The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-22
MRS. D|NGHAM'S BODY
ExHUnfO, IS REPORT
Autopsy Performed by -Four Promi-
ncnt Surgeons. Says Story, and
Corpse Returned to Grave.

Wilmington, N. c., Sept. 21.-That
the body of Mrs. Robert Worth Bins-
ham. formerly Mrs. Henry NJ. Flagler,
has already been exhumed. its vital
organs removed for analysis and the
body re-entered. is substance of a re-
port current here today. Neither con-
firmatlon nor denial of the report was
obtainahle from local health officials.
The death of Mrs. Bingham. who
inherited from sso,0o0.0o0 to $780,
o00,00 from her first husband, has
caused considerable sensation
through several states.
Today IL was stated that the body had
been removed from the grave IN Oak
dale cemetery in the dark hours of
Wednesday morning. An autopsy was
performed. 1t was alleged, by four
prominent surgeons. and the body re-
turned to its resting place, Thursday
morning a florist working at the grave
Is reported to have erased all signs OF
distur bance.
DR.. Charles r Nesbitt, county health
officer. said today he had no personal
knowledge Of the reported exhumation.
Guards are still maintained at the
grave.
>
fusing TO make any statement concern
ing the alleged intention of various
persons TO exhume the body of his wife.
in the cemetery az Wilmington, N. C..
Judge Robert w. bingham returned to
his home tonight after a vacation trip
to Atlantic City. His wife was the
widow of Henry NJ. Flagler.
The Judges attorneys. Edward
Humphrey and W. w. Davies, issued
the following statement:
"A representative of Judge Bing-
ham stated today that he was greatly
surprised at the reports coming from
New York in reference to the exhu-
nation of the body OF Mrs. Bingham
that no one of Judge Bingham S
friends knew anything whatsoever
about it. 1t seems from the newspa-
pers that Mr.. Helm Bruce. who is the
counsel for the executors and trustees
under Mrs, Bingham's will, was like
wise ignorant.
"A representative OF Judge Bing-
ham has asked an intimate friend to
so at once to Wilmington and And out
exactly what, If anything, has been
done there in this matter: whether
there has been any request for any
such thing, by whom such request has
/ been made, if any has been made, and
for what purpose such q proceedins
is to be had; and to see that, in the
event there Is any such purpose
(which Judge Binghams representa-
tive cannot believe to be true), Judge
| Bingham is given full notice so that he
may have a representative present"
The statement also saws that the Of
fee of Dr. NJ l.. Ravitch, in the Ather-
ton building. was broken into Wednes
/ day night or Thursday morning, his
desk forced, his papers searched and
some of them stolen. The state
ment also says that report that the
doctor received a Zee or present of
$4,000 from Mrs. Bingham In her last
Illness and an automobile are not cor
rect. He received the ordinary ply
sicians fee. DR.. Ravitch was one C.
the witnesses to the codicil to Mrs
| Eingham's viii giving yS.ooooo0 to her
husband.
| Helm Bruce and Fred Forest, attor.
| neys who represent Mrs Louise Wise
| Lewis, niece of Mrs. Bingham and
| chief beneficiary under her will, de.
| clined to make any statement on TIE
| elimination report, Bruce said h
I knew nothing OF il"