St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-18
BURIED ALIVE.
Remarkable Story Of the Death Of
EstelIe Newman. The Body Stolen
from the Grave.
Life Observation-Disclosures to Health, Mar
ried-ImprobabIlity Of the Romance.

The following narrative, sent from Pitts
field, Mass, has both believers and doubters
in the region where it originated:
PIrTsFIELD, Mass, Dee IA dreary
drive Of four miles from Great Darlington, in
the face Of binding snow storm, brought
your correspondent 70 the neatly kept farm
Of Judge Rowley,, Of North Egremont, the
uncle Of Estelle Newman, who is alleged TO
have been restored to life in medical college
dissecting room, and administrator Of her
estate. Judge Rowley is chairman Of the
Seleetmen OF his town, and q conservative
conscientious gentleman Of the old school,
and from him were CLEANED many facts throw
ing additional light upon the very strange
story regarding Miss Newman's supposed
death and subsequent resuscitation. Miss
Newmaa, 1t appears, was bright lady OF 80
years Of age, OF excellent parentage. highly
cultured and having many warm friends.
For many years she had been
ORGANISE or THE METHODIST CHURCH.
az North Egremont. In December, 1873,
just as she, with others, was interested IN an
approaching Christmas entertainment, she
had an attack OF spinal meningitis. Her
death ensued early In January. The funeral
was attended from the Methodist church. and
the interment was in the family lot adjOin-
ing the church. Among the mOurners at
the grave was one II. North Wright. an Eyre
mont young man, who was at that time
studying surgery in college al Albany He
had long known Miss Newman, although so
far as known their friendship had never ap-
preached TO intimacy. On the evening OF
~ q Al
given at Egremont when II. North Wright
and his brother attended. Afterward the
young man returned 10 his studies at Albany
graduating high Ia MS class. He settled at
Sheffield, Mass, for 2 while, but later drifted
into Connecticut. where he died in 1851 after
some years OF dissipation. NOW comes
TIE STRANGE PART OF THE STORY:
It is alleged that during the night following
the burial II. North Wright and three fellow
students visited the graveyard, exhumed the
body of Miss Newman, and carried il TO Al
bany: that soon after reaching the dissectlng
room evidences Of life were found, aud the
| girl became animate. She was at once taken
/ 10 Bellevue Hospital, New York, where. after
/ period OF insanity, she Tegained her health,
and was then tasen to the home OF the uncle
! OF one Of the ghuuiish students, residing in
/ SchOharie county, New York State. The stu
/ dent was in partnership with his uncle in
/ practicing medicine and surgery. Her health
entirely returned and her mind became AZ
/ bright as ever, In 1881 she read in news
paper OF the murder Of DR.. Wright ut New
town, Conn, and at once showed a great in-
terest in the case, affirming that DR..
| Wright was an old friend, ana seemingly
family recalling to mind her supposed fatal
/ illness II home. In the meantime, however,
/ the student at whose uncle's house she was
living had fallen deeply in love with her aud
married her. The story further details that
the pair are now living in New Rock City. and
propose TO visit the scenes OF the lady's child
hood during the present winter. So much
for the story which has upset the usual quie-
tude OF North EgremOnt and the surrounding
towns, and resulted in
PANDENoSIUN OF GOSSIP.
Mr.. ROwley states thal application has been
made 10 him by distant relatives OF Mss
Newman to open the grave and settle the
! question of her death. He does not favor
this plan, believing, first, that the story is
false, and, second, preferring to let the mat
ter remain an uncertainty rather than open
the grave with the possibility Of finding his
worst fears confirmed. lie leaves town to-
morrow for an extended trip to Virginia,
doubtless glad to get away for time from
an air laden with uncomfortable rumOrs. He
was the executor OF Miss Newman's estate,
aud the $1,000 left by her has been disposed
of by law. he never had suspected that she
was living until week ago. The Darlington
postofiice was crowded at noon, aud ali the
villagers were gossiping about the story. W.
F. Crippen, cousin OF the girl, states that
three-fourths OF the people OF Egremont
fully believe that
MISS NEwMAN's BODY WAS EXHUMED.
and further states that if the proper authori-
ties do not at once take steps to settle the
question, the citizens will take the matter in.
10 their own hands and find out the truth or
untruth of the story. He Is willing to make
oath 10 the fact that four young men were
driven out Of tue cemetery on the night in
question and is positive that the story is
true at least in so far as the theft ofthe body
is concerned. The flames are further fed by
the statement OF one of the women who was
present al the death OF Miss Newman, and
who stated that two days after the supposed
death, on the day Of the funeral, she accident
" touched the back Of the body, and found a
spot so warm that the heat was plainly per
ceptible, even through the clothing. Mrs.
Newman, the mother of Estelle, and Mrs
Chappel, sister Of the woman alleged Il
have been resurrected, relate circumstance.
which increase the improbabilitles of Ind cur
rent gossip Mrs. Chapel had heard nothing
Of the romance concerning her buried rela
tive. She was with Estelle when she wa
supposed TO die. The sick woman had beer
through q religious revival and
HER MIND WAS AFFECTED.
her mania took the form Of q conviction
that it was her duty not to eat, and she died
from starvation, together with spinal com
, plant Her flesh was so wasted that Il wa.
| fhnnrhi inn rossihe that she ..nr,ld hnr-l. hoor