Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1878-11-20
Body snatchlng-A Rough Expert.
enCe.

GAINESVILLE, o., Nov. l4.-Never
has any affair caused such an excite
ment in this city a. was created this
morning, when Lieut.. Linton and Po-
liceman Still drove up Main street,
about 8 o'clock, with q team foaming
with sweat, and 1t was announced
that they had been on partially sue
cessful chase after grave robbers for
fourteen miles. Policeman Still is
probably disabled for life from pis-
toll shot wound, received from the
robber during the exciting chase
This morning, about 3 o'clock Police
men Lander and Brown, of the South
GAINESVILLE district, noticed q man
driving rapidly through the streets.
They hailed him with the inquiry,
"What have you in your wagon p
The reply came, "Corn." Lander
thought corn in coffee sacks would
make All entirely different looking
package, stepped up to the wagon,
and began to climb upon it, when the
driver dealt him severe blow over
the head with the butt of his whip, at
the same time striking the horse.
The blow staggered Lander but he
kept on the wagon until joited off,
when he drew his revolver, firing
twice at the driver. He went imme-
diately and reported the affair at po-
lice headquarters Lieutenant Still
at once procured team and follow
I'd the resurrectionist at q rapid rate,
catching up to the wagon on the hill
near Brownsville, fourteen miles west
Of this city, on the National road,
when for the first time the contents
of the vehicle became known. Dur
ing the chase six shots were exchang.
ed, tho driver of the wagon firing
over his left shoulder, and a ball
striking policeman Still, going
through his hand, and making an ug-
ly and painful wound. One shot
from the police went through the
seat and dash board of the wagon.
Immediately on their return TO the
city, Lieut.. Linton drove to the
station house where the bodies
were taken out and soon recog-
nized as those of Birdie Carr, q
beautiful child aged five years, who
died Of dipthcria and was buried on
Monday. Hiram Curtiss, aged twenty,
who died with lockjaw Monday and
was buried Tuesday Mr.. g. A. Bull
ger, aged fifty, who died of consump-
ton Monday and was buried Wednes-
day evening; BENZ. Carter, colored,
who died OF consumption and was
buried Tuesday. The friends were
soon informed Of the fact and the
bodies were Immediately removed.
The clothing Of the dead was almost
torn from their bodies and
the bodies doubled up and put into
coffee sacks which were purchased at
one Of our grocery stores yesterday.
The wagon is q light black, and is
moro of buggy with three springs,
without top, with a broad yellow
stripe on the bed. The horse is a
light s0rrel, with q white face. The
toll-gate keeper says the same rig has
passed through his gate several times
within two months, driven by rath-
or heavy-set man with dark mus
tache. This same man put the horse
in Cokre's livery stable last evening,
and took il out at o'clock this morn
ing. There is no clue as to the iden-
tity of the man. He jumped from the
wagon and made for the woods, it
being so dark the officers were una
BILE to follow him. When the report
gained circulation throughout the
city that the man had been here sew
eral times before, hundreds of friends
Of dead recently buried went to the
different cemeteries to examine the
graves with nervous approximations,
fearing they, too, should find the
graves of their loved ones distur bed.
Mr.. Linton thinks, no doubt, that one
Of their shots struck the man. From
The manner the job was done it is ev-
ldent that the men were used to that
kind Of work. They left little or no
races of dirt the sod being carefully
put back over the graves. All the
bodies, with the exception of Mrs.
Bulger, were taken from Woodland
and that Of Mrs. Bulger
from the City Cemetery, they having
gone to the City Cemetery first, thence
o the Woodland, thence taking Pine
Itreet to the National Pike.