Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-10
Rumor Persists Body of Mil
Iioiaire Scott Was Stolen.
HEARD GHOULS AT WORK
Police Working on Slight Clue Fur
nished by a Milkman.
NO DEMAND FOR RANSOM
In It's Absence, Motive for Robbery
of Mausoleum Remains
Mystery.

ERIE, Pa, February 1O-Detectives are
working OH a clue today that may lead to
some material development in connection
with the robbery of the Scott mausoleum
in the Erie cemetery. Louis Wadlinger, a
milk dealer has informed the officers that
about O'Clock on the morning of jan
uary 81 his wagon was stopped near the
cemetery by a man who asked for a
match. Wadinger says the man told him
he had heard hammering in the cemetery
and later saw four men emerge through
a hole in the cemetery fence Wadlinser
lives on a dairy farm near here. He did
not hear of the robbery until last night
and today related the incident to the po-
lice.
On account of the reticence of the po-
lice and members of the family, much
mystery surrounds the desecration Of the
mausoleum.
Scott's Body Reported Taken.
Although a statement issued by the
family is to the effect that the body
stolen is that of Mrs. Anna NJ. McCol-
lum, sister-in-law of Mr.. Scott, rumors
are persistent that the ghouls have taken
the body of the millionaire representa-
tive. For the present it has been i'm
possible to secure q confirmation.
Except to investigate the story told by
Wadlinger, the police are at sea. There
has been no demand for ransom, and
this fact has served to mystify the au-
thorities.
The robbery Of the mausoleum might
have occurred any time within the last
| three or four days. 1t was a very care
| full job, whenever it was performed. The
| vanuals first broke the iock of the orna-
mental bronze doors, then bored a hole
| through the oak panel of the inner. or
PRACTICAL, portal. with Key noe Saw
Iney then cut away the lock of the Oak
| door and made their way in at their
| leisure.
Not Visible From Street.
The place is almost in the center OF
to casual passersby on the streets. Ihr
through hole in the wall, it has been
| discovered.
Parts of the coffin which had contained
l AoeAsN
| by the police, they say, scattered all
about the floor of the mausoleum.
| Detectives have discovered hole in
| the west side OF the fence which sur
| rounds the cemetery. Three iron pIckets
| had been torn away, making room for
| man to pass through. Near TINS opening
| q truck or automobile is believed to nave
| waited the spoils oil the gnastly lootIng.
The authorities lean to the opinion tndt
| men familiar with the work OF rOoolns
graves committed the crime. The name
plates from the caSkets in winch the
| bodies of Richard Townsend and }. A.
| McCollum repose were torn OFF with some
hooked instrument, and were round on
| the floor. The authorities think that after
the bronze doors and the copper seais
| over the mouths of the crypts mad been
torn away hooked instruments We're
pushed INTO the crypts for the purpose
! of pulling the caskets out, and tnat q
| slipping of these instruments caused the
| nameplates to be torn on.
Possible Cause of Murder.
Whether the murder of the Italian
| Giovanibastista Arecchi, who was buried
| in Cleveland yesterday, had any bearing
| on the tomb robbery is not yet definitely
! settled. The police believe there is such
| a possibility. That he was murdered by
Black Hand members is not doubted and
| Chief of Police Wagner is of the opinion
! that Arecchi may have been one of the
| men who planned to rob the Scott tomb
and that he weakened. Fearing he might
disclose their identity, they think the
ghouls lay in wait for and killed him.
That the tomb may have been robbed the
same night Arecchi was murdered is re-
garGed as probable. The interior of the
mausoleum showed signs of hurried work,
and a number of PAINS at the rear of the
structure We're overturned.
The idea that the body of Mrs Nc
Collum or MIR. Scott is beng neld Iol
| ransom is substantiated by an incident
of two years ago, when the Strong family
| received Black Hand letters demandin,, !,
Inelr summer house dynamited. Inc
writers subsequently were appI ehended
and are serving sentences in western
penltentiary.
Mausoleum is Guarded.
At the request of the family an armed
guard spent last night in the mausoleunf
Mrs. McCollum was the daughter of
the late John A. Tracy, who came to
| Washington township, Erie county, In
1899 Her mother was Susan Jane Rob-
bins, daughter of Capt. Daniel Rob-
bins. Her father died in Erie in 1879.
Her sband belonged to a prominent
Philadelphia family and was a lieutenant
in the navy.
ASIDE from Mrs. McCollum the follow
ing were inferred i'll the vault: William
L. Scott, Mrs. William l.. Scott, Richaru
Townsend of Washington, ID. c.; ANA
Townsend, an infant daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Townsend of Washington, and John
Van McCollum, whose wifes body was
stolen.