The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-09
The Body of Mrs. Catherine
Not to BE Found by the Relatives
and Detectives.
BODIES FOUND AT LOUISVILLE
THIRTY CADAVERS LOCATED IN A
COLD-sTORAGE PLANT.
Detectives VIII Go to that City To-
Day to See IL Any of the Bodies
Can He Identified.

Acting on the assertion made by Rufus
Cantrell late Tuesday afternoon that the
body of Mrs. Katherine Doehring, buried
six weeks ago in the German Catholic
Cemetery. had been stolen, the grave was
opened yesterday morning by Cantrell
and Walter Daniels in the presence of De-
~tectives Asch and Manning and John and
Frank Doehring, sons of the dead woman,
and the body was found missing. Cantrell
told the party that he knew the body had
been taken to the Central Medical Col
lege.
Tuesday afternoon a permit for opening
the grave could not be obtained from the
directors of the German Catholic Cemetery
Association, as Revs. Father Haase and
Schneider were out of the city. They were
located early yesterday morning and the
permit was willingly given. Cantrell and
Daniels performed the work of opening the
grave. When they had shoveled off a por-
ton OF the dirt a large amount Of excelsior
was found. AS they dug further into the
grave the box was exposed and found to
be intact save for six holes found in the
cleat of the pine box. The cover was
thrown back and the coffin seemed not to
have been disturbed. An Investigation
proved, however, that the body had been
taken. All that remained was a small
crucifix and a pin that were buried with
the body.
When the dirt was thrown back and all
were satisfied that the body had been taken,
attention was at once turned to Cantrell
and Daniels. Cantrell denied having touched
the body. He intimated that it was stolen
by one OF the gangs of white ghouls. Can
tren also said that he was sure there were
other graves in the Catholic cemetery that
An1 A4A- 49, - .&~ g. -.
ing the graveyard Cantrell noticed a small
stick on top of the clay where he had
shoveled in the loose earth. He was asked
what 1t meant and replied that it was a
sign for ghouls. Further Information he re-
fused to give.
From the German Catholic Cemetery the
party drove to the Mount Jackson Gene
terry that was also visited on Tuesday.
Here several graves were opened and
found to be minus the bodies that were
thought to be reposing in them.
Cantrell said yesterday that he knew
so much regarding the robbing of the
graves In the Catholic cemetery because
of his many visits to the place with DR..
Joseph G.. Alexander. He said they often
drove out to the cemetery and took notes on
the new graves. He denied positively that
he had ever robbed any of the graves in
that locality.
The two sons of Mrs. Doehring, who were
at the graveyard yesterday when they dis
covered that the body Of their mother had
been stolen, said they were not sure yet
what course tney WOulu pursue TOT the re-
covery of the body. They said they would
consult an attorney. The Doehrings live
on the Three Notch road, about three miles
from the city limits.
Detectives Asch and Manning will now
devote much of their time in the search for
the white ghouls that are said to have
stolen bodies from the small cemeteries
outside of the city. The detectives have
the names of nearly every member of the
three gangs and 1T Is thought they will be
arrested during the coming week. 1t is
known that a number of the men nave left
the city, but their whereabouts is known
and officers will be sent after them.
The County Council will be asked to ap-
propriate money to defray the expenses of
making a search for the ghouls. Detectives
Asch and Manning since being detailed on
the case have spent their own money in the
reimbursed by the County Council for aid
ing the grand jury.