The herald., 1893-02-13
The Thrilling Experience Of a
Night Watchman.
A Story of a Gruesome Occurrence
in This City.
An Old Mans vagsries and the Result
A Morning Chase and a Disturbed
Grave-The Men Left
No Trace.

light into one OF the cemeteries of the
city.
Attempts have been made to keep the
affair very quiet, but unsuccessfully, al
though it is not likely that any trouble
will result from it.
A day or 30 before the night in ques-
tion a gentleman died in Los Angeles,
who had suffered from what his physi-
clans long before diagnosed as Bright's
disease. He was quite an intelligent
man, and was somewhat skeptical him
self about the diagnosis of the physi-
clans in his case. He and one OF his
physicians held long arguments
about his case, and at times
they grew somewhat heated over
the matter. He became so much in
terested in his own case, that is scientif-
ically speaking, that frequently after
one of these discussions he would testify
terminate it by saying that he hoped if
he died the matter would be settled by
an investigation, although, as he said
with grim humor, he would not be able
to participate in the proceedings except
as lay subject. He also said that he
had no objections to his body being
taken for medical purposes by some
college.
The gentleman had an interesting
family whom these remarks horritied,
and yet humored the sick man in his
fancies. 1t caused many bad quarter
of an hour to his wife, when she con-
templated the probable fate OF her hus-
bands remains, but she made the best
of it by trying to set it all down as the
outgivings of hypochondriac. Towards
the end, for during the past month or
two he grew very much worse. in spite
of the earnest efforts OF his medical
friend, he repeatedly alluded to what he
had before said, but not go much in the
presence of his family, whom he saw it
very much annoyed.
Finally he died and then it occurred
to the family IN all its force that he had
spoken as he did, and they very quietly
but determinedly declined to permit any
post mortem examination, and he was
inferred with due ceremony in one of
the cemeteries in the city. The wife
was 80 suspicious about the possible dis
interment of her husband, that, with
out saying anything to anybody about
her Intentions, she went to detective
agency and engaged that the grave
buOulQ D0 WatChO0 1Ok q tAA1AOy 0hUAA LUZ
fears were allayed.
A detective was detailed to undertake
the lonely night vigil, and just about
the time he began the rain began. He
did not have a pleasant duty for night
or two, inasmpch ss night watch in
cemetery is gruesome experience even
when the weather is propitious.
Nothing occurred to indicate that
anything was out of the way until the
night referred to above, The clouds
were threatening and the first part of
the night WAS dark as the traditional
stack OF black cats.
Along about o'clock It became lit
tie lighter, but not to any great extent.
The watchman had nearly fallen asleep,
and to liven himself up little paced
up one of the driveways which was the
least muddy. He went some little dis
tance and leaned up against tree. Not
sound was to be heard, and. he, as he
describes it, thought to himself that he
was engaged in the biggest wild-goose
chase that had befallen him in his ex-
perience as detective.
After remaining in his position against
the tree for about Is or 20 minutes he
concluded to return to the game by
different route, which took him around
quite circle.
1t was about half an hour from the
time he had left the immediate vicinity
OF his post before he again approached
it. When he came within about 100
yards of the grave he was startled tc
hear sudden rush from the grave by
two dark objects. They disappeared in
the darkness in the direction Of a road
which leads out of the city, ard he gave
chase. He plunged along, falling down
once. Picking himself up, he went after
the forms he could see making tracks for
the nearest point of contact with the
road. He gained on them until he could
see that they were two men, who were
exerting themselves to the utmost to
put as much distance between them and
their pursuer as Tam O'Shanter did
upon a memorable occasion. The light
was too dim to recoguize the men, and
they reached the fence about so yards
ahead of the watchman. They jumped
over, and in second the sound of
wheels was heard, and wagon
rolled away just as the watch
man reached the fenc. In it he
could see long object, which
he took to be box. He pursued the
team for about half mile, but they
lashed up their horse and soon disap-
peared in the darkness.
Slowly the watchman returned to the
grave, where he found that it had been
excavated nearly down to the casket,
and only few minutes more work
would have been necessary to uncover
it, and successfully steal the body.
The grave was filled in again, and
watch has been kept ever since. although
it is believed the body snatchers re-
ceived such fright that any further es-
pionage will not be necessary.
Various theories have been advanced
in regard to the attempt to steal the
body, but the one which is most favor
ably received by the family is that
it was surreptitious attempt to carry
out the wishes of the old gentleman
with regard to an investigation into the
seat Of his fatal malady. The question
they would like to solve is who were the
mysterious persons who 80 nearly got
away with the remains of the deceased.
They do not actually think it was the
physician referred to, for they do not
believe that interested as he might be
in solving the disputed question he had
90 often argued, that he would resort to
such means OF carrying his point. 1t is
rather believed that he may have talked
to others about the case, and that some
medical students may have become so
interested in the matter that they de-
termined to go on an expedition upon
their own hook. The. midnight body
enatchers left no trace behind them as
L - Al