Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-02-04
Body suatching.-For a long time the

bOoy Snatcnang.--Fora long time the
various cemeteries of Alexandria, Va, have
been systematically robbed Of the dead de-
posted in their limits. The ghouls who
performed this CHASTITY work were set of
negroes, residents of that city, who received
the nominal sum of $3.50 for every subject"
dug up and placed by the rifed grave. Last
Wednesday night, 26th ult, policeman in
the vicinity Of the Presbyterian burial
grounds, grew suspicious Of light wagon
that was driven up lane to the cemetery
gate by two men who appeared to be dis
guised He followed them and in answer
as to what they were doing there, said they
were lost and asked for certain parties I'M
known to the officers. By careful maneu-
vering they both quickly got in their wagon
drove rapidly away in the direction of town
and through it at break neck speed. The
Waterman now concluded that something
radically wrong was transporting and he be-
gan an inspection Of the cemetery and soon
found the bodies of Miss Jacobs and a
daughter Of colored man named Fraziers
lying upon the snow by the side of their
new made graves. There bodies were to
be called for by the parties who had driven
off in the wagon.
A vigorous search was at once begun by
the police authorities, which on Friday last
resulted In the arrest of the colored men
named Thomas Vaughn, Albert Butler and
Chas. Chapman. On the same day Vaughn
made "clean breast of the whole affair In
the following.
albert Butler came to nv house on the
night OF January 20, 1881, and asked If /
had any shovels, and told him yes. We
then proceeded to the grave in the Presbyte-
rian grounds and dug up the corpse. Albert
and myself unscrewed the top and took out
the body, and laid her head toward the foot
of the grave /; left her dressed rumpled about
her waist. We then went into the new
ground, and took up the body of colored
girl he then asked me II knew who the
girl was, and l told him no; then told me,
81 will tell you some other time" We then
left the grave and wentdown the lane to my
house. carried the shovel and spade and
he carried the prong hoe. He then left my
house, and said the wagon would be here
about 10 o'clock. He returned soon after
and told him the devil was TO pay; that
MIR. Webb had scared the parties with the
wagon on. He then ran away from my house
and did not see him any more until saw
him at the station-house."
At preliminary hearing held on Monday
Vaughn and Butler were committed to Jail to
await trial, and Chapman gave bail for his
appearance at the April Term of the Crimi-
nal Court.
Body snatching has become very preva-
lent of late, and Baltimore has just recovered
from sensational episode in this line when
it was found that the body of Miss Julia
Smith, very estimable lady in life, had
been stolen from the grave some six weeks
ago. These graveyard ghouls are ever on
the alert and the location of the differen,
burying grounds Of this lacality affords them
fair fields and rich rewards for their nefari.
GUS work. Now that the Rockville Cemete-
ry has been duly Incorporated by law, ii
should be almost the first duty of the direc.
tors to build neat dwelling on the grounds
and place in it, free Of rent, some worthy
man who would act in the double capacity
of sexton and Waterman. We do not desire
1 TO become alarmists, but forewarned is fore
armed and the precaution we have suggested
will have 10 be made some time and why
not now or early in the Spring?
! ~
A Country Parsons Perplexity.-The
following capital "hit," written by well
known writer of this county will be appre.
ciated by our readers:
A short time ago, being out in the snow,
That kept my eyes constantly blinking,
A sight that seemed strange, as passed by
the Grange,
| witnessed, which set me TO thinking.
For there espied, all round the yard tied,
To stand after night had closed over,
And sharpened the blast that drove the snow
last,
Steeds with blankets alone for cover.
And their owners seemed free from all
anxiety
| That the steeds any risk TO health run;
So they stepped within doors, from the driv-
ing snow showers,
With nought ON their minds to spoil fun.
This thought came to me: really don't see
| Not even a mist has strength to resist,
But can stand any weather on Monday.
My horse it appears, though well up in years
Stands weather on week days no better;
But then, l suppose, Indeed every one
knows)
possess an exceptional "critter"
But now | reflect, the selfsame defect
All flesh and blood seems 10 Inherit
For it doth appear unless Sunday be clear
No man nor horse has strength To bear 1t.
And yet it seems queer sure It's quite iai
from clear
Why Sunday the health should deplete
The cause j can't see, though all seem n
agree,
They must that day be very discreet,
The more that thought, it perplexity
brought,
The stranger the matter did seem
Growing nothing more wise, close down over
my eyes
my hat pulled, and banished the theme;
Saying: natures designed, / daily more find
To present curious themes for discourses
But the hardest 10 probe, on this curious
globe,
Is mans Sunday health and his horses
A sardnt suggest, after many requests
That his wit with the problem he'd measure
That tn effect of the weather all depends
whether
A mans out for duty or pleasure.
| - -
Pound Frozen to Dea th-On We'd
nesday morning last a man was found dead
lying on his face just inside of the front yard
gate at the residence of Mr. S. Clarke Veirs
on the old Georgetown Road. Sheriff Kelch
ner was apprised Of the death and at once
summoned a jury from this place and with
Justice Morgan and Dr. Sommers repaired 70
the premises. No one present knew any
thing Of the deceased he being an entire
stranger, and the jury was not long detained
before unanimously agreeing that the
deceased iroze 70 death His remains Wert