St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-11-12
THE SECRET is OUT.
End of the Mystery Surround
ing the Lake Johanna
Corpse.
A High School Young Man,
With a Frenzy for
Joking,
Interfered With the Plans OF
Honest-Meaning Medical
Students.
Emhalmed and EuPied. He
Embalmed and Euried, He
Disturbed the Corpse for
Sensation.
The secret is out at last.

The secret is out at last.
The victim" of the Lake Johanna
mystery may lay his weary bones
to rest, secure in the conviction
that there is no stern necessity for
his wrath to perambulate the earth
in a search for vengeance on the
heads of foul murIherers. 1t is only
a poor. harmless cadaver, after all.
The GLOBE is in possession of the
story in its entirety. As a result those
persons who have been wrongfully
blaming Sheriff Bean. Coroner Quinn or
County Attorney Egan will feel it their
duty TO humbly ask for pardon. No
crime has been committed, and no law
not even the health law-vio-
lated. These officials. who have
the whole story, were entirely right in
all that they did, and simply displayed
good Judgment in saving wood and do
ing nothing. The story is furnished by
two reputable physicians of st. Paul
and can be relied upon as strictly true.
1t is given in the language of one of
them:
THE STORY OF A STIFF.
In the middle of the summer an I'M
known man was killed on one of the
railroads, and the fact only chronieied
in the GLOBE. 1t was the body of a
tramp that was picked up, and it was
conveyed to the keeping of prominent
surgeon of the city. No claim was ever
made for it, and when week later two
medical students. we'll Endorsed, applied
for the body for the purposes
of dissection. 1t was turned over
to them. as the law provides. The first
demonstration was made in their pres
ence by physician holding an official
position. He 0iSSeeted portion OF the
thigh and groin. showing the femOral
artery. That physician was myself.
Afterward the body was further dis
spcted, the brain being the especial
study, and the top of the skull
was removed in a not very scientific
way. These students, who are the sons
of reputable citizens, attend medical
lectures in the fall md winter. and be-
fore they had completed the dissection
of the body the time came for them to
return East. They desired to preserve
the body until spring, when they could
pursue their Investigations and finally
mount the skeleton. Accordingly they
embalmed the body in the approved
style. bv the advice of skilful physi-
clans. Thew were directed tn then en-
close it in tar barrel and bury it out
side of the city limits; and this prac-
tice, bear in mind, obtains among all
reputable physicians. They properly
prepared the body, and then took into
their confidence young man who at
tended the high school, to assist
in burying it. This they lett to him,
and he buried it safely on the banks of
Lake Johanna and blaZed 'ighbOring
tree to mark the spot. The students Ie-
turned to school. satisfied. Thus far all
was well. But this young high school
man had
A TOUCH OF OLD NICK
in him, and is an inveterate practical
Joker. A short time ago, actuated by
his ruling propensity, he went ont to
Johanna and dug up the body. He
saws he thought of boiling down the
corpse to get the skeleton, but the prob
abilities are he went there solely to ere
ate a sensation. He uncovered the
body, mutilated it,and, after carving the
sensational words on the head of the
barrel, placed the arm abuve ground
and came away and left it. | have not
the slightest doubt he did it to create
lust the sensation that followed. He
once went up the river, got lag full Of
snakes and turned them loose in
Jackson street restaurant just for
practical Joke, which shows the char
aeter of the young man.
Now, there is the whole story in
nutshell. The proceeding, aside from
the joke of the young fellow. was
strictly honorable and legitimate.
Coroner Quinn will testify that the body
was in good condition, as far as the
muscles were concerned, and would
have kept for ten years. The students
were entirely blameless, and were
simply pursuing lauhable
STUDY OF ANATOMY.
81 would have made this statement
sooner but for one thing. When first
learned of the discovery could not un-
derstand why the body was in that con-
dition, so l hunted up the high school
man and got his explanation. but it was
only yesterday. He would not admit
any intention Of joke or sensation. and
told me he left the hatchet there because
1t got dark so quickly that he could not
find it.
There is the whole story in nut
shell. You will see at once that there
was nothing wrong in the actions and
intensions of the medical men, and that
this howl for justice is all hOsh. grow
ing out of a want of understanding
of the situation. | do not defend the
prahks of the would-be joker, but give
the story just as it is"
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