The herald., 1895-08-08
A BURIAL VAULT
IjII|II[ OPENED AND AND ROBBED
The Skull of Robert S.
Carlisle Missing
HIS CASKET BROKEN
BY THE MARA UDERS
Was Related to Secretary of
the Treasury Carlisle
CITY CEMETERY THE
p SCENE OF THE CRIME
The Loss Was First Disco vered by Two
Young Boys
SAW THE DOOR OPEN
AND THEY INVESTIGATED
They Found the knife That Had Been Used
to Open the Casket
rhe Case Reported to carllsle's Relatives.
Some Probable Causes For the Rob.
bery-A Short Sketch Of His
Death-What His
C..
The Loss Was First Disco vered by Two
Young Boys
SAW THE DOOR OPEN
AND THEY INVESTIGATED
They Found the Knife That Had Been Used
to Open the Casket
rhe case Reported to Carllsle's Relatives.
Some Probable Causes For the Rob.
bery-A Short Sketch Of His
Death-What His
Family Say

One OF the most sensational and un-
usual 70 bberies ever known in Los An
gelss took place during the early pare of
last June. Tho Carlisle burial vault in
tho City cemetery was broken into. the
collins torn open and the skull OF the
late Robert S. Carlisle stolen.
Special prominence is given to the affair
by the most probable cause of tho rob.
berry, and the fact that the dead man had
been a near relative of the Hon. John G.
Carlisle Of Kentucky, now secretary Of
the treasury.
Tho crime was accomplished as though
by some one not mortal, who apparently
vanished into air after completing the
ghoulish work. 1t was done thoroughly
and well, for absolutely no trace whatever
was left behind, nor has but the slightest
clue been found. This is practically
nothing, however, being but the instru-
msnt with which the coffins were opened
All that is known is that the casket of
Robert S. Carlisle. which had rested un-
molcsted for thirty years. has been de-
spoiled and the whitenod bones wantonly
carried off.
Nor. indeed. can any motive be posi- bly,
assigned as the cause for the deed. But
four theories present th mselves. First.
the skull may have been taken away for
ransom; second. that from the history
of the mans tragic death some one de-
sires his skull for a curiosity; third. that
the robber might dispose of it to any
person; and last, that vindictive hatred
caused some of his former enemies to
pursue him even beyond the grave, and
deny to his bones that privilege which
even savage man accords to his fallen
foe.
Against each OF there points some argu-
ment presents itself. until finally they
are but conjec:ures and apparently seem
impossible of solution.
But few facts other than that OF the
robbery can be learned. The cemetery is
attended by old Mr.. 1. P. Smith, and he
knows absolutely othIng beyond what
he was told by his son Charles, who was
the first to know of the affair. and it was
from the latter that the circumstances
have been learned.
Mr.. Carlisle wac we'll known in Los An
geles thirty years or more ago, but to the
recent arrivals in Southern California his
existence was something of which they
had not learned. He was killed in 1865
IN a fight. His widow, who is now Mrs.
Jesurum, still survives him. as do his two
daughters. Mrs. W. J. Brodrick and Mrs.
George Kimball. ard his son. William J.
Carlisle. The two former ladies as we'll
as W. J. Brodrick. tho president of the
Main street and Agricultural PARK rail
way, were visited by Herald repre-
sentative on Tuesday and questioned re-
garding the theft of Mr.. Carlisie's skull
and also whether or not it had been re-
covered as yet. All claimed to be entirely
ignorant OF the occurrence, but main
tainei nevertheless that the robbery had
not taken place.
Contents Of the Vault
The vault is large structure. standing
Just in the rear of the high school build
ing. 1t is built of brick, covered both
outside and IN with heavy coating of
plaster. The height is about fifteen feet
and the other dimensions are about the
same. On the west side is q massive iron
door and through the grating fall the
rays OF the setting sun. Inside are four
inches or receptacles for caskets. Two
b0ve and two below. All are occupied,
the coffin of Mr.. Carlisle being in the lower
right hand one. Ornamenting the upper
inches were three images of little child
kneeling and beside these was number
of vases that had been filled with flowers,
long since faded and crumbling to the
floor. Placed across the lower recepta-
cles were two heavy wooden slabs, while
resting against that covering the coffin
OF Mr.. Carlisle was marble heads tone
inscribed with the name of Robert s.
Carlisle, giving the date of his birth.
March l, 1927, and his death. July 6. 1865,
the age and scriptural quotation.
For some unaccountabs reason the
door to the vault was left unlocked. The
graveyard was frequented some months
ago by many more people than now. and
while some were merely passers-by, 9th.
ers we're OF an inquisltive turn and longed
for the opportunity to explore the morbid
mysteries of the Carlisle vault, especially
as it was the only structure of the kind
in the cemetery. Entrance was readily
secured by inserting, nail into the !
handle OF the door and turning the latch.
A. result people amused themselves by |