Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-05-26
HERE'S A FINE CRANK.


N"hts an Ohuerthkcr 10 Bury man
Alive for tho Purpose of building Up
the Plot of u French Novel.
Recently l.. W. Palmer, undertaken, of
this city, received the following letter:
pnrLADELrnlA, May 10th, 1899 Mr Palmer,
Wilmington, DeL.-DgAR SIR. an writing a
French novel, which Is the life of n rich young
man know we'll. lio 10 now dead. This
young man had u very romantic existence.
Full Of lfo and with large fortune TO his
name he was enjoying this iife as much as he
could. But his fortune had much temptations
Tor certain rentiyes and ho had fights with
his enemies. TO make tho story short, his
enemies succeeded In takin him away from
his home, In Il foreign country, and after rum
ming down what funds he had they abandoned
him. My yoihg friend wrote TO his homo TO
have some money sent, that he may return,
but II WIS n long distance, aud after dspo-ing
OF what vHlunblcA he had he starved Tor few
days and AT last was picked up by u country
man, who was nothing else than confederate
OF his enemies. THIS cOuntryman had u
diploma OF doctor, 50 two days after my young
friend was at night taken to the public morgue
as the corpse OF n tramp, with a certificate oil
death from the doctor.
turing Tho night he nwoke to find himself
with other de1d bodies. He called for help.
but no one answered., and under the effect Of
tho drug he foil In another sleep. Next morn
Ing he awoke IN coliln, while tho lid was
strongly nnllrd. llo cnleh ior help, but his
crics were not heard, likely ON account OF the
hammers, and ha tainted, He came buck 10
ms senses WnCu tho CONN rcIchcl tho bottom
OF the grave, but crfing was Useless, the clods
oil EARN were IN t failing on HIM.
TWenty-t0ur hours after his burial he wns
dgged up. one Of his relatives surprised to
near MIS- call for money, suspected q foul play,
and instead Of send ng tho funds no came him
sell. This relaiiv could not believe the death
and hau the body diggsd up. II was narrow
csfnpc. Ivy tho constitution Of n will his death
an ninF..e man was desirable TO turn the for
tune 10 his onamlea.
hi- orrugrod some 90 years ago, and I took
at The Tine full description Of his horrible
experience, with mo understanding i would
moi pibIiah anything before his d ath. lost
two years ugo all my papers In II fro, and am
to-day unable 10 give this part Of his history as
should Wish IL.
Ny friend Joseph Benoit, living liz your city.
c1ine TO soc mo here on business, as am in
Philadelphia for few days. have done
mucn for Benot, and himself rendered me
many good services | said TO Bcnoit would
net mind tn h. buried alive for u short time, to
duplicate this experience, and have nil the de-
thils OF the feelings my Young friend had but
was go ting old. was lame, OF poor hoalth,
with bad rheumatism. and was afraid this OK
pcrience may inluro me asked Bonoit II hc
would submit lie raid, Eyes; not with much
pleasure assure you, but with sense OF
duty"
write you all these details because Benoit
told me no would never have the courage to GO
and see you and NIX you to be buried a i've.
You would take him to be an Insane mana
man 70 keep ont OF society. There IL nothing
indecent Or immoral in this TO no afraid Of
know 1t may bs II curious or strange desire ia
90 with the dends. but in This case 1t Is no do
sire OF hm,it is u work for which he Will be paid
50 hope you will havo no objection to under
take the cnse
A doctor In New York told me II would fur.
nish him the man no would see everything
alright, only Bcnoit told mo he should prefer
TO undergo the experience in a smaller place
and for this write you.
want u palper's burial in all the sense oil
the word. such burial cost nothing, you are
paid by the state or county, but | don't think
" should Do very fair to charge the taxpayers
OF this experiment. So ] am willing 10 pay
the costs. As Tor your services, which will re-
quire some tact and secrecy, | will pay you
that you Will make better pront on this
Iauper burial than on u general good funeral
Bcnoit laid you could manage In this way
When you have dead body for Potier's field
bury Benoit In place, with a certificate Of thu
other, and a few hours aftor you go with the
real body, saying you made n mistake, ant
have the grave digged up to change tho collins
leave everything in the hands OF Benolt
and he will call on you and fix with you al
the particulars. his letter was more 10 breal
the lee. that Renoit will feel more at his ease
Ireinaln, dear sir, sincerely,
HENRY hRuDERLEIN.
P. ST. am going to New York and mex
week am sailing for Carl bad for my rheu
matisins, no rs don't expect TO return befori
tw, or three months, you have time 10
| this experience.
Joseph Benoit Ia name, by the way, tina
does not appear in the Wilmington direc
tory has not yet called on Undertake
Palmer to be buried alive. lie will not b,
accommodated If he does call.
Some days ago Undertaken Clewell o
New Castle received a letter similar in i'm
port to the above from the same writer
The French novelist will have to go else
where than this city to obtain the rcalisti
material for his contemplated work.