Weekly Trinity journal., 1879-02-08
FEBRUARY 8. 1879.

sru sSslsI17Ez
was untastencd, and she hastonsd up the
roadway to the dwelling. She rapidly
regained her health, and lived 10 good
old age.
But who was the woman who stood by
the coffin, when tho corpse suddenly arose
aud started her into sudden flight.
Next day the lamp was found extin-
guished on the door OF tho vault. 1t was
identified as one which usually stood ia
the vestry, and was used by tho sexton.
1t had doubtless been removed at the
time the key the vault was taken. BE
yond that all was mystery.
The object OF the woman, however,
was easily discovered. As already stat
ed, Mrs. Boil was buried with valuable
diamond ring on hor finger. 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 toeth caused
the pang which went through the frame
Of the evident victim of trance, and
reused her to consciousness. On the fin.
gOr, just below the ring, the mark Of the
teeth were discovered visible for several
weeks after Mrs. Bells resuscitation.
Every effort was made to keep this rs
marNable circumstance secret from the
gossip of the ghborhood; nevertheless,
every exertion was used quietly to as
certain who the robhcr of tbs tomb was
The general impression was tina; tho garb
and that the depredator was in reality u
man, and probably professional body
snntcher.
1t was thought the remarkable circum-
stances Attending Mrs. Boll's supposed
death had aroused the desire of some
medical export to possess tho body for
the purpose OF an autopsy; that he had
employed person to steal it, and that
the body snntchcr, discovered the valua.
5lo jewel, had resolved 20 gain possession
Of it for himself
Soon after this extraordinary occur.
renee, tho vicar of the parish resigned his
living and removed his family to Eng
land. Several years passed away, and
the Incidents herein recorded were al
most forgotten. Mrs. BolrI father died,
and Mr.. Bell aud his family quilted XII
mare and took up their residence at Tox
teth, near Liverpool.
And now for the sequel.
During the Charti-t riots in 1910, Jas.
Binna was arrested for murder and
lodged in Lancaster Jail. He was tried,
convicted, and sentenced to be hanged.
Before the last sentence Of the law was
executed he mado confession Of many
crimes, and, among tho rest Of his ex.
ploits, as professional body-snatchcr,
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 Belfast,
having fled from England to escape
punishment for his ohenses. lie had
done several small jobs in Befast for
doctors, and on the night OF July Goth,
in the year named, a well known physi.
can of Belfast sent for him, and told him
he had n very delicato place of work for
him TO perform. "A Mrs. Bell, lady Of
great beauty, aud the wife of II rich pro-
prietor, had just died Of very pecalinr
discasc, aud the doctor and his associates
desired the body TO investigate the cause
Of death. The doctor poid him so much
down, and dispatched him to Kilmare
with such Instructions as wore necessary.
lie was to secure the corpse, aud coach
would ho ready at tho churchyard gate,
in which there would bo two assistants
who would bo ready to assist him at n
given signal.
He went TO Kilmare on the day Of the
funeral, at which no was presont. He
examined the lock on the vault door,
and was Satisfied that no could easily re-
move it, At midnight he went to the
churchyard, armed with wrench, pair
Of shears aud n pick lock. First, satisfied
that the coach was in waiting, he entered
the churchyord and proceeded to tho
vault. The night was dark, and the
rain was falling. Creeping up by the
side Of the church, he approached the
tomb OF the Bell family. 70 his surprise
he saw that the door was open and a faint
light burning inside. Sleolthily draw
ing near, he glanced in. He saw the
coffin lying along the marble slab, and in
front Of ii woman was standing. A
second glance showed him that :he wom-
al was at work trying TO remove ring
from the finger of the dead.
A sudden thought struck him, and,
.louching down, he reached in at the door
with his shears, which he brought to rid
the CORPSE Of its cumbersome shroud he
cut piece from the woman's dress and
retired unobserved. AS he remained for
an instant peerng into the strange scene,
to his horror and astonishment he saw the
corpse arise and raise the hand which the
woman was apparently in tho act Of put
ting to her mouth
The woman gave shriol1, rushed
through the door and fed, leaving the
lamp burning on the Aocr. The body
snatcher guessed at once the woman's
design, and impressed with the conyic
tion that sbe was above the ordinary
rank, he resolved to follow and see where
she went TO.
lie had no difficulty in tracking the
rapidly retreOiing figure. 1t tpa.sed out
OF the churchyard at a small wicket on
the north side OF the church, and entered
the Dorsonagn Satisfied that bn ,,osso,.