The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-04-25

low the ring, marks OF CecCn Wcre OlS-
tinctly visible tor several days after
Mrs. Bells resuscitation.
Every effort was made to keep this
remarkable circumstance a secret from
the gossip of the neighborhood, never
theless every exertiOn was used quietly
to ascertain who the robber Of the tomb
was. The general impression was that
the garb of female was assumed as q
disguise, and that the depredatOr was
in reality man, and probably pro-
fessional bOdy-snatcher.
1t was thought that the remarkable
circumstances attending Mrs. Bell
supposed death had aroused the desire
of some medical expert to possess the
body for the purpose of an autopsy,
that he had employed person to steal
it, aud that the body-snatcher, discov-
ering the valuable jewel, had resolved
to gain possession of it for himself.
Soon after this extraordinary occur
renee the Vicar of the parish resigned
his living and removed his family to
England. Several years passed away,
and the incidents herein recorded were
almost forgotten. Mrs. Bells father
died, and Mr.. Bell and his family quit
ted Kilmare and took up their residence
at Toxteth, near Liverpool.
THE SEQUEL.
During the Chartist riots, in 1910,
James Binns was arrested for murder
and lodged in Lancaster Jail. He was
tried, convicted and sentenced to be
hanged. Before the last sentence of
the law was executed he made confess
sion of many crimes, and among the
body-snatcher, in which business he
been engaged for many years. The
following facts are taken from his con-
fession:
In July, 1920, he was living in Bel
fast, having fled from England to es-
cape punishment for his Offenses. He
had done several small jobs in Belfast
for the doctors, and ON the night of
July 20, in the year named, a we'll
known physician of Belfast sent for
him, and told him that he had very
delicate piece of work for him to per-
form. A Mrs. Bell, lady of great
beauty, and the wife of rich proprie-
tor, had just died of very peculiar
disease, and the doctor and his associ-
ates desired the body to investigate the
cause of death. The doctor paid him
SO much money down, ard dispatched
him to Kilmare with such instructions
as were necessary. He was to secure
the corpse, and 4 coach would be ready
at the church-yard gate, in which there
would be two assistants, who would be
ready to assist him at given signal.
He went to Kilmare on the day of the
funeral, at which he was present. He
examined the lock on the door of the
vault, and was satisfied that he could
easily remove it. At midnight he went
to the church-yard, armed with a
wrench, a pair of shears and pick
lock. First satisfying himself that the
coach was in waiting, he entered the
graveyard and proceeded to the vault.
The night was dark, and ram was
falling. Creeping up by the side of
the church, he approached the tomb
of the Bell family. To his surprise he
saw that the door was open, and a
faint light burning in inside. Stealth
lily drawing near, he glanced in. He
saw the coffin lying along the marble
slab, and in front of it q woman was
standing. A second glance showed
him that the woman was at work try
ing to remove a ring from the finger of
the dead. A sudden thought struck
him, and slouching down he reached in
at the door, and with his shears, which
he had brought to rid the corpse of its
cumbersome shroud, he cut a piece
from the skirt of the woman's dress
and retired unobserved. AS he re-
NAMED for an instant peering into the
strange scene, to his horror and aston
ishment, he saw the corpse arise and
raise the hand which the woman was
apparently in the act of putting to her
mouth. The woman gave a shrek,
rushed through the door, and fled, leav-
ing the lamp burning or the floor.
The body-snatcher guessed at once
the woman's design, and, impressed
with the conviction that she was a per-
son above the ordinary rank, he re-
solved to follow and see where she
went to. He had no difficulty in track
ing the rapidly retreating figure. 1t
passed out of the church-yard at a
small wicket on the north side of the
church, and entered the parsonage.
Satisfied that he possessed an impor-
tant secret, out of which he could make
money, he returned to the vault. The
light was still burning, and he sig
nailed the men in waiting. They were
soon on the spot, but on entering the
vault they discovered, to their utter
amazement, that the coffin was empty.
The body-snatcher kept his secret,
and the mysterious disappearance of
the body was a matter of unmixed sur
prise. Distinguishing the lamp, the
men quit the church-yard, the body
snatcher returned to his quarters at 3
small inn, and the assistants going back
to Belfast in the carriage.
The next morning the news of Mrs.
Bells restoration to life was abroad in
the town. The body-snatcher fingered
in the neighborhood until he ascertained
that the clergyman had quilted home
for friends house. Then he called
at the parsonage and asked for the lady
of the house. It was with some diff
Guilty that he obtained an interview, as
the domestics informed him that the
lady was indisposed and confined to her
room.
my business" he said, els of very
great Importance, and it is absolutely
necessary that should see her,
After the lapse of half an hour, mid
dle-aged, handsome, stately lady en-
tered the parlor, and, gazing with con-
siderable dignity at her visitor, said:
"What is your business with me,
STRIP
"Let me shut the door, ma any, he
said, and, quickly stepping behind the
lady, closed the door.
81 think we have met before, ma am,"
he said, in firm but respectful tone.
"Sirr' the lady exclaimed, in Offend
ed accents.
II am sure we have met before,
ma am" the man said.
"You are mistaken, sir" the lady
replied, "utterly mistaken, sir; you
will oblige me by quitting the house
immediately"
"You forgot last night, ma'am, in
the vault" the man said, in low tone.
The cheek of the LADY, evidently