfac-
tory. For q short time after her sup
posed death she was aware of all that
went on around her, but before she was
placed in the coffin she lost all conscious
ness. She said that the first sensation
of consciousness she had was one of pain.
Then she saw an indistinct glimmer and
finally severe pang shot through her
frame. With powerful effort she rose
and saw woman standing by her side.
The woman shrieked and fled, and then
Mrs. Bell discovered that she was lying
in a coffin in the family vault.
Fresh strength came to her every mo-