The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-20


There were ghouls in Roanoke Mon
day night and there may be yet.
One made his business known. lie
was seen shaking gold under 4 Negroes
nose and tempting him. The negro
imagined he heard dry bones Gathering
and became frightened. This was fol-
lowed by another attempt which like
wise failed, but the third came near
being successful.
A negro named Elvin Ash. who lives
on Bunker Hill, was passing by the Con-
tinental Hotel Saturday night. short,
heavy set white man. we'll dressed with
dark mustache and hair, beckoned to
him. Ash stopped
"DO you want to- work tonight"
Ash said he would take light job.
"But this job amt very light, and it's
got to be done daan quick"
"What is it, boss?n said Ash
,"You never mind. You must como
with me. will give you SIS before we
start and S. more when we return. Will
You go?
Ash told the man he could not go
unless he knew the character of the
work.
"Then will tell you, but if you ever
open your mouth I'll kill you. | want
still. It's in the grave yard over
there, SO get your pick and shovel and
como on"
This announcement terrified the
negro and he beat hasty retreat
for Bunker Hill. The man followed
him up, and induced him to come out of
the house at which he was stopping.
The man again tried to persuade him
to go with him, but Ash positively re-
fused. The man then left after ad-
monishing him to keep quiet.
Tho next day negro named Dock
Russell was approached by tho same
man with the same offer. He told Dock
he had procured 4 barrel in which to
place the corpse, and all he would have
to do was to get pick and shovel.
The man said the grave was new
made and there would be no trouble in
robbing it, and it could not be detected
as the earth still looked new.
Dock shuddered: his knees began to
crack together, and pretty soon he
found himself backing out of the way of
the monster before him.
Dock is very superstitlous, and told
the stranger roundly that he would not
even go near the graveyard at night,
much less dig up a ghost that would
haunt him all his life.
SO the ghoul was unsuccessful, for
Dock skipped out and left him. lie
went again in the night to see Ash, but
found him still obstinate. He tried TO
rnt old
ence to get Ash to go with him.
Now the old woman is about as su-
perstitious as Dock Russell, and told tho
man if he didn't get away she would tell
policeman. This had the desired eff
feet and the ghoul departed.
In the meantime Officer pctzold had
become aware of the mans peculiar Of
fcrs to tho two negroes and was on the
lookout for him. Monday night he
made an investigation, got description
of the man, and watched for him. He
saw man at the Continental hotel who
answered tho description. Suspectiny
that he would make another effort to
rob the grave, and being on beat which
took in the cemetery he concluded to
watch.
About ~ o'clock at night he saw the
man, accompanied by strange negro.
IHcf SIoppcu In woodland Park ana
held consulta ton. The negro be-
came shaky, and the officer got nearer
to hear what was being said. Station
ing himself behind tree, he heard the
man tell tho negro that while he was
digging out the grave he would get the
barrel.
The negro declined to work alone,
and said nc did not care much about
working in there anyway. The man
then told him go, as there wasn't
damn negro in the whole town who
could be trusted.
just then the officer stepped out and
both men ran, each in different direc-
ton. He ordered them to halt, but
they ran all the faster. and were soon
out of sight
Yesterday evening man answering
the description of the supposed grave
robbers took the Shenandoah train for
tho North. He was we'll dressed, but
had a mean look. and seemed fully
capable to carry out his intentions, and
the only reason he failed was because of
the superstitious negro.
FORTUNE WAS UNFORTUNATE.
Hundreds of Italians Return From Soutl,