The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-01
Trial Of Alleged Ghouls Postponed
Until Oct. 23 and Grand Jury Will
Investigate.
MORNING VISIT TO CEMETERY
CANTRELL MAKES CHARGES
AGAINST GRAVEYARD EMPLOYEES.
He Says Sexton Spears Was Tied to n
Tree One Night-Pushing the
investigation.

The Police Court room was crowded yes
terday morning with negroes and whites
waiting patiently for the entrance of the
seven negroes charged with grave robbing.
and also DR.. Joseph c. Alexander. The
latter did not appear In court nor did Ru-
fus Cantrell. who prides himself being
the leader of the ghouls. 1t was near IL
O'Clock when Judge Stubbs and Prosecutor
Collins were ready for the cases. The
negroes were marched into court. and every
neck in the courtroom was craned to get
a glimpse of the prisoners. There seemed
to be a feeling of disappointment among
many because Cantrell was not present.
William p. Herod. attorney for DR.. Alex
ander Immediately held a short consulta-
ton with Judge Stubbs and Prosecutor
Collins, in which 1t was decided to postpone
the hearing of the cases until Oct. %. BY
that time 1t is thought the county grand
jury will have investigated the alleged
crimes. The bond of DIR. Alexander was in
creased to 5000 and those of the colored
men to 5000 each.
AS the crowd filed out of the courtroom
and the prisoners were being taken back
to their cells mutterings were heard among
the negroes on the sidewalk concerning the
disgrace brought to the race by the actions
of the alleged ghouls. Each man seemed
to have his own version of the law, and told
in loud tones how he would treat the pris-
oners II he were the judge to try the cases.
Dr. Alexander seemed to be the greatest
object of their derision. They said IL it
were not for the doctor the ghouls would
hardly have resorted to their wholesale
robbery of graves.
LOOKING FOR CANTRELL.
While the excited negroes stood on the
sidewalk ard in the corridors outside the
courtroom discussing the case three young
men stood to one side and scanned the
faces of the prisoners closely. They said
they wanted to get good look at Rufus
Cantrell. who claims that he robbed graves
in every cemetery in Marion county The
trio did little talking, but wore sad express
sions They were waiting for Prosecutor
Collins When the latter made his appear
ance in his Office it was found that the
three men had an object other than idle
curiosity in visiting the courtroom. They
explained to Collins that they were grand
sons of Mrs. Johanna Stilz, who died the
latter part of July. They said they had
been to the Ebenezer graveyard, where the
body was buried. and the grave was found
TO be empty. After learning that the body
was missing the trio hurried to the city in
the hope of recovering the body in one of
the medical colleges. search warrant
was obtained and the men. in company
with Detectives Asch and Manning, made
a tour of the Central and Indiana medical
colleges before dinner, with result. The
entire afternoon was taken up in going 10
the various other medical and dental col
leges The party first went to the Indiana
Dental College where one body was found
This was tightly packed In a barrel The
hody proved TO be that of colored man
The party left. but IL was said on the street
that there was a secret vault in the walls
of the college cellar. With this slight in
formation the crowd Immediately returned
to the cellar where a thorough search
was made but no vault could be found
The next place visited was the Physio- Med
icai College. located at North and Alabama
streets Here the party was met by iani-
tor named Catterson, who was inclined to
not assist in the search. He asked who the
marty represented. and when told calmly
asked for the search warrant. which the
detectives said they would read to him.
Catterson said he had to be shown" and
be was accommodated. A search Of the