The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-02
THE MYSTERY OF A HAND.
All That Could Be Found OF Tinsley
After His BODY Was Stolen.

The hand OF a dead man introduced as cyl
denee in a courtroom Is an unusual sight, but
that is all that now remains of Thomas Tins
LEWIS mutilaIed body, and it will be made to
serve as a mute witness in the criminal court.
The hand has only two fingers and the flesh
upon il is withered and drawn, but it has been
identified as Tlnsley's by his widow, his chill
dFen and his divorced wife. Tlnsley was
buried three weeks ago in Ashland Cemetery
and his body was stolen from the grave. Two
weeks ago his two sons found the Iwo-fngeEed
hand in the POtter's field.
Tinsey's TWO wives his sons, and MS frlenos
believe bis body was stolen Tor use In medical
college. The hand was found in newly
grave, where material from the dtssecting-room
had been buried. The relatives were led TO sus-
pect the Central Medical College, because Tins
ley had died IN the hospital OF that Institution
OF a strange disease, and they employed de-
tective. An old colOred man told the detective
that he bad hauled three boxesfrom the college
and buried them in an obscure corner OF the
graveyard. The boxes were opened, and in one
he hand was found.
After Tinsley's death at the hospital his body
was taken across the street to an under.
takers, where il was prepared for burial. The
funeral services were held the next day from
his late residence, and the body was buried In
temporary graYc until grave could DC pre-
pared In lot purchased by The widow in he
same cemetery. When 1t was discovered that
the body had been stolen the detective found
that it had been carried out OF the cemetery by
underbrush. but from that point IL could not be
traced.
The officers of the medical college denied We.
hemently hat Tinsley's body bad ever been In
the Institution after 1t had been carried out by
the undertaken, and their denial has been
stTengt hened from a source unlocked for by
them. Edward Lappin and Warren Peasley,
TWO farmers who live north OF The city, say that
they found the hand at the roadside, wrapped
in a cloth, a few days before it was taken from
the grave ia the Potter's Field by Tinsley's
sons and the detective. p asley took the hand
into his barn, he says where IL was viewed by
some of his neighbOIs. The farmer brought
the hand into the city and exhibited 1t at The
office OF several physicians, but none OF them
knew anything about 1t. Then lie took II TO
tie POtter's Field, intending TO bury II, and ne
SAYS he gave IL to negro at the gale.
The negro Isl supposed to be Thomas WINNIE,
The negro says The hand was not given to him,
but was placed in one of the boxes by man ne
had never seen before and who does not answer
the description OF Farmer Peasley. The strange
man kicked the lid from the box and placed
Tie hand 10 IL Just as White was lowering II
into the grave, and then disappeared In the
twilight.
TiDsley's sons have laid the case before the
Grand Jury and have employed another detec-
live. DR.. o. b. Campbell. president OF the
Central Medical College. says there was TWO
fingered hand in one OF the boxes buried by the
negro White Ia the Potrer's field, and that 10
was taken from subject secured lin legiti-
MAZE way at the City Hospital.-St. Joseph
MOI special 10 New ork Sun.