Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-30
A REsURRECrIoNusr FOOLED.
Surprised I'm the Act OF Robbing q
Grave He Makes His Escape.

Grave He Makes His Escape.
The hrst resurrectionist Ca the season made
his appearance last night oraceland eeme-
terry was the place selected and the grave de-
spoiled was that which contained the remains
OF John Il Brooks, Q eolored waiter about
thirty-two years old He had lived at No S32
oarneid avenue, but when he was taken III his
relatives sent him 70 Freedman's hospital,
where he died Friday night Brooks relatives,
although poor, intended 10 give his remains
decent burial A sta was selected in Grace
land cemetery and the body was prepared for
burial by an undertaken. The corpse was
placed in a neat coffin, on the lid OF which was
q silver plate bearing the inscription AT Rest +"
The necessary permits were obtained and
Saturday afternoon the grave was dug by John
Arthur, colored. Near by Enoch Burgers was
digging another grave. While the men we're
thus engaged Andrew Jackson, another coloreo
employe OF thecemetery, was At work repair
ing the fence.
THE HELPING HAND.
The three men were hard at work when q
stranger appeared among them He was
Short thick-set man with q mustache. He
wore a black Prince Albert suit and silk hat.
Hello, there, he said to Arthur, 'let me
help you"
down."
Pretty hard work, isn't it?"
We'll, rather, I" was Arthur's reply.
How much do you get for digging graves2"
the stranger then asked.
''0h, not much" replied the old man.
After being told when the interment would
be made the stranger departed.
THE STRANGER UNDER SUSPICION.
II believe dat mans a slap doctor" said one
OF the colored men. Then the three heads
neared each other, and the strangers suspi-
eious actions were discussed. Jackson, who is
foreman OF the laborers, came TO the conclu.
sion that the man was q doctor. and had come
to spot the grave. he reported the facts 20
Superintendent Gafford Of the cemetery, and
he decided TO have the grave watched. Ac-
cordlngly he sent for officers Slack and Fifield,
who were on duty last night, and about o'clock
last night they went on guard duty.
GUARDING The GRAVE.
Policeman Slack took his position at Hol-
lands store, opposite the cemetery expecting
to see the wagon Of the resurrectionists when
it appeared. Superintendent Gafford and
Officer Fiteld took their positions in the ceme-
terry. The grave was only few feet from the
northern boundary Of the cemetery near the
post and rail fence that encloses the ground.
They took positions near trees about fifty
yards from the grave and waited patiently
for the arrival of the ''cadaver-hunters"
About o'clock the sky war covered with
clouds SO that the watchers were in total dark
ness.
SUDDEN APPEARANCE OF ''rHE NIGHT DOCTOR"
1t was a few minutes after 8 O'Clock when
the might doctor" made his appearance in
the cemetery. How he got in no one knew,
but Officer Fifield heard his footsteps on the
gravel walk. He walked through tine grounds
like he owned the place. Presently he struck
q match near the fence and found the grave he
was looking for. The light disappeared ne
suddenly as il appeared aud then the form Of q
man was seen in his shirt sleeves. The white
shirt was the only thing that made the resur-
rectionist visible. The noise made by his
shoveling was heard for a minute or 30 and
then nothing was heard until the box inclosing
the coffin was broken. 1t took nearly so min
utes for the intruder to finish the job. The
officers, being unable 70 see the man, had to
guess at the time. They were waiting for the
arrival of a vehicle TO cart the body away.
SUDDEN DIsAPPEARAScE OF TUE ''SIoHr DOCTOR"
The superintendent fearing that the man
would get away with the body, started on his
hands and knees toward the grave. He had O
shot gun with him. When he arrived within q
few feet OF the grave he arose and called out;
Throw up your hands or I'll shoot"
.'It is hardly necessary TO say that the man
did not throw up his hands, but like streak Of
lightning disappeared in the darkness.
THE GUN BURSTS.
The superintendent raised his gun and pulled
the trigger, but the cap was defective. He
then tried the other barrel and il hung fire.
A second time lie tried it and then the weapon
was discharged with such force that il burst
Fortunately Mr.. Stafford WIS not injured. When
the superintendent and O.fcer Fiield arrived
at the grave they saw the body of Brooks lying
on the ground near the grave, which had been
filled in so deity that the resurrectionist had
destroyed nearly all the evidences Of his visit.
he mas fhav r,l0 -, slax
HIS CLOTHING LEFT BEHIND IN MS FLIGHT.
The grave robber had taken of his overcoat
and under coat and his hat, which he left near
the grave. He also left two shovels and his
hooks. which he used in raising the body from
the grave. The clothing and implements were
taken to the eighth precinct and the officers
expect to have the clothing identified
RENrERMENr OF THE BODY.
This morning the grave was reopened and
the coffin was found filed with earth. In the
grave was found portion of the grave clothes
and the flowers that had been buried with the
corpse. The silver plate still on the coffin,
as the head piece or the Id had been broken.
The body was again dressed and placed back in
the grave. The body was buried in an isolated
portion Of the cemetery. and there is nothing
to keep out the grave robbers except an ordi-
nary post and rail fence.
The officers expected that a wagon would
failure of the vehicle to appear threw the OH
GERS off their guard. That is probably the
reason the man was not captured.
To Keep the Streets and Alleys Clean.
The police are engaged in serving on house
keepers the following notice signed by Maj.
Moore;
1.-THE alley-way adjacent to your premises
has been swept and cleaned, and it is expected
that it will be kept in that condition The La
bility Of the public is contained in the police
regulations and reads as follows;
Sec. j. No person shall throw, cast, lay, Do
posit DROP scatter, leave cause 70 be thrown,
cast laid, deposited. dropped scattered, left in
upon any street. avenue, alley, highway, foot
way, sidewalk, parking, or public space In the
District of Columbia, any dirt, mud, sand, ashes,
gravel, saw dust. shayings hay, straw, manure,
rubbish, litter, sweepings, offal, vegetables, gar
bage trees, cinders, or refuse matter of any kind,
the penalty for such offense being not less than
s. nor more than SIS.
Sec. 2. No person shall deposit or leave In or
upon any OF such places as Aforesaid any broken
glass, crockery nails tin or iron cuttings, hoops,
hoop skirts, wagon tires, wire, other articles u
able 70 wound or in!ure man or beast, the penalty
for such o1ense being not less than $40 nor more
than $50.
THE police have been instructed to note all
places in front of which, on street, avenue, or
alley, Litter or o ther articles of the kind mem
toned in the above regulations are found and
to cause warrants to be issued agai INST parties