The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-01-06
The Richmond GhOuls.


A SYSTEM OF DEPRECIATION REGULARLY or
GANIZED-CENETEIY AUTHORITIES DISRE-
GARDING REPEATED wARNINGs--wuO SHARE
IN THE PROCEEDS.
! The following special telegram was sent
to the New \ ork Herd!d from this city on
! Sundly:
The information briefly telegraphcd the
Herald last night to the effect that whole.
sale traffic is being carried on between this
and other points in the bodies OF human
beings-buried with all the sanctity OF
Christianity in one OF Richmond's popular
cemeteries and under the protection Of the
laws OF Virginia--is fully confirmed
bv visit TO Oakwood this eve
nng. This cemetery is situated be-
yond the extreme eastern boundaries OF the
city and j. quite extensive. The most re-
mote portion OF it runs down into raviDe,
through which flows stream known as
Stony-Run creek. Almost on the banks OF
this creek is a level plateau, which is the re-
ceptacle OF the remains Of nearly all the
colored people who die in the eastern part
OF this city, besides the deceased OF the
same race at the public charitable Insiitu-
tions. There are probably three hundred
graves in this particular locality, and it was
on these that the ghouls piled their horrible
vocation.
WARNINGS NEGLECTED.
IT was known to a few rs far back as
eighteen months ago that the graves were
being robbed of their dead. About that
time Mr.. William l.. Smith, the keeper OF
the cemetery, received very indignant
letter from Surgeon Conrad, OF the colored
| lunatic asylum, stating that the remains
| OF a recently. deceased patient OF his had
| been stolen from the cemetery, and adding,
in proof of his statement, that the body al
luded to had been recognized by one OF his
students. who had seen it in the dissecting-
room of the Medical College, Richmond. On
/ a subsequent occasion Mr.. Smith was paid Il
special visit by a surgeon, who made a
propostion to him in effect to connye at
the stealing OF the dead bodies for use
| in the institution to which he was attached.
This proposal Mr.. Smith Indignantly 1e-
| jected. and he reported the circumstances
| 10 the Committee OF the Council on Gene
teries. The name OF this surgeon Mr. Smith
refused TO give at present, but he said That
the interview took place about nine months
agO,, and that no notice OF II had yet been
taken by the proper authorities.
THE TRAFFIC REVIVED.
Not more than eight or ten bodies had
been taken, and during the heat OF the sum-
mer the traffic seemed 10 have been aban-
dOned. Two months ago, however. or as
soon as the cold weather set in, the resur-
rectionists resumed their work with un-
wonted activity, due notification OF which
was again sent to the Council Committee on
Cemeteries, accompanied by the request to
appoint guard to assist the keeper in the
protection of the cemetery from the depre-
dations OF the ghouls. Again no action
was taken beyond the publication OF a no.
tice in one Of the daily papers [the Dis
patch mentioned it two weeks ago] that par
ties were suspected OF robbing the graves
at OakwoOd cemetery, which had the effect
OF causing another temporary arrest OF the
traffic. Soon aiterward, as no guards were
provided, the - body-lifters" began again,
and since then about twenty-five or thirty
graves, making over forty III all, have been
plundered OF their dead.
| HOW THE GRAVES ARE RIFLED.
The keeper pointed out 10 the CORE
spondent the graves out OF which bodies
| had been taken, and they were easily re-
copnizable by the suDken and disturbed
condition Of the mounds. The work, he
explained, was carried on in most sys-
tematic manner, and il was evident that
several persons were engaged in il. In two
NIGHTS as many as seven bodies were spirit
ed away-four in one night and three
during the next. On Friday night last two
graves were robbed, and the traces OF the
desecration were distinctly visible to-day
small hole was sunk at the head OF the
grave. The coffin was then burs
omen lust over the head OF the
corpse. Into this hooks are insert
ed graphing the neck, and the body
il drawn up through this small aperture
usually leaving the shrOud or clothes in th'
, coffin. A worn path over which the bodies
are dragged from the graves through The
fence and across Stony-Run creek wa
pointed out. AT short distance, on the
opposite bank Of the creek, stands large
pine tree, to which the horses and vehicles
OF the body-lifters" are tied while TIT
, bodies are being exhumed, and the worn
, tracks Of these were also pointed out.
NEGLIGENT OFFICIALS.
To-day the scene OF the grave-robberiei
, was visited by a large number OF Indignant
citizens, though the fact OF the horrible
, traffic is not vet generally known in th'
community. 1t is stated that the police, o.
, well as the Council Committee on Cemete
ries, were cognizant OF all these facts, ye
no precautions were taken to protect I'M
, | dead nor to effect the arrest OF the partie
, concerned in the robberies. The keepe
says that a sergeant OF the police INFORMED
> him that the bodies were shipped UCr
Richmond by the Chesapeake and Obi
railway, usually 10 kerosene-oll parrals.