The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-06-27

Body-SnatchIng Again.
CINCINNATI is very naturally scam
dalized and aroused over the latest case
of body-snatching in that city. The
victim was the son of an ex-President
of the United States, and himself an
old and highly-respected citizen of
Ohio. He was buried in a suburban
cemetery near the historic Harrison
farm, and the very next day his body
was found hung up in the Ohio Medi-
cal College in Cincinnati. The circum-
stances Of the case, which are peculiar
ly shocking, are thus epitomized by the
Cincinnati Commercial:
1--WE have never been called upon to
speak of more shocking outrage than
that of the robbery of the grave of the
Hon. John Scott Harrison. But yes
terday the Commercial contained re-
port Of his funeral services. His re-
mains were carried by old citizens, who
were his near friends, and placed in a
spot sacred in the history of the c0un-
try. The grave was prepared with ex-
traordinary care. The iron casket was
placed in masonry, and covered with
an immense stone and cemented, be-
fore the earth was thrown in. 1t was
ascertaincd that the son of poor
widow had been removed from his
grave in the neighborhood, and one of
Mr.. HarrisOn's sons came to the city
on the generous errand of seeking the
body Of the widows SON, and, not
knowing the dissertation Of his fathers
grave, found that honored father at
the Ohio Medical College, with rope
about his neck, by which he had been
suspended, until wanted in the dissecting
room. There never was anything more
dramatic than the incidents Of this
discovery. The sense of amazement
and indignation with which the strange
intelligence was received in this COM
Mr.. Harrison's old neighbors are ex-
cited and distressed in an extraordina-
ry degree, and anxious to take VEN
geance on the responsible parties. II
Is doubtful whether the law would be
allowed to take its course in case the
guilty were speedily discovered. Gen.
Benjamin Harrison, of Indiana, is in
the city, and is resolved to ascertain
who are responsible, and to cause their
punishment"
In the indignation felt by the citizens
of Cincinnati, there is evidently a dis
position to hold the College Faculty to
a certain degree of responsibility. The
janitor has already been arrested, and
there is an inclination to enforce the
penalty of 81 200 fine and six months
Imprisonment provided by the law, not
merely for those actually guilty of re-
moving corpse from place of scpul-
ture, but also for those who receive,
conceal or secrete any corpse so re-
moved, and those who assist in any
Herewith. 1t is probable that the dis
covery of the grave-robbers will quiet
the popular wrath so as not to carry
the case to an actual prosecution of the
college, authorities. Cool judgment
will convince anyone that the strict and
and vigorous enforcement of SO sweep
a law would result in depriving the col
leges and medical men of all means for
the practical study of anatomy and
demonstrations in surgery so necessary
to their usefulness.
We think that the real lesson which
this conspicuous and aggravated out
rage should teach is the necessity that
every State should provide by law u
legitimate and unobjectionable system
for furnishing medical colleges with
subjects for dissection and demOnstra-
ton. This is entirely feasible. The
bodies of criminals and paupers who
have been q charge upon the State
| ,x,L:lo o~l xrCDoo <~:o,,Io IL, not
claim the privilege and bear the ex-
pense of burial when they die, are
numerous enough to supply the legiti-
mate demand for medical demonstra-
ton and instruction. There is no rea-
sonable objection to such disposition
of such remains. The outrage of de-
spelling grave and dissecting life
less body is not upon the dead, but up
on the living relatives and friends of
the deceased. The study of anatomy
and surgery is too useful to society to
be prevented by Laws calculated to
withhold from colleges and instructors
the necessary subjects for demonstra-
ton. Human sympathyis not shocked
in the abstract by post-mortem dissec-
ton, but only when the remains are
dear to those left behind, who have q
legitimate claim upon disposing OF
them in the usual Christian way. BY
enabling the medical colleges to secure
the necessary corpses in legitimate
manner. the revolving business Of body.
snatchipg will be broken up for all
time. The medical men will not incur
the penalty, the disgrace and the great
er expense of securing dead bodies in
an unlawful way when they can obtain
them lawfully and cheaply. In this
; manner such outrages as that at Gin.
cinnati can be permanently guarded
against; and science, the public health,
public morals and human sympathy