Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-24
Once Notorious Rssurrectionist Re-
appears to View.
NOW VERY OLD AND FEEBLE
Charged With Theft in Police
Court and discharged.
HIS GHoULasH CAREER

After having been a stranger to police
circles for more than ten years old Percy
Brown, the resurrectionist, was locked up
at NO. station last night. He gave his
name as stephen Bontz, and was charged
win the larceny Of watch and chain
valued at IS from Louisa Gatewood, an
aged colored woman. who resides near
Monticello.
"hen Brown was brought to the static Il
ana gave the fictitious name Wagon Off
Ger 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. I came
from ODESSA, Russia, the granary of the
world, and am connected with the Russian
nobility, my right name being Bontz."
he1ore oeing 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
paraiyzed on one side. and assists his la
oak crutch.
The police state that Brown lives out Of
ooors under a great spreading tree, where
a colored woman serves his meals and
Where ne sleeps at night. The aged res
n
stalwart SELF and but few of the police
men recognized him. He has not been en-
sased at his ghouliSh trade for a long time
out lives on pension of $12 per month
Record as Resurrectionist.
Brown has served several terms in Jail
for resurrectng bodies and at one time his
tame extended all over this country He
came into unusual prominence at the time
OF Gulteau's execution by publicly threat
enlng to exhume the body Of the assassin
ana sell 1t to the highest bidder. He was
associated Tor years with Vigo Jensen Ross
also Russian, who resurrected the body
OF Charles Shaw, colored, who murdered
MS sister and was executed the District
jan Ross was arrested near Freedman's
Hospital. He was in 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 offense.
Several years ago the police raided an
Old frame house which was occupied by
Brown, his sister. Maud Brown, and her
husband. The building was situated on a
high embankment in Northeast Washing
ton.
Kept CadaveYs in a Cave.
Under the house was found a cave in
which it was said Brown kept his dead
bodies, or cadavers until they were dis
posed 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 by the resurrecdonists.
When arraigned in the Police Court this
forenoon Percy Brown first demanded a
jury trial, but later consented to be tried
by Judge O'Donnell and pleaded not guilty.
He gave his age as eighty-four years and
presented a pitif1lsspectacle. After he had
heard the evidence of Louisa Gatewood,
the complainant Judge O'Donnell said:
Il don't want to send this poor old man
to jail, and 1 won't do 1t. Pontz, you are
discharged"
1t required the, services of Court Officer
Hatton and another official to assist the
badly afflicted old fellow from the court
room to the sidewalk. a. 1t was evident
that but few of the policemen in court
recognized Percy Brown, the former king
Of body snatchers," SO great has been the
havoc of disease.