The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-12-17
Traces of the Little Animals
Were Found at Pauper
Cemetery by Investigating
County Officers.
EFFORTS WERE MADE
TO DRIVE THEM OUT
Rodents Had No Trouble Gain.
ing Access to Bodies,
Which Were Placed in the
Very Cheapest Cotfins.

Conditions, necesstating an i'm
provement, or even a change in 1oca-
tion of the county infirmary cemetery,
are more serious than first intimated
of the county officials stated this
morning that the burying grounds had
been made the rendezvous of ground
hogs and in some instances human
bones have been brought to the sur
face by these rodents.
1t is true that at the present time
conditions are not so serious in this
respect as in the past. Yesterday, on
the visit too the infirmary by the
county commissioners, Walter Com
mons, president of the county council
and Joe Commons. representative
OF the county board of charities and
corrections, the cemetery was visit
ed. One of the party making the in
spection, stated today. he found only
one ground hog hole in the cemetery.
but he had understood that formerly
it had been made regular burrow-
ing grounds by these animals.
One Good Proof.
Unless, 1t was presence Of food in
the shape Of human bodies no reason
is advanced why the little animals
should frequent the cemetery as they
usually make their burrows in gravel
banks and not in soil of clay char
acter.
When the presence of the animals
was noted, it was learned today, dras-
tic action was taken, some Of the anil
mails being caught In traps and killed
and others poisoned. With the ex-
ception of one burrow, the cemetery
yesterday, showed no effects of
ground hog depredations, according to
a county official.
The ground hogs would find no OBJ
stacle in making a meal on human
bodies as the coffins in which the
county paupers are buried are of the
cheapest sort. The coffins are plac-
ed in a pine box and lowered into the
grave, the dirt being thrown in on
top of them. There is no protection
around the coffin such as cement,
stone or brick grave lining. Rodents.
such as ground hogs, would find no
obstacle in soon cutting hole
through a coffin and gaining access
to the body.
An order has been given that an
extraordinary effort be made to catch
the one remaining ground hog, even
though the old legend AYERS these
animals sleep during the winter. until
February 2, at which time they
hot &D
weather forecast for the next six
weeks.
The county commissioners will see
that there Is no repetition of COM
plants, from this source in the fu-
ture.
May Move Cemetery.
1t is even probable that the ceme-
terry will be moved from the northeast,
and most remote, corner of the farm
to the hillside, south of the railroad.
This hillside might cheaply be con-
verted into cemetery for the institu-
tion, which would be a credit to the
county. The commissioners will await
the decision of the town council of
Centerville, about accepting the COM
missioners proposition to purchase
one acre Of the Centerville cemetery
for $500.
An investigation as to the eligibil-
ity Of the inmates at the institution
was made yesterday. 1t was not COM
pleted but 1t was found that Wayne
county was providing for two paupers
which should be cared for by other
counties. These were discharged from
the institution and sent to those insti-
tutions of the counties in which they
belong. 1t is probable that the mum.
Der of inmates will be reduced upon
further Investigations.