The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-16
STOLE HARRISON'S BODY.
Corpse of Benjamin Harrison's Father
Found in Medical College

Cincinnati o.. March 16-The death of
General Harrison recalls the sensation
venerable father was found in a medical
college in this city, where Il had been
sold by body snatchers.'
John Scott Harrison, the son of Ohio's
first president and father of ex-Presi-
dent Harrison, died suddenly at his
home in North Bend on Wednesday, May
20. 1878, Of a mysterious disease. Two
days later his body was inferred in con-
gress Green cemetery, near North Bend.
beside the tomb in which mis- father
remains rested. AS a gang of body
snatchers had been at work in the yicin-
ity, extraordinary precautions were
taken to keep them from stealing the
body, especially as it was understood
that. owing to the fact that he had died
from some unknown disease, the doctors
wanted to secure the remains for dis
section
That same night John Harrison, an
other son, was informed that the grave
OF August Devins. an intimate friend Of
his, had been opened and the body
stolen. The grave was located near that
Of the Harrison tomb John Harrison
was considerably wrought UP when he
learned of the affair and. with a friend.
came to this city to look for the body,
as they were positive that it had been
brought here This was the day follow
ing the burial of his father.
On reaching the city he secured the
services Of Detective Snelbaker, Con-
stable Walter Lacey and Deputy Con
The first place the party visited was
the Ohio Medical college The janitor,
John Marshall, met them at the door,
and after some argument agreed to show
them through the building. Suspicious
Of the janitor's move the detective walk
ed over to one corner of the room, where
a chute, which was used in hauling
bodies from the alley to the room, was
located.
There were several bodies in the
room. some Of which had been cut up,
but as none of them was that Of the
one they were looking for the party
SnelbalSer grasped hold of the rope in
the chute and remarked that there was
something heavy attached to the other
end OF it. He asked the janitor whether
said he did not know, and to make
sure, SneIbaker turned the windlass
and soon brought to view a naked body.
over the head of which was a common
sack The rope to which the body was.
attached had been fastened around un-
der the arms and in cne place had cut
the neck The corpse was hauled into
the room and placed on the floor. At
first young Harrison did not want to
lift the sack from the head, saying that
Devins had died from consumption and
that the body was too heavy to be that
Of his friend. Snelbaler, however, urged
him to look at the face. saying that if
they did not find the body he would
later regret having gone without as
surfing himself that it was not his
friend. 1t was then that Harrison lifted
the sack which concealed The features
Of the corpse and glanced at the face.
which was that Of an elderly man with
white hair and beard cut off square just
below the chin.
he glanced at the features and was
about to replace the covering. when
something about it. caused him to look
closer. and then with cry. My God
it's father" he fell back into the arms