The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-12-07
GRAVEYARD GHOULS.
NEWSPAPER DETECTIVES WORK,
And How they OutdId the Regular Profession.
Dramatic Incidents In the CAptare Of the
Philadelphia Grave Rohbers-Human
llyenM Working An Ohio Cemetsry.

Dramatic Incidents In III. CAptars Of the
Philadelphia Grave Rohbers-Hunan
Ilyeuas Working an Ohio Cemetery.
PHILADELPHIA, December G.-The cap
'ture OF the graveyard ghouls by the Pres
has caused great excitement in this city
The story Is intensely dramatic In NIL It's dc
tails. At 1880 o'clock at night Pres re-
porter, who had been sha,lowing the stable
Of Frank McNamec for more than three
weeks, reported that an express wagon had
Just been driven by NlcNamee himself
down Tenth street, in the direction OF the
Lebanon cemetery. Two carriages were al
once engaged and stationed ut Tonth an,l
Walnut streets. Into those at twenty
minutes ofeeven O'Clock jumped five Pres,
reporters ind Operator Henderson OF the
Pinkerton agency. The latter carried pair
OF handculls and coil OF rope. Each
man Carried IL revolver. The leader OF the
forces, Louis N. Megorgec, city editor OF
the Press, carried with him Il warrant for
the arrcet Of five men who were known 10
be in tEe business.
Drive rs fast rs your horses will TO-"
The hackmen did their part OF the work
nobly, and at o'clock the corner OF Broad
street and Passyunk was reached. The
l'ress forces Glighted and walked up Passy-
unk avenue. Previous experience made it
certain that IN express wuson would rattle
out OF the gateway OF Lebanon Cemetery.
PREVIOUS experience also led to the belief
that the wagon would contain the bodies
Of colored persons dragged from their
graves. 1t was determined to stretch Il rope
at point just below the cemetery gateway
and there apprehend the resurrectionists
and take possession Of their loud OF human
clay. But the best laid plans ARE not
always capable of execution, although in
this instance the result was not marrcd by
any blunder. - E
The Press posse walked quietly up Pass
.yunk avenue. The night was dark and
the roadway lonely. Not person WAS in
sight. The only sound heard was the o..
caslonal baying Of hounds, in which the
lower section Of the city-the Neck
abounds. Broad street was but a few hum
dred yards behind, and the selected spot
was squares away when there was heard in
the distance the rattling Of u wagon. There
were ears there TINT had heard that sound
before and one member Of the eparty cried
out excitedly, THAT'S the wagon, sure. /
cannot be mistaken in the sound" The
hurried consultation that followed occupied
but few seconds. 1t was determined to
arrest the resurrectionists-if such the men
approaching proved to beat anv SPOT
and at any hazard. 1t was too late to
stretch a rope across the street, even
nag alrlendly lamp-post presented place
OF lynn z. The wagon was now in sight and
Its hrst appearance proved disappoint-
nlent for the horse was white one,
whereas the grave robbers had always
used bay stallion. 1t was too dark 10
read the name on tho wagon, SO that the
only thing 10 rely upouto prevent Il mis-
tlke that might prove disastrous was the
countenances Of the men. The wou!d.be
caaptors had by this time divided in parties
OF three, one Oh either side OF tho road.
The leader was on the north, or right
hand side Of the street, and MS the wagon
approached he suddenly walked across the
roadway and lairly stumbled against the
white horse which drew back.
"Hold on! I want to see you ?'' was the
Press mans ejaculation as lie peered in the
drivers face. drop those lines !. II old up
your hands. Quick, or, l will blow hole
through you" -
An uncertain attempt TO urge the horse
forward had been anticipated by pluckv
Henderson, who had sprung forward and
caught the animal by the lead. lie too
leveled revolver and repeated the man. mn
GATE to throw up hands. Meanwhile in
pursuance Of plan previously agreed upon,
two reporters ran to the rear OF the wagon
aud two more ranSto the sides, and eacl,
man pointed Il pistol at the graveyard
shouls., The CONSERVATION OF the men
when they found themselves thus lemn,ed
IN was indescribable. The colored man in
his fright ,tu mbled back over the vat and
on the dead bodies with which the wagon
was iiiled.y McNamee,, for lie it afterward
appeared was the driver, hesitated about
dropping the reins, but again came tho
leaders mandate: "Drop those reins, or /
will Kill you" and as the man looked ut
the gllstening barrel he sullcnly did as he
was bld. The next moment he was COM
manded to step to the ground, aud then
henderson handcutIed him. Pillet, who
was the third man on the wagon, was
about jumping down when revolver
made him remain where he was until his
time for handwriting had come. The col
ored man, Chew, rolled of the bodies and
into the road and tried to make his escape,
but the two reporters in the rear fell upon
him, and when they placed the nuzzles OF
two pistols at. his ears, lie fell upon. his
knees and begged for mercy. The men
were all taken to the waiting carriages. and
then down town and locked up. On Nc.
Namees person were found tile two KEYS
BY which entrance was to be gained 10
Jefferson College, where the bodies were to
be taken. Five dead bodies were found in
The wagon, and these were kept in the Gus.
tody OF the Press awaiting identification.