Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-01-28
The Alexandria Body-Snatc.,er..

fthIHEk PARTICULARS OF THE DISSERTATION OF
GRAVES THERE.
There was published In yesterdays STAR an
account OF a Dissertation OF graves In A!exan-
dria, Va, last Wednesday night. the Gazette
ofyesterday afternoon gives further particulars,
as follows:
The bodies of two persons we're taken from
their graves, out before they could be spirited"
away, The men who came for then were de
Iectet. when they He'd, leaving the corpses lying
on the cold earth beside the graves where they
naG been inferred. Miss Elmira Jacobs about
20 years or age, daughter OF the late PfesIr1
Jacobs, and sister or Mrs w. Fl. Mex alglt,
or This city. after suffering for some jImi
with an internal dIsease-supposed 10 be
tImor-that puzzled the medical profession
dled in Washington, rather suddenly. san
1a! list. The remains were brought -, ms
city Tuesday last anu inferred in the Pres
byterian cemetery, OF which Jerry Frazier. col
ored, is sexton. The members OF the family
In this city never once dreamed or the body OF
their deceased relative being disturbed. and 1t
was far from the mind Of the sexton that there
lived a man with heart so hard as to wish
anything but peace to the Inhabitants Of the
silent city, under his care. until last night
about ten O'Clock, when Mr.. Emmanuel Wepo,
living at the corner OF the lane leading to the
grave yards, heard the noise Of a wagon pro-
ceedlpg up the road. Me-. Webb Is sexton OF
several OF the grave yards, and is ever on the
watch. He regarded the circumstances as sus.
picious. aid, looking out or the window, AZ
hailed he driver OF the wagon and asked him
where ne was geing. The man replied thai he
was on his way TO Vinegar HILL" but had mis-
took the road Mr.. Webb informed him that he
could not reach the place he was loo6ing for in
that direction. The man drove on, however
and NJ. webb. watching the wagon, saw 1t turn
into the lane leading to ST. Paui's cemetery. on
the east side OF which is an entrance to the
Presbyterian yard.
AS SOOn as the wagon stopped, he, accom-
panied by a colored man named John LaQdQO.
went 10 the last named grave yard, and found
nfr2n 20 INIT no
driver was absent. He examined the wagon
u tight top vehicle, With dark bay horse at
tached-and found the bottom covered with
straw. AFTER waiting short time the man
who acted us driver came out OF the yard, FOL-
lowed by another man. He asked them what
was their BUSINESS at the grave yard at that
time Of night. One OF them replied that they
were on their way to Vinegar Hil" but lad
lost the route. In response TO other questions.
they responded that they lived Ia the county.
about four miles from this city but could not
tell the name OF the place. or the names of any
Of their heghoors; and that they were looking
Tor man named Harris. Mr.. Webb thinking
that something was wrong. requested the col
ored man with him 10 go after a policeman. and
started TO walk up the lane TO see II anything
was disturbed. The two men then jumped into
the wagon and drove of az full speed down the
lane, keeping down Wilkes street until they
were oGt OF sight.
The police authorities being informed Of the
matter. O1HcerS Goodrich and Pat HAYES were
sent cut TO the graveyard to make eXaInI ma
ton. Upon entering the Presbyterian yard
accompanied hy Mr.. Webb, they found the
bcdy or Miss Jacobs lying at the foot OF The
grave In which It had been placed last Tues
day, which her hands clasped over her right
shoulder. and her clothes much displaced The
grave WAS nlled up and there was very ltttla.
bes1Ces The body OF the lady. lying before the
three men, 10 Indicate that grave robbers had
been at work. Mr.. b. Wheatley was then no.
Tined. and the body removed to his est ablish-
ment, where Is was examined, but the only
marks found upon It were two ridges AROUND
each I'm hoC hoo
caused by the rope used In drawing It out OF the
coffin.
Early this morning Captain Webster, of the
police force, and Officer Goodrich visited the
grayeyards to see IL they could ind ANYTHING
that would lead 10 the detection OF the crlrni.
nails. In walking around they discovered foot
prints In the ground, which they followed TO
The southwestern corner OF the NJ. Z. Church
lSOutbl ctmei cry. where they found the BODY
OF Sar ali Jane Simms, colored, daughter of
Jerly Frazier, sexton or the Presbyterian CEN
eteTy, who died last week OF consumption. lying
on the side OF the grave In which It had been
placed Monday last Walter Daily, sexton OF
That ground, took charge OF the body and IL
was reinierred this morning.
Botn the graves had been filled up, and IL
seemed that the bodies had been taken out OF
!helr graves by parties who had been hired by
| the men who came after them, for they Were
| ready Tor shipment. Can't. Webster picked up
| Dear the grave OF the colored woman piece oil
tissue payer. wadded up and torn IN three
| pieces with one part gone. 1t proved TO be a
| tress dispatch and what remained. being put
| together, read as follows: add Albany, NY.
Owing 10 the seareity-priees have gone up
here; stove size. Ch-dollars-for Lackawanua
90" The TWO men In the wagon who were
disguised. but supposed to be white. are de-
scribed by Mr.. webb as being about S feet S
inches high. and slender. This afternoon
Officers Goodrich and Arnold arrested Thomas
Waugh. Bah Carpenter, Chas- Gaskins aud
Reuben Massey. colored grave-diggers in the
| TO the crime. and lodged them In the station
house for examination mmorrow morning
| The penalty for this ofenc8 In Virginia is con
nnenent In jail not u ore t4au one year and a
nne OF not more than $780,