Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-30


the other known to be true, and both noti-
h~cations being made in the same way.
and, presumably, by the same person.
caused the police TO take up the subject, but
nothing further developed.
Early one morning. several days later, At
torney Croninger called at police headquar-
ters and asked to see Detectives Asch and
Manning. When alone with the detectives
he said that he had a very peculiar case on
hand and wanted IL investigated. II APP
peared hat his client, Gus Habich, a dealer
in guns and ammunition, had sold four guns
to some negroes, and that DR.. Alexander.
demonstration Of anatomy at the Central
College Of Physicians and Surgeons, and
Dr.. Frank NJ. Wright, who held a similar
position in the Eclectic Medical college, had
become surety for the negroes when they
purchased the guns; that the guns had been
pawned at Mantel's pawnshop, and that the
pawnbroker refused to give them UP. Ha-
bich had brought suit in replevin, and a
constable had the property in his posses
sion. The attorney wanted to know what
relations existed between the two demon
s~trators OF anatomy and the negroes, and
for what the four guns had been used.
Tracing the GhOuIs.
The detectives called at Mantel's and dis
covered that a negro preacher named Rufus
Cantrell had pawned the guns, and when
Habich's was visited the dealer told them
that Drs. Alexander and Wright had be-
come surety for the price Of the guns, but
they had not been paid for, and because Of
this he had taken out a writ Of replevin.
Cantrell was known to the detectives as a
minister, but also as a man who was In
the habit Of imbibing quite freely, and he
was found at his home and taken to the
station house. When asked regarding the
property that he had pawned, and informed
that he was suspected of having robbed the
grave OF Stella Middleton, Cantrell broke
down and made a complete confession, in
which he implicated nine other colored men,
DR.. Alexander and DR.. Wright. Both Of the
physicians were arrested, and the negroes
we're found skulking at different places and
were soon In confinement.
Cantrell said that DR.. Alexander kept a
watch over the death returns at the City
Board OF Health and notified him. He re-
ceived $50 for every body, and had made
1920 since July, and the other membe Of
the gang had made as much as he. He did
not know just how many graves had been
robbed, but he said that he and seven
ONuOA haN bVNh IL INV bNoAhN15 W ="
years.
Tool of the
The lightest punishment in the ghoul
cases is expected for Rufus Cantreli. This
, illiterate, corpulent negro, whose low-mind-
edness causes him to glory in his achieve
ments as a ghoul and who prides himself
on being the leader of a gang of ghouls
and the Exponent Of their methods, is max
ing It possible for the state to prosecute
the persons responsible for the grave rob
berries. BY his information and suggestions
to Detectives Asch and Manning, who have
conducted the investigation from the start
all of the indictments now returned, and
those men expected to be arrested, have
been secured. His talks to the detectives
and voluntary trips to the graveyards tC
substantiate his assertions, have brought
to light all Of the evidence which was sub.
mitted to the grand jury.
Cantrells stories and descriptions o.
some Of his grave robbing expeditions are
interesting in their gruesomeness. To the
police and the public at large his tales Of
the systematic methods are surprising. HI
has explained some Of his code OF signs e
the detectives.
He has even given exhibitions with Other
ghouls before Superintendent Of Police
Taffe Of his manner Of taking bodies from
their graves. Placing one of the smallel
ghouls over his back. Oantrell thrust hii
left arm under the shoulder, and, crouch,
ing, skirted about, at the same time say,
ing to the other ghouls: Keep your eye
skinned. %fellers; keep ''em skinned good,
and, rushing forward, deposited the CHOU
in an imaginary wagon.
Cantrell intimated that he and the othe
negro ghouls were but the tools OF a NOR,
intelligent person. This person is though
to be DR.. Alexander, who is known to hav,
! called each day at the once of the cit,
Board Of Health and copied all death re
turns. Cantrell, in further admissions, sal
that DR.. Alexander keptsthem informed o
desirable corpses. The ghouls were dele
gated through this information, and, arme
with shotguns. they went at night to stea
the body designated by the doctor, often
times with the connivance of the sexton O
the burying grounds.
Since the ghoulish expose, friends an
relatives OF persons buried in cemeterie
of the county have become apprehensiv
of the security Of them. To satisfy thei
fears numerous openings Of graves ar
daily occurrences. Permits to open grave
are applied for and given by the variou
cemetery associations, who realize the I'm
p%ortance OF the action.