The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-12-14


buildings of the Medical College Of Vir-
ginia prepared. under the terms OF the
warrant, tn enter into the college and dik-
gently search for the dead bodies removed
from the'cemetery. After awhile sergeant
Cosby returned, having In his custody
Or. Christopher Tompkins, professor Of
anatomy Of the Medical College of vir-
ginia.
Colonel John v. Young appeared ~
counsel for the accused and the eNamna-
tion commenced, when Colonel Young
said:
IF your Honor please. see no law I'M
der which YOU can proceed in these cases."
The Court replied that II the cases were
dismissed tn, parties in whose possession
the bodies were found could be prosecuted
- accessories after the commission %
felony.
Colonel Young said that no warrant had
been issued for anybody a. yet. and no
proceedings could he made against thcm
until the nature Of the offence was known.
The Court said il no statute existed Ia
cover a warrant. then the case could liz
dismissed. and the line ~ action adoptea
to which he had previously referred.
At this point Mr.. Flanagan, who had
not left the room since the disposal oi the
u
rector Of the Board OF the Central Iunalic
Asylum, h. would ask in the name Of the
Board that the fullest investigation he gone
through with. He took occasion to com
pliment the authorities for the energy and
elrnestness shown in having the graves
protected OF those whom the asylum were
unable TO minister 10. bodily or mentally.
Colonel Young: II cannot understand
why il is that In the presence of Mr.. Witt.
Commonwealth attorney, this gentleman
(llluding 20 tlannagan), who says he is
and have no doubt but he ia member
OF the lunatic asylum laughterl. should
appear here 10 stir mp feeling"
His attention being called to the nature
OF his remark, Colonel Young dryly said,
"Oh, beg pardon"
The Court decided 10 20 on with Tho
examination, and
DIR. roNPKlNs's CASE
, was first taken up. The first witncs, called
was W. 4. Dickerson, superintendent II
/ Oakwood Cemetery.
by Mr.. Witt: "Mr. Dickcrson, do you
know Of any specific charge against any
one OF robbing the graves at Oakwood2"
"No. sir"
BY the Court: Have any bodies becn
disinterrcd and removed from the come.
terry Z"
Yes, -lr. sunday night last three no
dies were"
How ilr j. the cemetery from The
city Z"
About half mile"
"Do YOU know who did this work 2"
~ do not know who they We're. only
frou what they -aid about it Themselves"
4 III I'll a., 4 tf.o IL
e Last night we arrested four men ,ust
outside Of the ccmctery-fence. They hadnt
taken any bodies out Mt that time, hut they
admitted they took three bodies Sunday
night thai is, Mr.. Meredith told Us al
about il. iie said that the wagon turned
over while thcy were going away. aon't
know anything To connect Dr. TompkfnS
with the offence"
"When did YOU see Dr. TOmpkins2"
II only saw him At tnc Medical College
thi- morning. lie drove up in his buggy
. while We were there with the scarch-war-
, rant He acknowledged he was 4 member
OF fhe faculty. We couldn't ind the l5oy
at first, and couldn't find any bos'y who
knew where il was. Some one said it wss
at the Police Court, and il was sent for.
We waited until DR.. Tompkin, came. and
he got the key for u-.'
Ibid Mr.. Smith say anything last
night"
"No, -lr.'i
"no yOu know the names OF the deceased
parties who were taken awayf'
40, >ir; hul can lind ont by reference
b to my book
Charlie Fleming Qcolored) testified that
he was employed at the Central Lunatio
: Asylum as driver and knew the inm,tcs.
some OF them died recently. iIe bad been
10 the Medical College and he
RECOGNIZED THE BODIES
oi George Metre and - Cole. inmates
recently of The Central Asylum. They
died some time last week; he couldn't say
" hat DAY. Ile knew nothing about the
grayc-robbcry. The h0die, were in a c.rl-
ldliion 10 be- recognized, but both were
muiilatcd. There were four bodies I'm The
college. ono ~ them was from che aims
house. H. hld no doubt a. 10 identity
when cro,,-cNamiued by Colonel Young,
witnc-- said hr wa- familiar with the p,r-
tics while in life, and saw them every day
Botn died la-i week.
Sergeant Cosby next testified. II exc
cutod tie -oarcii-wairlni, ana went down
10 the Medical College aud found rNcry.
ihing M confusion tlere. ! did not know
where the key "a-. DR.. Iompkin- drove
ilp after aN nile. Grd consented, under pro-
tc-t, 10 how through the building. We
won't uu two ilighf- of .taiT.. aud e.ontiy
came 10 room which W., locked. some
one handed him lry, hr unlOckcd tie
door. and W. entered TIE room. There
| we're FIVE tables la tine room. lnG oH iori
on them
phAD E0pif- WE'RE LYING.
.tf.
P Touukin, 10 le "a member Of the mfdiesi
faculty of ih, college arrested him rs Tie
custodian 0f the bodic-. This The Doctor
denied. and said, De was pr>ont AZ The
college for thr purpose ~ delivering Ice
ture."
: sergeant ANGLE sworn, and testified ibsi
hr wa- ln command ~ the -quad of police
men who made the aue-t. iic received or
. dcr- from the Mayor t. take ten men md
20 10 the cemetery.
AZ this point, il appearing that -ergeanL
Angle knew nothing 10 implicaie Dr
TOmpkin.. he ,ya- iOid TO stand aside.
Mr.. DUH .d took The stand and aid he
, wa, member oi the Board OF Aldermen
and of the Committee on cemeteries, aud
. chairman 81 the subcommittee 10 irycftl
cate the dcuredltions az OahwOcd. lie
went from the courtroom 10 the Medical
College with the officers who had the
,earch-w irrant. The officer asked for tho
college authorities, but could not find
f: them. When the KEY of the college was
! called for an attendant laid IL was at the
! Police Court. -aw Or. T0mphin- drive
] I'D. The Doctor protested against the
: Officers going into the house. He also said
, he did not have charge OF The bodies; that
. he was not dcmon>iraior of anatomy, but
= had come down 10 deliver lecture.
TEMPORARILY DISMISSED.
! At ihi- juncture the Court decided AZ
= fofiev.-