The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-30
One Of the Most Remarkable Cases of
Grave RObbing Ever known
i'm This City.
DIR. ]. c. ALEXANDER ARRESTED
CENTRAL COLLEGE DEMONSTRATION
Is IN THE Tolls.
Cantrell Tells of the Methods Pursued
by His Gang-LoOking for the
Body of Miss Gates.

The seven negroes arrested Sunday night
by Captain Gerber and Detectives Asch and
Manning, charged with robbing graves.
were arraigned in Police Court yesterday
morning and their cases continued until to-
day. DR.. Joseph c. Alexander, demonstra-
tor of anatomy at the Central Medical Col
lege. was arrested yesterday morning and
soon released on 5000 bond. The negroes
arrested were unable to give bond and are
still in Jail. 1t is said one more member
of the band of ghouls is at large, and 1t is
the opinion of the detective department
that he has left town.
In the arrest of the negroes one of the
most remarkable stories of grave robbing
ever known in this vicinity has come to
light Rufus Cantrell, one of the first
negroes arrested for the crime has con-
fessed to the methods and operations en-
ployed by the gang. 1t was Cantren who
implicated DR.. Alexander. The finding of
two bodies in the watts at the Central Col
lege and the prominence given the affair
has aroused the public and the police de-
partment. The latter put the cases in the
hands of the detectives with the result that
what is said to be an organized gang of
ghouls has been corralled. After the ad-
missions of Cantrell other confessions were
made by the other negroes arrested. and
what they said fully confirmed the story
told by Cantrell, who is regarded as the
leader of the ghouls. Cantrell said that he
and his assistants have robbed Crown Hill.
the German Catholic graveyard the ceme-
teries at Mount Jackson, Traders Point and
the old Anderson graveyard northeast of
Irvington. Cantrell. realizing that he was
in the power of the law on one of the most
serious charges in the criminal code, made
his confession on the theory that the au-
thorities would deal leniently with him He
said that at the cemetery in the rear of
the Central Insane Hospital more than one
hundred graves have been emptied of
bodies. He said that this graveyard was
considered one of the easiest on account of
certain attaches being easy TO handle"
IMPLICATES DIR. ALEXANDER.
He said that DR.. Alexander had accom-
panied him and his assistants on several of
the grave robbing expeditions. While the
detectives were at first working on slight
clews piece of luck chanced TO come their
way one day last week when Gus Habich. a
gunsmith, called at the police station to OH
tain a writ of replevin for several shot
guns This information was given to Can
tain Gerber and Detectives Asch and Man.
ming. 1t was learned from Habich that
several negroes had come to his store re-
Gently and purchased shotguns and that
Dr. Alexander stood good for payment
When the newspapers began to print
and of the watching of graves by relatives
who had their dead buried in the local ce,n1
eteries the negroes became alarmed and
pawned the shotguns at ManteITs store
opposite the Statehouse. Ii was learned
that Rufus Cantrell and his assistants were
the men who had pawned the guns. Can't
rell admits that he disposed of the guns
because public opinion and police suryeil-
lance had become too strong for him to ply
the trade Of grave robbing for the present
He claims that DR.. Alexander ordered him
TO get the shotguns and said he would
stand good for their payment This Dr.
Alexander denies. as he does any connec-
ton with the affair whatever
The detectives yesterday arrested George
Haymaker. a white janitor at the college
Haymakcr was released on bond of $500
The detectives are after Dr. j. C.. Wilson.
one OF the internes at the college. Wilson
Is said to be out of the city. His hcme Is In
Owens county Kentucky.
When the men were arraigned yesterday
each was willing to make .'cleau breast