The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-10
CASk|LL
NOT YET
BURIED

Philadelphia, Jan. 10-It leaked out last
night that the coffin containing the body
of Benjamin ]. Gaskill, the philadelphia
broker whose tremendous forgeries of
railway stocks shook the whole financial
world last June and put the finishing
touch to the wrecking OF the city Trust
had never been buried, but still lies I'm the
receiving vault at Forest Hill cemetery,
Boston.
Now that Gaskills name has been
coupled with the Norfolk and Western
forgeres all the mysterious features or
his supposed death have been revived
and executors and relatives OF the forger
saw fit last night to complicate the puz-
zle by evasions concerning why the cas-
ket has not been Inferred I'm the family
lot at Forest Hin.
on the night OF the day that Gaskill's
stupendous frauds were revealed. few
days after the death OF the broker had
been announced and a funeral had been
held the very dark parlor of Gaskilfs
Twenty first street mansion, the coffin
supposed TO contain Gaskilrs body was
taken hurriedly from Laurel Hll ceme-
terry. where IL had been placed i'm the tenn.
porary receiving vault
Mystery and silence shrouded the rea-
sons for this hasty removal and no legit-
innate reason was ever given by any one
connected with the case
Mrs Gaskill. who has since disappear
ed with the contents OF the Twenty-first
street house, did say that "it was thought
best TO get Mr. Gaskll's body away from
the too curious"
DIDN'T OPEN THE CAsKET.
But not much significance was attach
ed to the remark at the time. II was re-
ported that the body had been taken 10
a pennsylvania railroad siding and shin
ped 10 Boston. II now leaks out that the
coffin was taken straight 10 the funeral
parlors OF Undertaken Oliver H. Bair at
sixteenth and Chestnut street, and placed
on train early the next morning
~ did not open the casket." said Mr..
Bair last night. II do not know whether
anything had been substituted for Gas
kills body and don't know what was in
side
MY orders were simply 10 receive the
casket and to send il 10 the Forest Hills
receiving vault. did II and there my re-
sponsibility ceased Further than knowing
that the casket reached the vault I know
nothing. ! was paid by Mr.. Gaskill's Phil
adelphia relatives"
The relative who bore the greatest part
OF the expense OF the funeral and who Is
now paying the rent is Israel Gaskill, A
brother OF the dead forger. and whom tho
shock Of the revelation OF the frauds
nearly killed.
He proved inaccessible last night. but
n woman. who said she was a member
Of his family. said that the brother was
paying the rent OF the vault She did not
care 10 discuss why the casket had not
been Inferred beyond saying that there
were good reasons.
us 1t not because tho coffin does not
contain Gaskill's body?" This she denied
vehemently
NO MOVE TO FORCE OPENING.
To questions as 10 whether the reIa-
tives would open the coffin TO determine
finally whether the casket did or did not
contain Gaskll's body. negative replies
were given. The position taken was that
Gaskill was certainly dead and that the
family did not propose. unless forced To
satisfy curiosity regarding the contents OF
the coffin
Lincoln Eyre. one OF tho executors for
the Gaskill estate and leading attorney.
said last night: There has been no ac-
tual move to force the opening OF Gas
kills cofiin
This is all simply revival OF tho ru-
mors that followed close upon the funeral
Certainly neither the family nor executors
viii take these rumors seriously enough
to make an investigation at Boston.
There is no reason why We should not.
nut lneIe IL no reason why We should.
Gaskill is dead. all rumors 10 the contrary
I don't know why the
family have LEFT the casket In the receiv-
Ing vault. and ] don't care. That's their
business"
Mr.. Eyre admitted that there had been
certificates OF the Norfolk and Western
among Gaskills effects
Don't you believe that Mrs Gaskili |
fed TO rejoin her husband?" he was ask |
ed
IF Gaskill were alive. ] suppose she |
would"