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

Examination Before the Police tourt-Th-
Parties sent On to the Hastings Court.
At meeting OF the Committee on Gene.
! terieS about two weeks ago the keeper OF
Oakwood cemetery Or. w. \. Dickerson)
reported that he had reasons 10 believe
that depredations had been made in the
cemetery. Evidences OF tins were plain.
and showed that nj times graves had been
opened and bodies taken thence. This he
ascertained from an examination of the
graves. The depredations We're confined
TO the eolored pauper burying-gr omds,
THE Robbers
having selected these graves for their dark
work. Mr.. DickersOn asked the commit.
tee for guard 10 protect the graves. and
in pursuance with this request The commit
tee ordered him to place on duty a guard.
with orders 10 watch the graves II all
times. Al a subsequent meeting of the
Council an appropriation was asked for aud
granted for the purpos, Of paying this
guard. Mr.. Dicker,on was also instructed
10 report any further disturbance OF the
graves and all depredatiOnS committed in
the cemetery. Mr.. j. Il. Elly-on was em-
ployed 4, the special, and entered upon the
discharge Of his duties.
GRAVEYARD WORK At NIGHT
| Last saturday morning Mr.. Diokerson.
| The superintendent Of the cemetery, re-
ported tlnt the Sraye-robber. had again
been at work. The guard informed him
that while on duty Friday night last. and
while il was intensely dark, he heard foot
steps approaching, and was Suddenly con-
| fronted by man, who said hc Was los,.
/ The guard halted the man, who told him
| he was from the country and on his way to
| the city. giving Brown ~ his name. The
guard appri-ed him Oi his danger, and
wanted 10 take him 10 the front gate. but
| the man demurred. and asked 90 be- taken
| back 10 the Nlne- lille road. hence h. had
come. This was done by thc guard.
[ Soon aftcr This dog which accompanied
! the guard rushed past him barking Vi
ciously. and instantly the sound Of hall
/ q dozen men were heard hastily rctreating.
! The dog pur-ned and seized on II them,
when the stiffness OF the night wa broken
| by the sharp report OF pistol. Instantly
| the guard returned the fine. empiying both
/ barrels OF double barrel shotgun IN m,
! direction Of the sound OF the rotrcaline
! footsteps. The fire. however was harm.
| less on both sides. Later on. 81 hen the
night was stll H. death, the guard could
/ hear strange noises. and could Distinguish
once or twice men signalling each Other
| bv Whi,tling. but ne wn- unable L.
come up with the parties. Next morning
it was seen that the guard had been sue
ccs,iul in keeping the deprodators iron
work. The committee, thoroughly appro
clatng the importance Oi this matter 10 th'
city, appointed q subcommittee, consisting
Of Me,sr-. c. II. putheld (chairmau). 10
seph Dickersou, and George J. Hooper
Jr., 10 take the matter in hand, and, ii pos
Sibe, bring the offenders 10 Justice. Tn
committee went out 10 Uikwood cemeter
saturday night aud gave certain instruc
tonS. Horses were provided upon which
men could mount and rapidly ride 10 th
roads leading 10 the city and there inter
cept such parties - might leave the cemc
terry. the duty oi a third man being b. ap
prise the Superintendent Of the appearanc
OF deprcdatOrs. and then 10 drive them of
A. loon ~ possible thereafter.
suNDAY-NIGHT's SUCCESS.
ON sunday night the guards heard .ls
piclou- sounds, and cautious investigation
]
work. 4 lantern left on new grave wa
seen 10 be thrown 10 the ground AM
broken. thereby suddenly eXtingai>h hin
the light This was reported 10 The super
intendent and the extra guard, Wh'
mounted their horses and AT 0ni for th
main road. heading 10 Richmond. Beior
the reserve guard returned the work @
The era,e-robbing had been done, m'
three empty grave We're discovered.
HOW II i- DONs.
Graye-robhing l. a profession with >our'
men. and a. IL j. a dark and ghOsily Norl
very lew people know how IL Is done. 4
wagon j. secured; q strctcher. .n axe
-pade-. and pair OF grappling-iron. mad
| especially Tor the purpose, placed IA n
The grappin--irOn. resemble q pair o
nippcr- with long hlnde- and large lor
cep-. When the grave l. roachct
three or fouf men seize the -paao-. an'
commence rapidly 10 sink . hole q th'
head of the grave. NHcn IN. coffin .
touched th, lid over tie head i- eat oil
the grappl'ng-ir0n- are brought into u,e
Inserted in The aperture IA tho colin
squeezed around the ncch II ihe victim
land then "a strong pun bring lp ,ae body
The grNe-clothc- are stripped on an'
thrown back into the grave ana tie ho!
hastily covered ny. The body = thro~l
upon the hort ,tretchcr, covered Nilh al
oi-cloth. and hurried away. kot NOR
than ten minutes is consumed m toe worh
TIE ESCAPE.
Tho robhcr- nii made quick GOr. oi
Sunday night, but before they reached ID,
Nine-Nil, road, Mr.. Eliyscn, ihe guard
WI on hand and waiting for them. IL
presently heard some one Whis;nE, an'
next The sound Of voices; some one a>h
inc. "Is Il bloody" Advancing IA III
direction ol The voices be passed q side
road from which a buggy darted AZ once
This he pur. lpd until Il reached The ciiy
where IL disappeared in livery stable.
wa. afterwards found that . wagon Wit
three bodies in ii had been overturned Il
Mr.. Noegler'- cabbage patch, and I l. -ul
po..d that the buggy was then brough
into ,lse, thus dcceiyiBg the guard.
DECIDED ACTION.
The subcommittee. hearing Of thl, Mon
day morning went 10 see Mayor earring
ton and a-ked Tor the aid Of the police
Tbe Mavor ordered detail - ten men an
= sergeant 10 D. placed At the disposal
the committee. sergeant j. y. Angie, q
the Sesond police station, with tao r~gu
lar officers and eight special policemen
went out 10 the cemetery Tuesday night
Sergeant Angle had previously visited IN
oround and made up biz mind ho'
IN dispose cf his men. Soon ate
nightiall he reached the cemetery an
stationed m men al different point
surrounding the locality in which th
orave-robbing bad been done. The me
laid down on the ground bat kept aWak
and watchiul, for even speci1l polictma
doe, not iind the task Of watching T.
graye-robbers al night IN q cemetery IA
that i likely % bring sleep 10 the eyeiid'
About midnight they succeeded 10 asres'
IN Mes.rs. ". u. Meredith, Of BUckin.
nm county. and w. \. Smith, OF Rlcl