The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-27
THE GRAVES VIOLATED
NOT VERY MANY BODIES ARE LEFT
IN GREENLAwN CEMETERY.
As Fast as Bodies Were Buried the
Transform Cemetery Into n Park.


Since last winter. when the agitation was
started 20 make public park out of Green
lawn Cemetery, the members of different
families in this city have been active in
securing the removal of the remains OF
relatives buried there. and these efforts
have brought TO light peculiar condi-
ton of affairs not suspected by any but
few men, who were directly responsible
for IL.
The cemetery adjoins Kentucky avenue
and has not been used for about four years
during which time IL has been allowed 10
fall into decay. 1t has been the lOafing
place during the daytime OF crowds OF
young men ard boys. who have defaced and
wrecked the tOmbstones and knocked down
fences so that the city felt called upon TO
protect it by having it made into a park.
When this was proposed 1t was ascer-
tanned that IL was impracticabie without
legislative action, as many of the deeds of
sale dating back to the time IL was first
laid out as a cemetery provided that in
case ii was ever abandoned as a cemetery
the lots would revert TO the heirs OF the
original owners. During the last session
OF the Legislature some effort was made
to enact law so that the city might secure
control Of the graveyard. but it failed and
IL is now proposed 20 try it again at the
next session.
GRAVES VIOLATED.
The city owns a strip of ground, acquired
from the squatters along the river front,
Immediately adjoining the cemetery and ex-
tending to the river, and If successful it is
contemplated merging the two TRACTS into
one new park. This policy being understood
by number of families, former members of
which were buried there, arrangements
were made for removing the bodies TO other
cemeteries; but almost invariably, when
the graves were opened they showed the
marks of having been violated. In only
enc or two cases were any remains found
in the collins, and these facts, coming TO
the attention of the authorities, caused
much speculation as to the reason for 1t.
In nearly every case where removals '1ere
attempted the bodies were those OF people
who had died within the last ten years,
1t being considered probable that at least
something would remain of the bodies
Each grave showed, however, that some
one had been there before the relatives.
and the fact that the covers were wrenched
on the boxes and the shrouds anu otner
grave clothes bore marks of having been
torn from the bodies indicated that grave
robbers had done some profitable business
there in times past. Gradually the facts
leaked out and the full story Is now Known
jects for the medical colleges were not so
easily obtained as they are now, the bust
ness OF grave ITb6Ing %as d9Re along e WfS
Mount Jackson, was the one most patron
lied During all this time 1T was a rule
among those engaged in the business never
night IL possible, and usually the last or the
relatives had scarcely left the cemetery be-
mains. 1t was stated yesterday by one
formerly engaged in the work that during
the last few years that Greenlawn Gene
terry was used for a burying place not one
body was allowed to remain in the ground,
but generally before rigor mortis had de-
parted 1t was In the dissecting room OF one
TO open a grave and take the body out:
clothes and all, and either strip Ii naked
on the ground or double il up in a sack and
remove the clothes after taking it TO
safe place.
CAUSE OF DISCONTINUANCE.
This practice was discontinued when one
day the city was thrown into an uproar
over the finding of a girls slipper in the
snow beside her newly made grave. She
had been buried one afternoon in winter
when the snow was falling and her rela-
tives came back the following day to look
at the grave. Between visits the grave
robbers got in their work, and, following
the usual custom, did not remove the cloth
ing from the body, but doubled 1t up and
dainty slippers fell from one of the feet,
and. being white, was not noticed lying
in the snow During the following morning
the snow melted and the relatives, return
ing to the grave, saw the slipper, and,
recognizing 1t, raised a hue and cry. This
made the grave robbers change their
methods, and thereafter after opening the
boxes they stripped all bodies of their
clothes and put the garments back in the
caskets-
This when related to the authorities ex-
planned why in opening the graves within
the last few months nothing was to be seen
In the caskets but piles of discolored clothes
thrown in heaps, with slippers where the
head ought to have rested. but with no sign
of flesh, bones or even hair, which has al
ways been considered TO be almost indie
structible ard has been found in graves
even after bones have begun to crumble.
1t has come 10 be generally understood
by the city officials that although Green
lawn has all the outward signs OF being a
cemetery, there are in reality few, If any,
bodies there, and that in view of this fact
there should be no opposition TO It's being
transformed into a park.