Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-15
The Grave Robbery Sensation.


ANOTHER ARREST IN RICHNoND-A CORPSE STOLEN
By AN OLD FRIEND OF THE DECEASED.
The excitement occasioned In Richmond BY the
discovery that ghOuls had been despoilng tho
graves of paupers in the Oakwood cemetery
of Christopher Baker, the colored professional,
upon another charge of resurrecting the dead
has tended to add fresh interest to the affair.
Old Chris is a noted character here and has fol-
lowed the profession Of dlslnterring the dead
for medical uses for quite long time. IL 10
thought that his field OF operations included
lakewood, Sycamore, colored cemetery. and
several other places Of burial in and around the
CIV. The charge upon which he was before the
police court yesterday is that of taking up the
body last January Of Clay Lomax, q prominent
colored citizen, who died during that month,
and was inferred in Sycamore cemetery, near
Richmond. Chris was an old friend OF the de-
ceased, and, 1T is alleged, acted as one Of the
pall-bearers on the occasion of the funeral Tho
night following the burial Of Lomax the keeper
of the cemetery heard suspicious noises In the
section OF the grounds In which Lomax was bu-
ried. posse OF neighbors were at once called
In by the custodian OF the burial ground and an
investigation made. Lomax's grave was found
open and the body gone. A search Of the neigh
borhood discovered two MISUNDERSTANDING
characters near the gate. One of these confessed
that he and Chris Baker, his partner, had re-
moved the body from the empty grave and con-
cealed Ii in the bushes. The ghouls agreed to
recover and replace the corpse in its resting
place If permitted to 90 about their business
undsturbed, a promise that was readily given
The body was taken from its place in the bushes
and restored to the grave. No one said any,
thing about the matter at the time. and probably
never would had not recent grave robberiee
stirred up public sentiment against the nefarious
work. hearing of Bakers case YESTERDAY
resulted in his being sent to the grand Jury to-
day on an Indictment for his participation Ia the
Sycamore cemetery robberies. He is also held
upon the charge Of despoiling graves at Oak
wood. Speaking of the resurrection business.
a prominent physician in Richmond remarked
that it was necessary evil. He iutimated that
IL the ghous are interfered with In the removal
OF the bodies of paupers they might turn their
attention to those of others. The young medi-
cal students charged with being implicated In
the lakewood cemetery outrages are highly con-
nected.
ACTION BY CEMETERY LOT OWNERS IN PHuADEL-
PHIA.
large meeting Of the lot owners of Lebanon
cemetery, in Philadelphia was held last evening.
resolution was adopted appointing commit
tee from the lot owners TO wait on the trustees
OF Lebanon cemetery and demand OF them that
on the strength OF the confession Of Frank Nc
Nance, the principal in the late Dissertation OF
the graves OF their dead, they swear out a war
rant for the arrest of DIR. Forbes of the Jefferson
Medical college, who is responsible for the rob
bing OF the cemetery graves, and that he be
proceeded against according to law.