Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-03-05
Startling Discovery in Baltimore.
THE SKELETONS OF A WOMAN AND CHILD FOUND

Startling Discovery i'm Baltimore.
THE SKELETONS OF WOMAN AND CHILD FOUND
EETOMBED.
The historical old Nicholson mansion 44s
of startling discovery involving, it is believed
a mysterious double tragedy. The building,
which was recently purchased from the estate
of the late John j. Nicholson, the well known
banker, was being torn down 10 make room for
the new German savings bank, about to be
erected on the site, when the men engaged in
the work #. found two arched vaults built in the
walls OF the lower floor, in which were found
the bones Of two human beings. The solid
manner in which the vaults were constructed,
as well as the evident precautions taken to pre-
vent their presence becoming known, rendered
the discovery still more startling and In short
while number of interested spectators had
crowded into the building and were curiously
two-stOry and attic brick structure standing
back from the street, has been in course OF de-
molition for several days. Yesterday afternoon
knocking out the wall in the basement kitchen
in the rear of the structure, and were startled
to find that they had penetrated vallt in the
center Of the brtckwork, about two feet high,
four and a-half feet long and perfectly circular,
like small section Of a sewer, closed at both
ends. Upon clearing out the bricks and re-
fuse they found that the aperture contained
about half dozen bones, which were discern
tble In the faint light lying In the center of the
cavity. The bones were carefully removed, and
on sounding the wall the men became con-
WINGED that another cavity was located tmme-
diately underneath the first one. The pickaye
and crowbar were again vigorously applied, and
in few seconds crashed into a second vault.
which was the counterpart of the other. In this
bones OF another human body were discovered
lying along the bottom In the position they had
evidently been left when the flesh of the bodies
had disappeared In the course of decomposition.
Upon examining the two cavities it was found
that they had been arched and built, directly In
the center OF the mass of brickwork, in the most
substantial and careful manner The bricks had
been Embedded in flint cement instead of NOR
tar, as an additional strengthened, and every
precautton had evidently been taken to prevent
their presence being ascertained by sounding
bones were placed In box and Mr.. X. NJ.
Rother, cashier Of the German Savings Bank,
for which the BUILDING was being torn down,
was notified OF the discovery. Mr.. Rother at
once visited the scene, and after an examination
ordered the bones to be taken to the Office of
DR.. w. r. McKnew. That physician, after care
fully inspecting the bones, pronounced them to
woman.
FORMER OCCUPANTS OF THE HOUSE.
From the deeds in the possession of the Ger
nan Savings bank it was ascertained that the
building, which, as stated above, was very old,
was built in the year 1902 by man named
Phillips: An examination of the brickwork Of
the vaults, which was made by expert builders,
revealed the fact that the tombs of the mystic
rious dead must have been constructed shortly
aiier the building was finished as all the sur
roundings have the same evidences OF age A few
ears after its completion the house was sold
by Phillips to a family named Mccoy, one of
whom was named Andrew who retained it
until 1871, when it was purchased by the late j.
}. Nicholson, the well-known banker. The lat
ter resided In 1t for many years. several of his
children, who are now living, being born there.
Mr.. Nicholson was living in the house at the
time he was so brutally assaulted on the streets
by ruffianS who left him for dead, carrying off
large sum- of money belonging to his bank
which he had on his person. Mr.. Nicholson
several years after this moved to another resi-
dence and rented the house to slave dealer
named Grimes.
A SLAVE PRISON.
After this the old house, which at that time
was situated in an isolated position, became
notorious through the cruel treatment by
Grimes Of the slaves In his charge. He trans
formed the room In which the vaults were dis
covered yesterday into prison, where the I'M
fortunate negroes were kept huddled together
until several Of them died from Suffocation and
exhaustion. Finally the remonstrances of the
neighbors resulted In Grimes moving from the
house, and the building was let to another ten
ant. At subsequent periods 1t was occupied by
MI. G.. K. Minor, Simon Bolte and others Mr..
Chas. G. Nicholson, the eldest son of Mr. j. J.
Nicholson, was called on at his residence, 235
North Charles street, last night by Gazette
representative and when Informed of the
strange discovery expressed the greatest aston
ishment. From the fact that the wall referred
to was standing when his father purchased the
propertytt is evident that the bodies must have
been entombed previous to that time and not by
any OF the subsequent tenantS.-Balttntore Co.