Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-12-08
.RAzoRs AND PISTOLS.
More About the Ghouls Of PhiIa-
- delphia.
The Colered Population Wild With Excite
ment Over the Systematic Robbing
Of Lebanon Cemetery for a
Number of Years.
OHIO BRINGS UP THE REAR, AS USUAL.

PHILADELPHIA, December Wild ex.
citement was created by the disclosures
made in the Press of the doings of the or
ganized band Of grave robbers who were
arrested with six bodies in their posses
sion, that had been taken from the graves
in Lebanon Cemetery. Later in the morn
ing, after the apprehension of McNamee,
Pillet and Levi Chew, two more members
of the gang, Andrew Mullen, alias "Yank, I"
and Robert Chew, superintendent of tha
Lebanon Cemetery, were arrested. The pris-
oners, with the exception, of Null
len,- who did not appear, hay.
ing violated parole granted him,
were given hearing before Magistrate
Lennon and held in 5000 bail each for a
for further hearing on Friday afternoon.
An immense crowd Of people, surrounded
the magistrates Office and threatened to
kill the resurrectionists. A SQUAD of Do
lice was sent for and by their aid the men
we're removed to place of safety, although
Razors and Revolyers
were displayed An indignation meeting
of colored people will be held on Thursday
five have been identified, as follows:
Mrs. Clara Ringgold, Eighteenth and Ad-
Olson Streets Hans Jorgensen, SOC Hurst
street; James Kennedy, 6lS st. Mary street;
Charles Robinson, 1920 Hates street; Will
liam Antonio, 30S Lombard street.
Lebanon Cemetery, well-known burial
ground for colored persons on PaSsgunk
avenue, below Broad street, has been rob-
bed of nearly all its dead by some ghouls,
who have boldly piled Their nefarious trade
for the last nine years or more.
About eighteen months ago there was
employed in Dooner's saloon (then at
Eighth and Chestnut streets u tall colored
fellow, who every one knew by the name
Of Jim" His fall name was James Car
son Wicks. When he died his body was
placed beneath the sod of the Lebanon
Cemetery. About week after the inter
ment a couple Of young men were in
Dooner's saloon, when one OF them re-
Jim's gone" YES, replied Dooner, hes
been dead about a week" HE has" was
the reply; "welI. I've seen him within a
couple Of days" Then the young man
laughed, winked his eye and walked out.
After their departure the proprietor in
quired who they were, and being informed
that the men were students at the Jefier-
son medical College his
SuspiciOns were Aroused.
The clew was followed up, and it was soon
found that the bodies OF nearly all the col
ored persons who died in the fall, winter
or spring, and whose remains were taken
to Lebanon Cemetery, became eventually
the subjects for the scalpel at Jefferson
College, while those who were so fortunate
as to die in warm weather, when medical
colleges were not in session, were allowed
to return to the dust in the ordinary way.
Going back few years il seems there
were three "boss body.snatchers, who con-
fined their operations mostly in the Leba.
non Cemetery. There were Sol. Butcher,
brother-in-law of the Chews, since deceas.
ed; John Mayer, German saloon keeper,
whose place was formerly at Tenth and
Sansom streets, but who afterwarI kept ON
Germantown avenue near, Oxford street,
and is now in New York as a. bar.
teEpdssEt He an was ap2cesaSsfdd pSnftfAaARf
who is also in the express business with
the Philadelphia and Atlantic City Rail-
road, and who has for few years past run
a summer express to Bryn Mawr. His
partners or employees were Henry Piliet,
better known as Dutch, one.eyed,
small, stout fellow; Levi Chew, muscu-
lar, coal. l.black dar key, who was known as
Charcoal" and Andrew Mullen, driver
for McNamee, known as "Sank." They
were assisted by Robert Charles McNamee,
Pillet, Mullen and the two Chews were ar
rested. Robert was badly scared and tried
TO make a clean breast Of the affair but
his various statements were so widely diff
ferent that not much credence was given
to them. A premium Of 81 was paid for
each body removed from the cemetery.