The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-12

Couldlyou not have gotten one OF the hands
| to watch at night and let him of during the
dav?
Mr.. Smith: will state that I proposed
that very scheme to Mr.. Mcdowell, or stated
| that that might he done.
Mr.. Mcdowell: deny the assertion.
Mr.. Smith: have watched nj all hours
OF the night-sometimes until O'clock In
the morning.
Mr.. McDowell II you had employed an
| extra hand TO watch the cemetery one or
two nights and tried to catch these robbers,
do you. think the committee would have re-
fused to pay for the service?
Mr.. Smith: do believe that the authority
that would refuse to pay public expense
would refuse to pay private one.
The Chair desired the secretary to note
the fact that he considered Mr.. Smiths re-
ply improper.
MR.. SMITH WANTS COUNSEL.
During the investigation Mr.. Smith
protested several times against the proceed
ing, and said that II this was his trial
he demanded 10 be represented by counsel.
He insisted that he had reported The fact OF
the robberes TO the committee [the chair
man he meant. and that they had done
nothing to aid him in preventing the rob-
berries. He insisted that he had no author
iiy 10 call the committee together himself,
and that his only recourse was to no.
tify the chairman, which he said he
did on several occasions. lie insisted
that he could do 10 more. The chair
man and Mr.. Smith had frequent lively dis
cussions, and although be said he wanted
counsel, his distinct and emphatic answers
would seem TO indicate that he could be his
own lawyer.
When the committee was about to I'd.
jOurn Mr.. Smith asked again il this was his
trial; if so, be desired 10 be represented by
counsel, who could tell him what questions
he should or should not answer
He was informed that the committee only
desired to get at the facts for a report, and
that this was not his trial.
Mr.. Smith expressed himself as satisfied
il that was the committees purpose, and
after some further discussion the committee
rose to meet again at the call OF the chair
man.
A GUARD AT THE CEMErERY-THE BODIES
TAKEN.
The committee have now placed guard
at the cemetery, who is 10 be paid S1.25 per
day for his services. Several interments
have been made within the past few days,
but the bodies have not been disturbed.
Mr. Smith states that seven bodies were
taken in two nights, and that in all forty
bodies have been taken. 1t is generally be-
leyed that the body-snatc ching business has
been engaged in by parties for pecuniary
gain, but no one for moment supposes
that our Virginia medical institutions have
had a hand in that.
KEEPERS OF CEMETERIES HAVE POWERS OF
POLICEMEN.
Section Of chapter 81 Of the City Ordi-
nances reads: The superintendent, assist
ant superintendent, and steward Of the city
almshOuse, and keepers and assistant keep
ers Of all cemeteries, public buildings,
parks, or enclosures within the city are
vested with the powers of policemen OF
said city, so far as the limits Of their re-
spective cemeteries, buildings, parks, or en-
closures are concerned.
DUTIES OF CEMETERY-KEEPFRs.
We received the following communica-
ton few days ago:
RICHMoSD, January 6, 1880.
Mrssrs. Editors,-I have reai what was said a few
day, ago about the graves In oakwood having been
robbed, aud now this morning IS Mr.. SInlthS de-
VIII Won now. for the informatio7 of the public:
for one should he much rained If thought the
keeper ct Hollywood did not feel first Of all bound
TO protect the graves from robbery. UNA.
The above subject is published to-day
because the general subject is now under
invssti--tsvu. inc Ordinances tp,gc 1871
provide for the appointment OF the keeper
OF Oakwood, fix his compensation, and
say that the committee shall take care that
he performs his duties. He shall plant
trees, keep the grounds and walks in order,
&c. /; but says nothing about his watching
or protecting the graves.
WHAT THE HERALD SAYS.
Saturdays New York Herald has the fol.
lowing:
RICHMOND, va, January 9.-The eX.
posure OF the Oakwood graye.robberes has
had the effect of at least putting stop to
the ghoul traffic. A guard was placed over
the portion OF the cemetery from which the
bodies were stolen, and for the first time in
many months two colored paupers buried
there Yesterday were allowed to rest in their
graves. Ii is suggested now that the dis
tinguiShed Judge OF the Hastings Court and
the able City Attorney take the matter in
hand. and cause the doctor who made the
conniving proposition TO the keeper; the
officials Of the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road. through whom the bodies were shipped
10 Charlottesville and other points: the SER
eeant OF police who vas cOgnizant OF the lat
ter fact, and others, TO be summoned before
the grand jury for the purpose Of bringing
the ghouls to justice.