The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-08-28
CHOULlSH CAREER.
Notorious Body.Snatcher Now a Physical
Wreck,

Notorious BOQy.SnatCN NO" hS
Wreck,
After having been stranger to po-
flee circles for more than ten years
old Percy Brown, the resurrectionist,
was locked up at No. 0 station re-
Gently. He gave his name as Stephen
Bontz, and was charged with the lar
ceny of O watch and chain valued at
six dollars from Louisa Gatewood, an
aged colored woman, who resides near
Montello.
When Brown was brought to the
station and gave the fictitious name,
Wagon Officer Mansfield, addressing
the ancient grave robber, said:
Your name is not Stephen Bontz.
You are Percy Brown, the body
snatcher."
The prisoner admitted that he had
been known as Percy Brown. But"
he added, that was not my right
name. l came from Odessa, Russia,
the granary Of the world, and am con-
nected with the Russian nobility. my
right name being Bontz."
Before being placed in a cell for the
night Brown said he lived at Montello
and had not been in Washington for
several years. He is wreck of his
former self, being paralyzed on one
side, and assists his labored locomo-
ton with the aid of q stout oak
crutch.
The police state that Brown lives out
of doors under great spreading tree,
where a colored woman serves his
meals and where he sleeps at night.
The aged resurrectionist is but shell
Of his former stalwart self, and but
few policemen recognize him. He
has not been engaged at his ghoulish
trade for long time, but lives ON a
pension of twelve dollars per month.
Brown has served several terms in
Jail for resurrecting bodies and at one
time his fame extended all over this
country. He came into unusual prom
inence at the time of Guiteau's execu-
tion by publicly threatening to ex-
hume the body Of the assassin and
sell it to the highest bidder. He was
associated for years with Vigo Jensen
Ross, also a Russian, who resurrected
the body of Charles Shaw, colored.
who murdered his sister and was exc
cuted at the district Jail. Ross was
arrested near Freedman's Hospital.
He was in q hack with the corpse of
the murderer dangling out Of one Of
the doors Of the vehicle. Ross was
sent to jail for one year for this
offence.
Several years ago the police raided
an old frame house which was occu-
pied by Brown, his sister, Maud
Brown, and her husband. The build
ing was situated on high embank-
ment in northeast Washington.
Under the house was found a cave,
in which it was said Brown kept his
dead bodies, or cadavers, until they
were disposed Of to medical colleges.
The police raiders found the floor Of
the cave Uttered with grave clothes,
shrouds and other articles which had
been stripped from the bodies of the
resurrectionists.
When arraigned in the police court
this forenoon Percy Brown first de-
manded jury trial, but later con-
sented to be tried by Judge O'Don-
nell and pleaded not guilty. He gave
his age rs eighty-four years and pre-
sented q pitiful spectacle. After he
had heard the evidence of Louisa Gate
wood, the complainant, Judge O'Don-
nell said:
II don't want to send this poor old
man to Jail and won't do it. Bontz,
you are discharged"
1t required the services Of Court
Officer Hatton and another official to
assist the badly afflicted old fellow
from the courtroom to the sidewalk. It
was evident that but few of the DO
licemen in court recognized Percy
Brown, the former king of body
snatchers," so great has been the
havoc Of disease.--Washington Star.