Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-01-17
TOWN HAS A GHOST.
solemnly Affirmed That the Town
ofLenox is Haunted.
has an AWFUL EXPERIENCE
Heard Sound Similar to Saving
5ones-Fact is That a Girl Was
Dissected in the Same Building
Residents Will Watch for 1t.


Dissected in the Same Building
Residents viii Watch for It.
Lenox, Jan. 16.--For months past it
has been known to few, but not gem
orally thruout Lenox, that supposed
ghost exists in a very conspicuous
business center. Those who were an
noyed quit the place and said nothing
as they supposed the public would
ridicule the idea. But last Thursday
night Leslie Mapel, who operates a
pantorium over the rear part of Ben
nett & Maiden's drug store, who
sleeps in his Office, had an experience
that he will not soon forget. Shortly
after midnight he heard strange
noises in the suite of rooms just east,
used by Drs. Bennett and Brown. 1t
continued and he went to investigate
but failed to effect an entrance.
Saving Bones.
Plainly did he hear the dripping of
water, the wringing of wet clothes in
bucket, the creaking of chairs, then
a kind of cutting sound was emitted,
again the sound as of some one saw
ing bones. If Mr.. Mapel made noise
the what (?) would cease for NOM
ent, then the sounds would give away
to groans, sobs and murmurings. He
could plainly hear something moving
about but how it got in or how,it got
out is not known. 5s
Experience is Like That of Others.
The next morning he related his ex-
perienees and it exactly comedies with
what DR.. Readhead and Thomas
Sweeney had each reported at times
previous as they occupied this room
now used by Mr.. Mapel. They We're
so much annoyed that they would
sleep there no longer and have conse-
Quently taken up other abodes.
Ghost of Minnie Alexander.
The skeptics are led to believe that
these noises are caused by the ghost
of the late Minnie Alexander, whose
body was twice exhumed and brought
to this place for dissection and autop-
steal purposes. The sound that came
from that part of the building are not
from any human being as the doors
have always been found locked and a
watch has never yet revealed it to be
due to some human kind.
Iowa City.
An attempt at grave robbery was
frustrated by the quick action and
speed of young boy residing in the
north end of the city. A few evenings
ago. the boy was passing the new part
of Oakland cemetery and gazing into
the dark, gloomy woods. discovered six
or eight young men who were appar-
entity digging down into the earth to
secure a corpse for dissection in the
medical department. f. The boy could
scarcely believe his senses and stood
as one transfixed at the horrible sight.
He soon recovered, however, and sped
onward to the city as fast as ''shank's
mare could carry him. Several citi-
zens were notified and asposse was Or
tenders and wipe them from the face
of the earth.
The impromptu brigade of citizens
quickly worked their way to the basis
of operations and when ready, they
came down upon the grave robbers
with vengeance cleaning from their
eyes. The sight that met their gaze
was laughable. A students fraternity
of the city was initiating a candidate
into the mysteries of the chapter. The
new member was shrouded in white
and lay with his arms around the
tombstone shivering with fright. The
fellows had good laugh around and
the frats went on with their impress
slve exercises.
Buxton.
Orders for materials have been
placed for $50 new houses to be built
at Buxton next summer. This will
more than double the size of the pres
ent town, which grew from nothing
last spring to a. most prosperous and
enterprising municipality.
GrinnelI.
Chester Rowe, defaulting treasurer
from Poweshiek county, recently re
leased from prison in Mexico, has
stated thru relatives that he intends
to repay the county the money he took
with him to Mexico. Thru Rowe's de
falcation the county lost about $50,
900, part of which has been repaid
by Rowe's bondsmen.
Oskaloosa.
The differences between the county
of Mahaska and the Fair Williams
Bridge company, of Ottumwa, who
had the contract for the erection Of
the bridge over the North Skunk
river have been adjusted and the
company will replace the faulty work
The specifications under which the
contract was let called for Portland
cement and the contractor under
stood it common cement" which
was used in the starting of the work
| The work that has been done will be
removed and the Portland cement
will be used and the tubes protecting
the work will go down three feet low
er. The misunderstanding occurred
on account of the changing of the
plans and specifications by the coun
ty from the first draft that was made
| Newton.
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