The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-04-25

suddenly arose and startled her into
sudden f1ight7
Next day the lamp was found ex,
! tinguished on the floor of the vault. Il
was identified as one which usually
stood in the vestry, and was used by the
sexton, It had doubtless been removed
at the same time when the key of the
vault was taken. Beyond that all was
mystery.
The object of the woman, however,
was easily discovered. As already stated,
| Mrs. Bell was buried with a valuable
diamond ring on her finger. The design
of the woman was to steal this from the
supposed corpse. Finding it impossible
to remove it, the daring thief had raised
the hand of the dead woman to her
mouth, and in her attempt TO withdraw
| the ring with her teeth caused the pang
which went through the frame of the
evident victim of a trance, and aroused
her to consciousness. On the finger, just
below the ring, the marks-of teeth were
distinctly visible for several days after
Mrs. BelPs resuscitation.
Every effort was made TO. keep this
remarkable circumstances q secret from
the gossip of the neighbOThood never
theless, every exertien was used quietly
to ascertain who the robber of the tomb
was The general impression was that
the gaIb of female was assumed as a
di-guise, and that the depredator was in
reality a man, and probably a profess
sional bOdv-snatcher.
1t was thought that the remarkable
circumstances attending Mrs. Bells sup
posed death had aroused the desire
some medical expert to possess the body
for the purpose of an autopsy; that he
had employed a person 10 steal it, and
that the body-snatcheT, discovering 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 Eng
land. Several years passed away, and
the incidents herein recorded were almost
forgotten. Mrs. Bells father died, and
Mr.. Bell and his family quilted Kilmare
and took up their residence at Toxteth,
near Liverpool.
And now for the sequel.
During the Chartist riots in 1910
James Binns WAS arrested for murder
and lodged in Lancaster Jail. He was
tried, convicted and sentence TO be
hanged. Before the last sentence of the
law was executed he made a confession
of many crimes, and, among the rest of
his exploits, as a professional body
snatcher, in which business he had been
engaged for many years. The following
facts are taken from bis confession;
In July, 1920, he was living in Belfast,
having fed from England to escape
punishment for his offences. He had
done several small jobs in Belfast for the
doctors, and on the night of July 90 in
the year named, q well-known physician
of Belfast sent for him and told him
that he had very delicate piece of work
for him TO perform. a Mrs. Bell, q lady
of great beauty, and the wife of rich
proprietor, had Just died of. a very
peculiar disease, and the doctor and his
associates desired the body to investigate
the cause of death, The doctor paid
him so much money down, and de-
spatched him to KilmaTe with such in
stTuctiOns as were necessary. He was to
secure the corpse, and coach would be
ready at the churchyaTd 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 churcbyard armed with a wrench,
pair of shears, and q picklock. First
satisfying himself that the coach was in
waiting, he entered the graveyard and
proceeded to the vault. The night was
dark and rain 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 inside
Stealthily drawing near, he glanced in,
He saw the coffin lying along the marble
slab and in front of it a woman was
standing A second glance showed him
that the woman was at work trying to
remove q 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 cum
bersome shroud, he cut a piece from the
skirt of the woman's dress and retired
unobserved. AS he remained for an
instant peering into the strange scene,
to his horror and astOnishment he saw
the corpse raise and arise the hand which
the woman was apparently in the aci
of putting to her mouth. The woman
gave q shrek, rushed through the door,
and fed, leaving the lamp burning OF
the floor. The bOdy-snatcher guessed 1t
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 tracking the
rapidly retreating figure 1t passed out
of the churchyard at a small wicket on
the north side of the church and entered
the parsonage. Satisfied that he DOS.
sessed an important secret, out of which
he could make money, he returned to
the vault. The light was still burning
and he signalled 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 bodyswas a matter of unmixed
surprise. Extinguishing the lamp, the
men quit the churchyard, the body
snatcher returning to his quarters at a
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 b0dy-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 difficulty
that he obtained an interview, as the
domestics informed him that the lady
was indisposed and confined to her room.
+" NV business" he said, els of very
great importance, and it is absolutely
necessary that / should see her" After
the lapse of half an hour middle aged,
handsome, stately lady entered the par
ior, and, gazing with considerable dignity
at her visitor, said: Whist is your
business with me, sir }"
Let me shut the door ms'am," he
said, and, quickly stepping beh ind the
lady, clesed the door " think we have