The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-26
STORY OF A CADAVER
MEDICAL COLLEGE SCHEME TO
AVOID A SEARCHING PARTY.
The Body, stolen at Greenwood,
Driven About the Streets OF This
City All Night.


forces was asked and freely given and the
hunt begun. The body was not found. but
later went the way OF all such when they
reach college. The story of how the col
lege managed TO retain the body, "a told by
physician. who was in position TO know,
is follows:
Word was received here during the after
noon, through a friend of the college. who
lived near where the grave was robbed, that
searching party would attempt to find the
body that night Thus prepared in advance
1t was a simple matter, although not unat-
tended with difficulties. TO keep the body
out Of the reach OF the officers, while at the
same time pretending to render all assist
ance possible in the search. At the time
the tip was given the body was being pre-
pared for the vat-that is. the arteries were
being injected with arsenic to preserve the
body, and plaster of paris. TO cause the
arteries to be easily located during the
process OF dissection. 1t was known that
no attempt would be made TO locate the
body until night. and so there was no great
hurry about the preparations. The college
was short OF subjects and IL was necessary
to retain that one at all hazards 1t would
not be safe in any OF the watts, or. in fact
In any part of the college building and
there was no place outside Of the building
where 1t could be stored
In this dilemma, one Of the men, whose
duty it is to see that the college is well
supplied with subjects for dissection, pro-
posed a plan which was adopted 1t was
nothing less than to put tie body in a
wagon and drive around the streets Of the
city until there was no further danger of
the search being continued. 1t Will prob
ably be n surprise to a certain man to
know that he furnished the vehicle a light
spring wagon, in which the remains laid
Tor nearly ten hours. A messenger was
sent TO his stable and a suitable wagon
was selected and taken to the college
shortly after dark. The body had already
been doubled up and placed in a common
pine packing box. 1t was then placed in
the wagon and the driver began his lone
some and CHASTITY trip up one street and
down another. expecting to continue this
until danger has passed for the night. He
did not leave the center of the city. at
least he did not remain away long at a
time. Several times he recognized two
detectives whom he knew were searching
Tor the body and had already inspected the
college. where the body had been a few
hours before.
THE COLLEGE SEARCHED.
About O'Clock the detectives started on
their rounds. Every college was visited.
but without success. This was while the
indiana College was occupying Washing
ton Han, subsequent to the destruction of
Its former building This was the first
place visited There it was learned that
the dlssecting was done in another build
Ing, but a thorough search was made he
fore leaving the hall. 1t was found that
it would be impossible to hide the body
there. The dissecting room was next Wis
ated' but nothing but a few cadavers. with
most OF the flesh stripped off, could he
found. Every nook and corner was
searched
Inc Eclectic College, on Indiana avenue
was the next objective point. There the
Janitor acted in such a suspicious manner
that the detectives were led to believe they
were on the right trail. The janitor said he
uio not nave the keys to certain parts of
the building, and Immediately the detec-
tiyes thought they could find the remains
IN these unknown rooms. A physician had
the keys. the janitor said To prevent anv
communication or disposal of the BODY in
the meantime, one of the detectives. re-
NAMED at the college while the other ac-
companied the janitor to the home of the
physician and got the keys When the
closed rooms were opened they were found
10 contain almost nothing, with no possible
hiding place for the body The cellar wa =
visited and the watts inspected. but no
body was found The same result was the
fruit of visits to the other colleges Nearly
half the night was spent in the search. and
then the detectives abandoned it. although
confident that the body was in this city.
The only place where their suspicious were
aroused was on Indiana avenue. and that
place was watched during the rest of the
night, but as that college had had nothing
n wrrftF
discovered.
During all this time the faithful empioye
OF the college that had the body was slowly
driving around the streets of the city killing
time. Several times he met messengers
from the college, who told him 1t was not
considered safe TO return the body at that
time He would then continue his drive
At one time as he passed up Indiana ave
nue.. he saw the two detectives standing at
a corner, near an electric light. The night
was cold. and he pulled down his SLOUGH
hat and rolled up his overcoat collar, thus
preventing recognition, as he was well
known to both men, and recognition meant
discovery of the contents of the harmless
little box in the wagon.
HID IN A STABLE.
This dreary monotony was continued until
almost daylight. and it was not yet consid-
EASA Sdlc " mo DO1y 10 the COlleSe.
Then arose perplexing problem. 1t would
be impossible 10 continue the drive On the
streets during the day without being de-
tected, and some disposition had to be made
OF the body in a very short time II had
already cost too much money and hard
work to simply give il up without
further struggle. Again the bold
ideas of the man who was
driving the wagon came to the rescue.
He suggested that the box be hidden in
some barn and removed at pleasure He
said he could find barn where it could
be placed under large pile OF hay and be
safe for several days. The weather was
cold enought TO prevent any stencil arising
The others, demurred, but could suggest no
better plan. and the driver started out. ac-
companied by another man, to hide the body
They drove north in the alley between
New Jersey and Alabama streets and began
the search for barn that would suit their
purpose. Several were entered before a
suitable place was found. At last a barn
IN the rear OF a house on New Jersey street