The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-31
Examination of a Grave In St.
Mary's Cemetery,
Kansas City, Reveals the Fact
That It Has Been
ROBBED BY GHOULS.
Mrs. Kelly Went to Lay Flowers
on Dead Husbands Grave
And Discovered That the Body
Had Been Removed.

Kansas city, Oct 31.-Ghouls are at
work in Kansas City, Whether more
than one grave has been robbed during
the past few weeks is not known, but
one narrowing case came to light, when
Mrs. Michael Kelly, whose husband was
buried in Mount st. Nary's cemetery
one week ago went to the cemetery
yesterday to place flowers on her hus-
bands grave.
Mrs Kelly. who was accompanied by
her son, observed that the new-made
grave presented evidences of having
been tempered with. The wooden head
board had been twisted halfway around
and the dry grass near the grave had
the appearance of having been recently
trampled upon. The dirt in the mouno
had sunk almost to the lever OF , IIle
ground There were other indications
that ghouls had been at work ana MIS-.
Kelly would not consent to leave the
cemetery until the grave mad peeh
opened.
and he was appealed to by Mrs. Kelly
to open the grave. The widow was ue-
teruined to learn whether her fears
that the body had been stolen were wen
founded Spades were procured and the
sexton put men to work to throw DaCh
the earth from the grave w men lHe
shovels finally struck the WOODEN po4
which held the caSket, 200 people nau
congregated in that part OF the bury
ground. They had been attracted to
the spot by the rumor that a pody hao
been stolen.
When the coffin was exposed to view
it. too, showed signs of having been
tempered with. The lid near the head
of the casket had been cut with an ak
or hatchet and the black fringe on the
sides had been torn away. When the no
was lifted off by the sections son. the
coffin was empty.
There was a murmur Of suppressed
bIed at the grave Wringfng her hands
and weeping piteously, Mrs Kelly reeled
and fell into the arms of her son. When
she regained compOsure sufHclenL 10
once more glance into the empty casket
she declared to the sexton that, after
ALL the discovery was what she had
expected ever since the day her nus
bands remains were buried. She said
that for several days feeling that her
husbands body had been stolen had
taken possession of her, and do, what
she would, her fears could not be al
Following the scene at the grave.
there was a heated interview between
Mrs. Kelly and the sexton The latter
the coffin was opened and found to con-
tain nothing but a few loose clOds. The
lid of the casket was screwed down, the
loose earth was once more thrown upon
it, and Mrs. Kelly and her son drove
hurriedly back to the city. Mrs Kelly
went direct to police headquarters and
reported the facts in the case to Cap
tain Branham. Chief Hayes and IN
spector Halpin were not at police head
quarters at the time, and Detective
Andy c. Hare, who is usually assigned
to such cases, went out on the case.
Other detectives will probably be as
signed to the case today and the police
will make every effort possible to cap
ture the ghouls. It appears to be the
was stolen and shipped to some medical
college in a neighbOring town. The COLI
leges of Kansas City have all the sub
5ects they want-in fact, more than they
require-and consequently the police do
not believe that the body will be found
in this rifv