The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-17
ROBBED THE GRAVE
BODY OF MRS. ROLL UNDOUBTEDLY
TAKEN FROM TIE COFFIN.

Old Soldiers are Quite Indignant About ~
and They Threaten Some Disclosures
Professional Men-Mrs. Roll Was Bur
led About Two Months Ago and Died OF
mption-Thorough Investigation
to be Made Today-How the Crooked
Work was Discovered.
Today a searching investigation will
be made into the robbery of a grave in
Maple Grove cemetery.
There is some excuses, sometimes. for
robbing living city where people have
a show for protecting themselves. but
when it comes to robbing the city Of
the dead there is no excuse for II.
few days ago Arthur Bell and Mr.
Lane. another comrade. of Eggleston
post, went to Maple Grove cemetery, TO
move the body of Mrs. Roll and when
they took hold of the coffin to lift 1t
they found that the body was not there
as the coffin was so light that they lift
ed il without effort. They did not lift
the lid 20 look inside but they first went
to Mr.. Roll, the husband of the dead
woman, and related the matter TO him.
Mr.. Roll would not allow an investi-
cation then, saying that II his wife's
body was stolen he did not want to
know it Yesterday, however. he
changed his mind and the coffin will be
examined today by the cemetery COM
mittee Of Eggleston post, viz: Com
rades Dennis, Alexander and Bell. They
viii visit the grave TO which the coffin
has been removed and satisfy them
selves positively that the body has been
stolen.
Captain Burgess a prominent member
OF Eggleston post was seen at his home
last night about the matter and he said:
| Some time ago the post purchased a
tract of ground in Maple Grove GENE
terry for the burial of its dead Shortly
| after that Mrs. Roll died and as the
deed to the property had not yet been
secured her body was buried in the
public burying ground or as some call
it the pauper burying ground. She
belonged. in life. either to the Circle or
Womans' Relief Corps. and was enti-
tied 10 burial in the post grave property
| When we got the deed an order was
passed for the transfer of the body from
the public burying ground TO ours and
! Comrades Lane and Bell were author
! lied TO do the work. When they open
! ed the grave they were astonIshed 10
find no effluvia arising from the coffin
as is usually the case. When they
went to lift the coffin they found il so
/ light that ii was easy 10 arrive at the
] conclusion that the body was gone.
/ They then went to Mr.. Roll and inform
/ ed him of the facts as they had found
/ them to exist and ne said: IF the body
/ has been stolen don't want TO know H.
| Since then Mr.. Roll has changed his
mind and now he wants the coffin OPP
| ened."
In answer TO a query he said: Yes,
| there is no doubt in my mind but what
/ the body has been stolen. The post
will undoubtedly make a thorough in
/ vestigatiOn and the grave robbers. il
] apprehended, will he punished to the
| full extent OF the law"
Other members Of the post were not
| so conservative as Captain Burgess
/ They were very indignant as they
/ should have been and they propose 10
/ make IL hot for somebody Two pro-
| fessional men are suspected and II the
| body OF Mrs. Roll is not found in the
/ coffin today. and nobody expects that
1t will be. there IS going to be some trou-
| BILE and excitement.