The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-12
IN A BAD BOX.
DR.. Duncan, Under Arrest For
Grave RObbing
In Virginia, Is the Same Who
Was Charged
WITH SIMILAR WORK
In the Topeka Medical College
Grave RObberies.
Seems to Have Penchant That
Way.
WITH SIMILAR WORK

Assistant Surgeon Louis G. Duncan,
ranking captain of the Twenty-second
Kansas regiment. who was one of the
students of the Kansas Medical college
in this city at the time of the grave
robbery sensation and was held for
completely in the crime, is under guard
at Camp Alger charged with desecrat-
ing the grave Of a Confederate officer at
Bull Run.
Wednesday evening a dispatch was
sent out stating that a party of sold
iers of the Twenty Kansas regi-
ment, headed by Duncan, had opened
the grave of Major J. T. Duke, a Con-
federate officer who died recently and
was buried at Bull Run, and after
cutting the soldier straps from the mil
itary uniform he was buried in, had
crushed the skull and broken the bones
of the body
Further information, which goes to
corroborate the first telegram, was re-
ceived today as follows:
Headquarters Second Division. Sec
ond Army Corps, Thoroughfare Gapvia
Manassas, Va, Aug. 11.-Assistant Sur
geOn Louis c. Duncan, the ranking cap
tain of the Twenty-second Kansas Uni
ted States volunteers, is now under ar
rest guarded by two soldiers, charged
with having permitted the desecratiOn
of the grave of Major J. T. Duke, c. s.
A, by privates in his command, who
were in search of gruesOme relics and
having cOUntenanced by his presence
the outrage.
The judge advocate will lay the case
before the war department today and
the papers will be forwarded TO Major
General Davis August 12 1t will then
be decided when he viii be tried by
court martial.
Additional evidence was collected
yesterday, some Of which tends to show
the accused even more guilty than as
charged. One soldier saw him with
shovel actively engaged in the work of
vandalism. None of his accOmpliceS
have as yet been identified but an eff
fort will be made to have them arrest
ed.
After DuncaR's trial by the military
authorities he will be turned over to the
civil authorities and tried by the law of
Virginia, which makes his crime a fell
ony. There seems to be a quiet deter
minatiOn on the part of the officers to
see that the honor of the army shall be
indicated"
The following telegram relative to the
AFFAIR was received from Washington:
washington, Aug. IA special to the
Star from ThorOughfare Gap. Va. says
that Judge Advocate Dudley of the United
c o94f 81 Sc "a SoeI$eoIl @ and GaPIaIn Dun Dun
ment, charged with deSecra ting the grave
of a Confederate officer at Bull Run
The latter telegram seems to be proof
was desecrated at Bull Run and that
Dr.. Duncan is the principal party concern
ed in the outrage.
Dr. DUNCAN was appointed assistant
surgeon of the Twenty-second Kansas
regiment on recommendation of a num-
Der of the prominent physicians of this
city, including the entire Kansas Medical
college faculty. He graduated from the
school the year after the trouble follow
ing the robbery of graves and from that
time up to the time he was given the ap-
pOintment by Governor Leedy he prac-
ticed in Topeka and Jefferson county.
of 6n
Kansas Medical college were arrested for
completely in the Topeka grave robbertes,
among them Duncan, and held as wit
nesses before the grand jury Only enc
INDICTMENT however that of Johnson the
student janitor was returned by the grand
jury out Of the students then at the col
lege- notwithstanding this fact, suspi-
cion pointed strongly to Duncan as nav
ing been closely identified with Johnson in
the affair.
AS the dispatch indicates. DR.. Duncan
is in serious trouble if the charges are
proven to be correct. He will have to
stand trial, not only by the military au-
thorities but by the authorities of the
state of Virginia also.