The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-10-16


friends. Another source of anxiety affecting
his personal makeup was the fact that from
early youth he had been subject 10 somnam-
bulism. habit which in his medical course he
had endeayored 10 shake of, and with some
success
Owing TO the superior qualities as an in
structor-the profound knowledge and resist
less enthusiasm-Of his eminent teacher of
chemistry. IN this particular branch he ex-
celled. even in the prac zeal part, while an
inherited feeling of timidity or dread at the
sight Of a dead body induced a dislike and
consequent disregard for practical surgery.
On graduation. therefore, he entertained the
feeling that be Was deficient IN the art of dis
section. lack which he resolved to make good
whenever opportunity offered.
Pecuuiary necess ties drove him at once into
practice. and in March, 1889, he hung out his
shinge, a stranger aud alone, in the village,
now city. OF l.. Mass.
In his business experiences he found his
teachers remark appalingly true. lie was
prepared 10 treat cases on the most approved
plan and with the latest remedies, had the
patients applied; but they did not, and
he knew nothing of the art Of working up
practice by any manipulation other than the
use OF his professional knowledge.
BIS scquaintanceshIp with townspeople
proved neither profitable nor congenisl, and he
came 10 be regarded, probably, as an incOr-
rigible misanthrope.
At the end Of six months, with the exception
Of his landlady and two OF three other persons
whom necessity accident threw in his way,
he was hardly on speaking terms with any per-
son in the village. / do not even except the
owner Of 4 pair of black eyes with whom he
had exchanged occasional glauees
While the Indian Root and Charm Doctor"
the Thomsonian quack ard two fOssilized phy-
sicians Of the regular practice had plenty Of
patients Manning had none. He had AT the
iu Boston by repeated solicitations for loans to
meet current expenses.
still, though right on the verge of destiiu-
ti0n, this was not the object Of his thought or
care A. this time. lie was eudeavoring 10 make
good his deficiency IN practical surgery aud 70
extend bis knowledge Of organic forces by dis
Beciing al the varieties Of small animals as
mice. rats, rabbits, hens hawks. etc, that the
neighb0ThOod afforded. and which be could
capture himself or purchase at small expense
This practice had undoubtedly been smelt
out by the human carTion vendors Of the viii
lage. aud the scandals thus ciTcEated tended
IN no respect TO eKalt the young doctors repu-
tation.
IL is wonderful what folly must have swayed
his mind At the time. Tor though subject 10
these suspicious which had already psrallcIed
his experiments with the horrors Of the inqui-
EitiOu and torments q hades though needy
and penniiess fearing daily an outbreak with
deliberate purpose OF securing q human sub
iect from the neighboTing cemetery.
Here was an anomaly in mental philosophy
nature which year previously Lad reVOlted
from tie sight Of dead body, now calmly
considering the plan Of exhuming single
handed and alone The corpse OF former resi-
dentOi Il. at the risk or being detected raobbed
and perhaps murdered by the towuspeoplo.
But radical change had taken place in his
phlius0phic notions. Early religious training
inclined ham toward spiritHaiism, but his pro-
1essiOnal education, coupled with bis own re-
searches and recent experiments had turned
him Es far towards the opposite extreme.
Though entertaining profound faith in the
goodness Of things, be found himself entirely
free from The superstitions incident to dark
hes. death and natural phenomena generally.
Thus, along with hls growing anxiety 10 be
master Of human anatomy, had quite 0siiterated
the innate dread once POSSESSED; while his
comparative i-olAtion-tO which be had not
only become callous but so prem ely ind ifserent-
and active pursuits meanwhile had wrought
his nerve up 70 a tension suitable for q most
daring enterprise.
de well understood the popular sentiment
toward resurrection Ists-fOr which as q geuti-
Enent, he had profound respect. Bot. he argued.
tie vital part Of no human being can exist in
the sOuiieas clay, and provided only that the
Affection o. friends be not Tudeiy shocked
throRsh discovery, surely the highest purpose
which the dead can dll IL 70 afford means by
which the living can be benefited IL the
Teaders opinion should not coincide, ask al
least reservation o. Judgment till he learns
the facts Iu the casa
he location Of MaBnings Office was entirely
favorable 70 The undertaking. il was situated
81 lie extreme end Of the town. alongside Of an
Old aud unused brewery TO the right and rear
g! which lay tie cemetery.
inc oilce proper was built Of brick. with a
hali-stgFy o. wood surrounding and "A trap -
connecting the two floors. At some time an
opening had been made between the Low side
al thls half story and tie second story OF the
brewery. IL WIS IN this apartment above the
olilce that the young doctor carried on hi,
animal nissections, and where he proposed e
bring and disseet d human subject
hls plan was this; alteT carefully marking
tie EraVe-a fresh one without a head-toue-
Cn some dark night, aud when tic Viilager.
were a.! asleep, 20 convey light but stout crane
and pulley, which be had constructed Tor th,
purfOse. 70 the vicinity u the grave; 10 reaci
the large end Of the box by rapid digging; {,
knock 81 tie end Of this; slip loop around
the large portion o. the coffin. aud BY means O.
the crane and pulley withdraw d.; then, /,
break open the colin. withdraw and sack th,
cadageri return the coffin 10 the box GIL on
The cavity; carry MS implements aud subiec
into the nearest part Of the brewery aud tli,,uc,
10 has den over tue Office.
IL Has an Immense undertaking and 90 d,
regarded IL; the folly involved lie did not en-
terrain. de thought Of hiring an assistant. bn
lack u funds aud utter ignorance of any Der
son lu J.. upon whom he could rely, aud tb,
FTeat risk 81 detection Ia attempting 10 hire o.
employ q stranger, decided him 70 20 IL alone
lie made every preparation which Nigh
tend 10 ensure success; Carefully arranged
dark-iauteIn, spade, pick. bar, sack. etc aps
loaded single barrclIed pistol with q Llaul
Cartridge that be might frighten any intruder
AZ Glanced 70 rain very hard one Afternoon
ln tue latter part q October and tie nigh
coming on cloudy and intensely dark. Le deter
EniHed 10 put his plan into execution
lie had just lighted G. gar, among the last O
box contributed from Boston. and was think
lug over the details OF the Prospective iol
when an Eveut occurred which couDeIjrd 6tu
10 deier ne execution
dc bad cali i. O., DR.. Briggan. one of the al,
practitioners, sent boy 10 his Office with a 70
guest ilat he should attend a consultation viii
himself aBd Dr. Mum la the case OF Mrs Sfrv
kef, tite vale Of one Of the Wealthiest citizen
81 Tie place. who resided but a short distsUe
away manning Was 10 come atoiee and seiziu,
his Case al Instruments, including thefmomete
and sJeihoscnpe he soon reached the Stryke
Fesidence. The following notes which be mad,
a. tic time nIii give idea of the consulta
ton:
On examination found patient very uneas,
AUD restless: mind apparently clear; hands
and tongue tremulOus, the latter red at til,
edges end heavily coated with a dark brown