The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-07-10
Body Stealing.

Scott Harrison by his son in the Ohio
Medical College, recently, created great ex-
citement in that locality. John Scott
Harrison was son of ex-President Harri-
son. He died suddenly. He was partially
dressed, and had therefore died while pre-.
pairing for bed, or had arisen early and ex-
pired before he finished dressing. A small
bottle of peppermint was found near him,
indicating that he had risen early, and,
feeling sick, had gone for it. The funeral
took place in the Presbyterian church at
Clcves and the body was inferred in Con-
grcss Green Cemetery, within few yards
OF the tomb of President Harrison. When
preparing the grave it was ascertaned that
the body of Horace Devins, buried ton DAYS
before had been stolen. He was an init
mate friend of the Harrisons, and the dis
covcry caused great excitement, making
them take extra precautions with the grave
then being prepared. It was accordingly
walled up heavily, the body placed in a
metallic caskct, and stone which required
six men for its handling placed over it. In
addition, guard was employed to watch
the grave for thirty days. The funeral
over, Carter Harrison, son of the deceased,
and George Eaton, a grandson, came to
Cincinnati to search for the body of their
friend Devins. They were prepared with
the proper search warrants, when, in COM
pany with ex-Chief Of Police smell Baker,
they visited the Medical College. In the
dlssecting room rope leading to chute
seemed tight, and drawing it up body
with the face covered was found attached
After examining it a moment Carter Harri-
son said, that is not he my friend was
wasted with consumpt on, while this Is a
stout man. The body was entirely nude,
save the covering of the face. Smell Baker
suggested that Harrison should take good
look, and the cloth being removed, he was
seen to tremble and turn pale as he ex-
claimed, "N1y Godl It's father!" The long,
white, flowing beard had been cut off close
to the chin, the jugular vein had been cut
aud the blood let out. The body was other
wise in no way mutilated. The doctors
could make no explanation, in fact had
nothing to say regarding the matter, aud
now stouty refuse to talk. The presump-
ton is that the suddenness Of tho death ex-
cited their interest, and they determined to
secure the body for post-mortem examln-
alton. The Enquirer contained a ten-linc
article headed "a Mystcry,' stating that
buggy was seen to drive into an alley,
where something white was taken out, and
man an buggy hastily disappeared. This
led TO the discovery, as it was concluded
the men were carrying the body of Devins
to the college, located in that vicinity. This
body was taken to an undettaker's, where
it was prepared for burial. While search
was being made in that city for the body of
Devins, friends at Cleve discovered that
MIR. Harrison's grave had also been des-
polled, and two of them at once came in,
and ut the depot met those who in advance
had made the discovery. The stone on the
grave had been pulled aside, the grave
opened, the glass in tho top of the casket
broken and the body pulled rudely out
The man employed to guard the grave has
not been seen since the discovery, although
every effort has been made to ascertain his
whereabouts. Opinion is divided as to
whether he was a party to the crime, or,
after neglccting his duty and learning the
result, fled from fear Of beiug arrested for
completely in it. The body was at once
taken back and reintcrred with precautions
still greater than ever. Mr.. Carter Harri-
son ls almost PROSTATE from the nervous
shock caused by series Of severe ordcals
through which he has just passed. He is a
married man and has several children, all
OF whom reside in the Harrison homestead
a farm given the late John Scott Harri-
son by his father, President Harrison. 1t
is located about five miles from the histoli-
cal Harrison farm at North Bend, where tue
deceased members of tho Harrison family
are buried, and where the body of the last
survivor OF the immediate family of Will
lam Henry Harrison was laid for 10 short a
rest. John Scott Harrison was seventy
four years of age. Hc was twice married,
and both his wives repose within few feet
OF the place prepared for HIM. General
Ben Harrison, of Indiana, who was last
year defeated for Governor of that State by
Blue Jeans Williams, was son of John
Scott Harrison by his first wife.