Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-06-01

iHltftGu AT oAioTht
1t was learned on Monday that grave
robbers had been operating in Lombardy
Cemetery OH the Concord pike, as some
time during "Wednesday night last the
body of Mrs. Jacob Dean was removed
from the grave and taken to oxford. Pa,
where il was reinterred The sexton at the
cemetery declares the grave must have
been robbed shortly after midnight We'd
nesday night. The body was taken away
in wagon.
Thomas Woolens, wealthy wholesale
grocer of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was ar
rested by state Detective Walter Witsii, at
Hammorton, Pa, Tuesday night charged
with clandestinely removing Il body from
u tomb in Lombariy cemetery on the Con-
cord pike As told in EVERY EvENiNG
yesterday Mr.. Woolens is charged with
removing the body of his daughter, Mrs.
Jacob ID. Dean, who formerly lived at No.
9O7 Shallcross avenue, from the grave i'll
Lombardy cemetery and taking it to Ok
ford. Pa, where it was re-interred.
Mrs. Dean died May oath last. The
father, who has not been east for ii wears,
came on TO attend the funeral. He wanted
the daughter buried in oxford, Pa, where
her relatives had been inferred The SON
in-laW, Jacob II. Dean, insisted that the
body be inferred in Iombardy cemetery.
and the order of the husband NGS obGyed.
MIR. Woolens sought to have the remains
removed with the consent of the cemetery
officers, but the request being refused he
decided to clandestinely remove the body.
The remains were conveyed in wagon to
Oxford, and when u friend of Deans, in
oxford, learned OF the affair he informed
Dean by letter.
Harry Emmons, counsel for the I.om-
hardy Cemetery Co.. and Detective Witsil
drove to Hammortnn, Pa, and arrested
Wuolens, who agreed to come to Whining
ton without requisition. They arrived
III this city shortly after midnight. Mr..
Woolcns admitted taking the body. and
said liz would do the same thing again il
necessary. He accused his son iu.law Of
harsh treatment Of his daughter during
Ecr lifetime and said that ne had been
| forced to care for her and keep her sup
| piled with money. He also said that the
| grave i'll Lombardy cemetery was too
| damp for the body. and he wanted the re
mains inferred III better ground.
| He was arraigned before Justice Nc
Whorter this morning. The warrant was
| Issued under statute passed al Dover on
| February 2fth, 1883, which makes the
charge a misdemeanor, punishable by q
| line not more than 5000 and imprisonment
| for term not exceeding two years, Of
| both MIR. Woolrns is u very respectable
man, 65 years old, with long white beard
\ and lgh: blue eyes. He was held in s50C
| bail for appearance at court.
DR.. Grcenleaf became Mr.. Wooens
Oondsman. As soon as the latter was re
| leased Mr.. Emmuns, who appeared as
| deputy Encouragement i'll the absence ul
| MIR. Giles, at once asked that Il warrant tx
issued for Woolens, charging him with
the larceny of the coffin. Justice McWhor
ter was amazed at this novel request o.
| Mr.. Emmons, but refused to issne the wri
and MIR. EmnOns took the case TO th5
office of Justice smith. The latter was no
familiar with the circumstances OF the
case, and issued the warrant. Mr. Wooden:
then secured the services of Alexander b
Cooper, and after hearing Justice Smith
dismissed the case.
Family difficulty is said to be the caus,
Of the trouble. The grave robbery ha!
caused sensation in the neigh berhood
and the sexton now has placed nigh
watch on the graves.