The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-04-02
A GRUESOME TALE.
How Jean Baptiste, the Grave Robber,
Was Branded and Banished.
The CHASTITY Sequel Is the Discovery of
His Crumbling skeleton, With Chain
and Ball Attached.

1t was in 1862, little more than thirty
years ago, when citizens OF Salt Lake
made discovery that set the town wild
with excitement. Old timers will recall
the fact that at that time there resided
here a man who went by the name OF
Jean Baptiste, Frenchman. He was an
Industrious sort of a fellow, and had the
good will of the people of the town. He
was Iaborer and was given the place of
grave digger in the old city ceme-
terry. he was, as is said above, an
industrious man, and this, coupled
with his frugal habits, placed him on
the road to prosperity. Prior to his Sc
lection TO the place named he was in fairly
good circumstances, but after he began
digging graves it was noticed that he was
prospecting more than ever.
He was intensely religious and so pro-
nounced in his views as to be classed as
fanatic. People died, their remains were
taken to the cemetery, where Jean per-
formed the last act in shoveling the ciods
upon their coffin lids.
Once in while some citizen would be
astonished on seeing displayed in the
window of a pawn broker an article OF
iewelry which had a wonderfully familiar
appearance, but inquiry of the ''Uncle"
who presided inside showed that it had
been purchased from some traveller pass
ing through on the overland route, for
this, it will be remembered, was before
the days of the transcontinental railways.
a HORRIBLE DISCOVERY.
One day relatives of man whose body
had been inferred in the city cemetery
concluded to remove the remains to an
other place, and Baptiste was asked to ac-
company the party and assist in the work.
The coffin was eXhumed and then 1t was
concluded to open the casket and see the
condition of The body, it having been
buried some two years before. Baptiste
protested, saying it would be sacrllege.
This failing, he appealed to the supersti
tious side, but without avail, and finally
the casket was opened.
To the surprise and horror of the wit
nesses the body or what remained
of it was found to be laying face
downward; further, not a vestige of
clothing of any kind was to be seen.
Baptiste was more Mortified than the
others. No explanation could be given,
and the matter was hushed up, the re
mains removed and re-interred else
where.
DETECTED AT LAST.
About month after this occurred
woman resident walking by the house
where Baptiste lived was astounded to
see hanging in his window child's
dress which bore a striking resemblance
to one which enveloped the body of her
baby girl, which only two weeks before
had been laid away in the city
cemetery, Jean Baptiste officiating as
ueual. The mother, with a friend who
was with her, entered his place, and
closer inspection of the dress convinced
her that II really was the one which she
had made FOR her little darling She was
SO overcome at the discovery that she
tainted away, and it was some time be-
fore she recovered consciousness. Mean
time the lady who was with her had sum-
moned assistance, and the story of find
ing the dress was told to them.
Baptiste offered an explanation as to
how it came into his possession, but this
did not satisfy his hearers, and it was
finally determined to open the grave and
see ii the body was robed SIS when the
casket was buried. This was done, and
the little body was found to be entirely
nude.
HIS GRAVEYARD PLUMBER.
Baptiste was at once taken in hand by
indignant citizens and accused OF rob-
bing the grave, but he strenously denied
the charge. The citizens took possession
of his house and a search disclosed wear
ing apparel of all kinds, jeweIry, shoes,
ETC., in which had been robed the bodies
of persons who had been inferred in the
city cemetery
These articles were taken possession of
and removed to the court house and dis
played for identification. The scenes
witnessed when the good people walked
through the room where the various arti-
cles were displayed were heartrending
in the extreme as this one and that one
! identified belongings which had been laid
away with loved ones to sleep the long
sleep.
BApTIsTE's coNFEssIoF.
Baptis5e, in the meantime, was care
fully guarded and to prevent escape a