The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-04-18
THE BODY.SNATCHEHs 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.
Eeved that they are now published for
&he first time.
In the town of Kilmare, in the North
~Jf Ireland, reside many families of dis
Y6in8sion. The head of one of these was
10 Mn. Bell, young gentleman of Is.
He inherited large estate from his un-
ale, and soon afterward removed from
his former abode to take possession of
che family mansion in Kilmare. He mar
sEied the only child of wealthy East In
rdia 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
she next day. The symptoms were of
peculiar nature, and the limbs SO in
creased in size Immediately after death
that a 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
Gon and rumor.
The old churchyard OF Kilmare stood
on the side of hill, and Immediately in
the rear of the church and adjoining the
chancel was the tomb of the Bell fami-
Iy. 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
might drew on a 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 fancled he saw a white figure
crossing the lawn in front of the house.
The next moment it disappeared. and.
satisfying himself that he was the sub
.-gect OF delusion, he commenced to un-
dress. Suddenly the clear tones of the
vi doar bell rang through the building.
Mr.. Bell paused, and moved toward the
81 door of the apartment to listen. In
few seconds the sound again reverberat-
8 ed 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
Akg5K and bolts of the massive door.
Then dreadful and prolonged shrek
followed, and at the same moment. Mr..
Bells butler ran along the hall toward
1.-THE front door. Mr.. Bell had reached
Y5he head of the stairs, and was in the act
of descending when the butler reached
the spot where the .housekeeper Law on
the door apparently in 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. '4-*
Utterly bewildered and confunded.
Mr. Bell fastened down stairs. The
e5lgEat 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
tthrown across her breast For q mo-
Gnent 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. .l
$sJulia, my darling, my wife u Mr..
Bell exclaimed, and stepped toward the
figure. s,.r s
It made movement toward him, and
sthe next instant it was ssinfolded in his
arms. A
The scene that ensued battles all des-
cription. It 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
7aered was very imperfect and nnsatisfac-
story. For 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 fed, and then
Mrs. Bell discovered that she was lying
an coffin in the family vault.
Fresh strength came to her every mo-