The Indianapolis journal., 1890-02-26
TRUSSBS !: 81; ||;:; !:
GhOul Killed and Prominent Physicians Capt
ured in the Act Of Robbing Grave.

NEW ALBANY, Ind, Feb. pa wierd
tragedy occurred in the cemetery thismorn-
ing, shortly after midnight, in which one
ghoul lost his life and three others were
captured. The party of grave-robbers con-
sisted of three Louisville physicians-Dr.
j. T. Blackburn and DR.. w. E. Grant. and
another whose name Is unknown, and three
cOlored assistants They had come over to
rob the graves of the corpses of Tom john
son and Ed Pearce, which had been buried
in the cemetery last Sunday.
Dr. Blackburn came over to New Albany
late yesterday afternoon. He had evidently
heard Of the two recent funerals. and went
straight to the Northern Cemetery. AS it
happened, he could not locate the graves,
and, calling boy, William PEBBLES, who
lived near there. he tried to obtain the de-
sired Information from him. At first he
offered the boy 81 to point out the grave of
johnson, and then increased the bid to
$40. PEBBLES took the bribe and pointed
out the graves. DR.. Black kburn then added
a careless word or two, and, cautioning the
boy to say nothing, drove back TO Louis
Vile.
PEBBLES went at once to the sexton, Dan
Shrader, and related to him every detail of
the conversation with the Louisville
doctor. Shrader, in turn. went to the office
ter to that official. Mr.. Mcdonald resolved
to catch the ghOuls in trap, and. sending
for Chief of Police Stonecipher. they
quickly arranged their plans. 1t was de-
cided to station q guard in the cemetery
and await the coming of the grave
were selected for this duty, and were given
as assistants Jack and Jim johnson, broth
ers of Tom johnson, whose body was one
of the objects of the proposed goullsh raid.
81 Er.< I<.f
Ed Pearce, the other dead man, was Sc
lected as the fifth.
The guards concealed themselves near
the new graves and waited until after mid
night, when a wagon drove in and five
men alighted, proceeding ct once to the
johnson grave. The guards sprang out
with the order Throw up your hands,"
Instead of obeying the ghOuls ran, and one
of the physicians made his escape. A vol
ley fired by the guards brought down one
of the negro assistants, shot through the
heart. His name Is George Brown. Drs.
Blackburn and Grant and the other assist
ant were placed in Jail. The tragedy and
arrest have caused an immense sensation
both here and in Louisville.
Doctors Grant and Blackburn were in
dicted by the grand jury here this after
noon on two counts. robbing grave and
conspiring to commit felony. The punish
ment in the first case is three to ten years
in the penitentisry; in the second, two to
fourteen years and $500 to 5000 tine Dr.
Grant is demonstrator of anatomy of the
Kentucky School of Medicine, and DIR.
Blackburn is assistant in surgery in the
same school. The college will back them
with all the money necessary. Hon. Chas.
Jewett and other eminent counsel have
already been employed. On the other side
Prosecuting Attorney Anthony has engaged
Hon. Alexander Bowling, leading attor-
ing of the men whose graves were to be
decorated there is great indignation at
New Albany. The two physicians were to-
night taken to the Prison South at Jeffer-
Brown, was buried to-day. the college
bearing the expenses.