Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1878-06-27

sH0iSIluCI SSlulNeA. 04N uudliy
severe pang shot through her frame.
With o powerful effort she arose aud
saw woman standing by her side.
The woman shrieked and fled, and
then Mrs. Bell discovered that she
was lying in coffin in the family
vault. Fresh strength came to her
every moment, and releasing herself
from the shroud, she stepped TO the
ground and passed out of the vault,
the door of Vhich was wide open.
Down the churchyard path she pass
ed to the main street, along which
she walked for half a mile, until she
reached her late home. Fortunate,
ly the large gate to the park was ul-
fastened, and she hastened up the
roadway to the dwelling. The rest
the reader knows. She rapidly
regained her health, and lived to 4
good old age.
But who was the woman who
stood by the side of the coffin wSen
the corpse suddenly arose and start
ed her into sudden flight
Next day the lamp was found ex-
tinguiShed on the RooI OF the vault.
1t was identified as one which usu-
ally stood in the vestry and was US
ed by the sexton. 1t had doubtless
been removed at the same time when
the key of the vault had been taken.
Beyond that all was mystery.
The object of the woman. how
ever, was easily discovered, AS al
ready stated, Mrs. Bell was buried
with valuable diamond ring Jn her
6nger. The design of the woman
was to steal this from the supposed
corpse. Finding it impossible to re-
move 1t the daring thief had raised
the hand of the woman TO her mouth
and in her attempt to withdra the
ling with ner teeth caustd the pang
which went through the form of the
evident victim of trance, and
aroused her to consciousness. On
the finger, Just below the ring, the
marks of teeth were distinctly yisi-
ble for several days after Mrs. Bells
resuscitatiOn,
Every effort was made to keep
this remarkable circumstance Sc.
cret from the gossip of the neighbor-
hood nevertheless, every exertion
was used quietly to ascertain who
the robber of the tomb was. The
general impression was that the
garb of a female was assumed as a
disguise, and that the depredator
was in reality man, and probably a
professional body Snatcher.
1t was thought that the remarka-
BILE circumstances attending Mrs.
Bells supposed death had aroused
the desire of some medical expert to
possess the body for the purpose of
an autopsy that he had employed
person to steal it, and that the
bOdy-snatcher, discovering the valu-
able jewelry, had resolved to gain
possession of it for himself.
Soon after this ext raordinary oc-
currence the vicar of the parish re-
signed his living and removed his
family to England. Several years
passed away, and tie incidents here
in accorded were almost forgotten.
Mrs. Bell's father died, and Mr..
Bell and his family quilted Kilmare
and took up their residence at Tox-
teth, near Liverpool.
And now for the sequel.
During the Chartist riots in 1910,
James Binns was arrested for muir.
der and lodged in Lancaster Jail.
He was tried, convicted and sen
fenced to be han ged. Before the
last sentence of the law was execu-
ted 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 his
confession
In July, 1920 he was living in Bel
fast, having fed from England to
escape punishment for his offenses.
He had done several small jobs in
Belfast for the doctors, and on the
night of July p, in the year named
well-known physician of Belfast
sent for him and told him that he
had very delecate piece of work 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
doctors paid him so much money
down and dispatched him to XII
mare with such instructions as ere
necessary. He was to secure the
corpse, and a coach would be ready
at the churcbyard gate in which
there would be two assistants who
would be ready to assist him at a