St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-01-03

""S 'ie'' 'nC SdID OI Il Iemale was as
sumed as disguise, and that the dep
iedator was I'D reality man, and prob
ABLY professional bOdy-snatcher.
1t was thought that the remarkable
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, discov-
eIlng the valuable jewel, had resolved
10 gam possession of it for himself.
Soon after this extraordinary occur
renee the vicar of the parish resigned
MS living and removed his family to
England. Several years passed away
ana the incidents herein recorded were
almost forgotten. Mrs Bells father
died, and Mr.. Bell and his family quit
ted kIlmare and took up their residence
at IoXteth, near Liverpool
And now for the sequel.
During the Chartist riots in 1910
james BInnis 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 made il con-
iessIon OF many crimes, and, among the
rest oi his exploits as IL professional
body-snatcher, i'll which business he had
been engaged for many years. The
following facts are taken from his con-
teSSiOn =
In July, 1920, he WAS living in Bel
fast, having fled from England to es-
cape punishment for his otfenses. He
had done several small jobs in Belfast
Tor doctors, AND on the night of July %
III the year named, IL well-known phy-
slcI;ln of Belfast sent for him and told
him that he had il very delicate piece
OF work for him to perform. A Ms.
Bell, il lady of great beauty, and the
wife of il rich proprietor, had Just died
OF Il very peculiar disease, and the doc
tor and his associates desiI ed the body
to Investigate the cause of death. The
doctor paid him SO much money down,
aud dispatched him to Kilmare with
such Instructions us were necessary.
lie was to secure the corpse, and u
coach would be ready at the church
yard gate in which there would be two
assistants who would be ready to as
sISt him at IL given signal.
He went to kilmare on the day of the
funeral, at which he was present. He
.
and WAS satisfied that he could easily
remove it. At midnight he went to the
church-yard AIMED with IL wrench. Il
pair of shears, and ii pick-lock. First
satisfying himself that the coach WAS
IN waiting, he entered the church-yard
and proceeded to the vault The night
was dark and rain was falling. Creep
ing up by the side of the church. he lp-
preached the tomb of the Bell family.
To his surprise he saw that the door
Was open and faint light burned
inside. Stealthily drawing near, he
glanced i'll. He saw the coffin lying
along the marble slab aud in front OF il
Il woman WAS standing. A second
glance showed HIM that the woman was
at work tying to remove ring from
the finger of the dead. a sudden
thought struck him, and. slouching
down, he reached i'll at the door with
his shears, which he had brought to lid
the corpse of its cumbersome shruuu,
he cut piece from the skirt of the
woman'S dress and retired unubSerVed.
As he remained for an instant peeriu~
INTO the strange scene, to his horror
and aStonlshment he saw the corpse
arise and raise ths hand which the wo-
man was apparently in the act of put
ting To her mouth. The woman gave
II shrek, rushed through the door and
fled, leaving the lamp burning on the
floor. The body-Snatcher guessed at
once the woman's design, and. impress
ed with the conviction that she was a
person above the ordinary rank, he re-
solved to follow and see where she went
to. He had no difficulty in tracing the
rapidly retleating figure. 1t passed
out oI the church-yard at small wick
ct on the north side of the church and
entered the parsonage. Satisfied that
he possessed an important secret, out
of which lie could make money, he re-
turned to the vault. The light was
still burning and he signalled the men
Ill waiting. They were soon on the |
spot, but on entering the vault they |
discovered, to THEN utter astonishment. |
that the coffin was empty. The body |
snatchcr kept his secret, and the mys-
terious disappearance of the body was
Il matter of unmiXed surprise. Extin-
gushing the lamp, the men quit the
church yard, the bOdy-snatcher return
ed tn his quarters ut IL small inn and the |
assistants going back to Belfast in the
carriage.
The next morning the news of Ms. |
Bells restoration to life WAS abroad in
town. The body -snatcher fingered in |
the town until he ascertained that the
clergyman had quilted home for IA
friends house. Then he called at the
parsonage and asked I, 1 the lady of the
house. 1t was with some difficulty that
he obtained an interview, as the do
mestic Informed him that the lady was
and confined to her room.
"My business" he said, sis of very
great Importance, and it is absolutely
necessary that | should see her" After
the lapse of half an hour middle-aged,
handsome, stately lady entered the par
lor, and gazing with considerable dig
nifty at her visitor, said =
"What is your business with me, sir?"
''Let me shut the door, ma'am," he
said, and, quietly stepping behind the
lady, closed the door. 81 think we
have met before, ma'am," he said in a
firm but respectful tone.
''Sir 2" the lady exclaimed in Offend
ed accents.
IL am sure we have met before, ma
am" the man said.
lyon are mistaken, Sir,n the lady
replied, "utterly mistaken sir you will
oblige me by quitting the house imme-
,liately."
"YOu forget last night, ma'am, in the
vault" the man said in low tone.
The cheek of the lady evidently
blanched, and she gave gasp for breath.
Instantly recovering herself, she said
81 don't understand you, sir. You
are laboriHg under IL mistaken