Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-25
HUMAN SKELETON FOUND
Body Evidently Had Been Phys
ician's Subject.
Uncnrthcd by the Excavators for the
New Post Ohico BuIIding- Was
Possibly IL Woman snys MIR. wcav-
CIR.

human skeleton was dug up by the
eXcavators on the site for the new post
office building yesterday afternoon.
About o'clock one of the 'pickers"
working on the Plume street side of the
excavation drove his pick deep down
into the made earth. and when he drew
his implement out, clinging in the earth
That was turned over. were several
bones OF human body. There was
some little excitement and IL great deal
of curiosity to see what else there was
in this unprotected and unknown
grave.
The laborer's pick had been driven
into the chest of the skeleton and the
form was therefore broken to pieces
several of the ribs and Il portion of the
breast bone being exposed to view.
A CHASTITY FIND.
Upon the discovery of the skeleton the
workman became more careful. and
MIR. Weaver. superintendent of the con-
struction of the new public building
was notified of the ghnStly find and he
at once repaired to the scene of the
strange resting place of the stranger
dead. The remainder of the body bones
were soon gotten out. as were also the
limbs and arm bones
little more digging followed. and
then, to the horror and Consideration
oi all present the lower half of the
skull was unearthed.
Inc entire top of the head was gone
ana from the smooth way in which it
nad been cut off the idea that first fill
ed The minds of the on-loolters was that
some awful tragedy had been commit
ted and the victim of the foul deed
had been hastily buried. There were
the eye sockets, the hole where the nose
had Deen. and the upper jaw in almost
perfect preservation. with n row of nor
fet-ftt- r7trftc-tcctii t7t-
through most of those who saw the hor-
rible sight.
OTHER HALF OF HEAD.
The workmen continued to dig and in
little while the cap or top to a hu-
man skull was found. but it did not in
any way fit the other piece. shortly af-
! terwards,. however, another ton"
piece was dug up and this was found to
ut exactly, showing that the complete
nody had been buried. The remainder
OF the other skull was not found. how
ever but may be to-day. as the excava-
tors continue their labors.
WHOSE BODIES WE'RE THEY?
OF course. there was u great deal Of
! speculation as To whose bodies had
/ been buried in this lot in the heart of
the city. but no information could he
many years ago was low marshy
place. and has been gradually filled
up, streets made and buildings erected
/ until only the one vacant lot is left
The body was evidently buried n long
| time ago and before the lot had been
filled up anything like To a level with
| the street. as tho skeleton was found
at least eight feet under tho surfa CO
or course hurriedly constructed
grave would never have been dug TO
such n depth. There was no indication
OF = collin having been used nor was
anything found that would show that
a burial robe had been used
POSSIBLY y DOCTORS SUBJECT
The careful manner in which The ton
OF TIE head had been sawed of would
indicate that the body had been tho
subject OF n post norton. ana the fact
mt IT was buried in this private place
| clearly proves that the operation was
not Il LEGAL one IT is more than prob
/ able that tho body was n doctors sub
| lcct, and after dissectinr. had boon
| hurricdy buried in The most conven
/ lent spot
| Weaver. -i
How do YOU know that?" asked the
sec how prominent IS the mouth"
/ he rerlcd. and even tho skull scanned
To smile al the witticism.
Mr. Weaver had tho skull washed
and presented To ono of the reporters
of the Nirginan- Pilot.