The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1878-06-06
BODY-SNATCHlNG.

The New-Made Grave of the Son of a
President of the United States Rified AL
most Before the Conclusion of the Rites
of Sepulture.
A strange case Of body-snatching was
brought to light at Cincinnati few days
ago. Hon. John Scott Harrison, son of
the late President Harrison, died very
suddenly, and was buried in the GENE
terry near the old Presidential mansion
at North Bend, on the Ohio river, where
he had lived for many years in retire
ment. While the burial service was in
progress, it was discovered that the
grave of young man, named August
Devens, who had died about ten days
before of consumption, and been buried
in the same cemetery, had been robbed.
When the funeral was over, friends of
the young man Immediately started for
Cincinnati in hope of finding his re-
mains in some of the medical colleges
of that city. A search-warrant was pro-
cured, and the party went to the Ohio
Medical College. Before proceeding to
the search, the party was joined by John
Harrison, son Of the lately deceased J.
Scott Harrison, who came up from
North Bend with the intention
OF aiding his friends in their efforts
to recover the stolen corpse. The
college not being in session, but few
bodies were found in the dissecting-
rooms. None of those examined bore
any resemblance to the remains of the
young man, and the party were about
leaving the building when young Harri-
son noticed windlass with rope reach
ing down to lower story. Pulling away
at this, he discovered that at the other
end OF the rope human body was tied.
The body was drawn up and the cloth
removed from the face, when the horror
strick n youth instantly recognized the
features of his father, whose grave he
had left but few hours before. The
long beard had been cut off, and the
body was otherwise disguised, but all
doubts as to it's identity were soon re-
moved by the arrival from North Bend
of Carter Harrison, another son of the
deceased, with the news that the grave
had been robbed during the night. The
news soon spread through the city, and
was the subject of excited talk by crowds
about the bulletin boards, where brief
particulars were displayed. Much in
dignation was expressed that the resur-
rectionists, who were evidently acting
with the knowledge and consent of the
college faculty, should have desecrated
the grave of so distinguished a citizen
and the son of former President of the
United States. The college not be-
ing in session during the sum-
mer, there could have been no use for
the body for purposes of dissection at
present The plan is supposed to have
been to secure it now, and preserve it
| for use until the opening of fall term.
There are some features of the case that
are strangely mysterious At the sug-
gestion of Gen. Ben Harrison, who had
learned Of the robbery of the preced-
ing week, man was hired to watch the
grave, and, it was said stone slab of
great weight was placed over the open
ing. ALI these difficulties the resurrec-
tionists overcame with apparent ease.
The watch, when taken to task about
the matter, could give no satisfactory
explanation. He had seen and heard
nothing during the night. The grave,
however, had been dug into, the glass
cover of the coffin broken to pieces, and
the body removed. Whether the senti-
mel slept through the proceeding or was
bribed is matter of doubt. The body
was taken back to North Bend for
reburial.