The Washington herald., 1908-02-09


Funeral Was Supposed 10 Have
Taken PIace-FIed to Paris.
AS far as can be discovered, the grim
work OF meddling with a depository Of
any discoveries which would lend color
to the truth of the tradition that graves
containing bogus corDses exist. says the
London GLOBE. Hence, we have to fall
back upon stories; and one OF the most
remarkable is told by a late owner Of
Scotney Castle. Wits. in the "Archaeo-
| lOgia Cantiana" for 1857.
Two hundred years ago. when that
property was possessed by the DarelIs,
certain Arthur Darrell was buried in the
parish church on December u, 1910. 1T Is
said that when the mourners were assem-
bled around the grave a tail figure, muf-
/ fed In a black cloak, whom no one recog-
| nized. was observed among them: and as
the coffin was beiag lowered into the
grave he tapped bis nelghbor on the
shoulder. saying That is me they think
| they are burying."
| The stranger disappeared. and no clew
was found to the occurrence till many
years later, when John Bailey. who was
sexton in the parish from 1915 TO 1867, hav-
| ing occasion 10 prepare a grave in the
southeast aisle Of the church. which be-
longs 70 Scotney, came upon a very solid
and heavy oak coffin. studded with large
| iron nails. Owing TO the curiosity which
| its peculiar make excited. he raised the
lid, which was partially decayed. and TO
/ his astonishment found no remains Of
skeleton, but only heavy stones, apparent
iy put in TO give il weight
A curious mystery envelopes the last
days and death OF the celebrated actress.
Mrs Jordan In August ISl5, she fed 20
France, filed with strange and visionary
alarms. and took I'd her abode in the
greatest secrecy and seelusion at St.
Cloud, in a dilapidated. shabbly furnished
barrack Of house, having melancholy
cypress trees beckoning TO the grave"
Here she remained from morning 10 night,
signing. upon the sofa, and waiting for
news from England. On July 8, 1916.
after sending four letters and being told
there were none, she fell back on the sofa
and burst into a paroxysm Of sobbing:
her face turned Iiyid-she was dead.
That was the account OF her end. as
furnished by a nameIess attendant, the
only person present No doctor was called
in, neither was any medical evidence
ever forthcoming as 10 the cause OF death.
Gen. Hawker, a son-in-law, started for
Paris directly the news reached England.
but when he arrived he was told that the
funeral, conducted by Mr.. Foster. chap
lain 10 the English Embassy, had taken
place three days previously.
A widely circulated report that Mrs.
Jordan (whose grave was unmarked by
a stone for many years. was not dead
long prevailed. and II is alleged that she
was subsequently, seen by various persons
in London. A year or so after her re-
ported death, Boaden, her biographer. was
gazing in the window Of a booksellers
shop in Piccadilly. "On a sudden a lady
stood by ny slde-tO my conviction it was
Mrs. JOrdsn-she did not speak. but drop
ped long white veil over her face"
Boaden admits that not a lew ladies'
were in the habit of getting themselves up
10 resemble the admired actress, but the
mysterious lady who appeared to him in
Piecadilly wore an eyeglass. as did Mrs
Jordan, and the latter's extremely pecu-
liar manner Of using it. Shortly after
ward one Of the deceased's daughters.
Mrs. Alsop. had a 1T Of Mysteries in the
Strand on meeting a woman who she felt
convinced was none other than her
mother.
1t was long rumored In London that
Fauntleroy. the debonair forger- banker.
by means OF his vast wealth and acquaint-
ance had survived his execution on Nov
ember 30. 1924 More lucky than Jack
Sheppard or DR.. Dodd, whose friends tried
in vain 10 restore them 70 life after they
had been cut down, he had bribed the
executiOner to Insert a silver tube in his
throat, which prevented strangulation
and escaped abroad. The story goes that
the COnYiCts apparently lifeless form was
taken TO the premises opposite Newgate
Prison and successfully Tesuscitated.
and when the coffin was fastened down
Immediately by order OF the relatives Il
contained nothing but lead and Il was
lead they buried In the cemetery at Bun
hill Fields two days later. II Is certain
that many persons cherished the idea
that Fauntleroy cheated the gallows, and
more resOlute people declared he had ac-
tually been seen in Paris.
In spite of the Identification of the
corpse by the coroner, who had formerly
sat in Parliament with him there were not
wanting those who believed that. after all.
the infamous John SadIeir, the fraudulent
member for Sligo did not commit SUICIDE.
On the greensWard behind JACK Straws
Castle on Hampstead Heath. on Sunday
morning, February II. 1866. was found a
corpse. Beside it was small vial, which
had contained oil Of almonds and also
a silver cream jug, from which the fatal
draught had been taken. In pocket was
found a piece of paper, on which was
written, John Sadlier, Gloucester Square,
Hyde Park" but there were no cards,
no letters, nor any Of the usual marks
OF Identification on any part of the cloth
ing. Was the corpse that OF the swim
ding NJ. P? The cOroner's jury were
satisfied that 1t was, but rumOr asserted
the whole to be an elaborate plot-a body
was somehow procured TO persOnate Sad
lier, who wrote letters, intended 10 be
posthumous announcing his resolve to
commit suicide and who made good his
escape to America, Several persons sub
alleged that they had seen
either the dead man himself or his dou-
bic in American cities.
Causes of City Crime.
Citv crime is not due To factory, sr,ot,.