The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-09-24
Detectives and Physicians Pres
ent at Secret Opening Of
Grave Last Tuesday
LATEST IN CHAIN OF
UNEXPLAINED ACTS
Follows Burglary of Louisville
Doctor $ Office and Theft of
Records-tlusband Calls 1t
aChastly Drama

several physicians as witnesses, the
body of Mrs. Robert Worth Bingham,
widow of Henry F'lagler. was disinter-
red AT o'clock last Tuesday morning
at Wilmington. n. c.. cemetery. At
an autopsy imm ediately held in the
presence of the detective. physicians
and the Wilmington physicians. the
vital organs were removed and sent
to New York for examination.
This is the gist of a statement given
out tonight by legal representatives of
Judge Robert ". Bingham, husband of
Mrs. Bingham.
The disinterment IL the latest of a
chain OF unexplained acts that have
given the case an air of mystery. It
follows Immediately on the heels of
the burglarizing Of the Office of DR..
NJ. L. Ravitch, Mrs. Hingham's Louis
Vile physician, Records of orders for
narcotics here were stolen after the
desk had been rif1ed and papers and
letters stolen. A few days previous TO
the burglary Il was announced that
Burns had been employed by counsel
for the executors The attempted
bribery Of two nurses and two ply
sicians who attended Mrs. Bingham
Just before her death has been charg-
ed by friends of Judge Bingham, Or.
Raviteh has branded the theft of his
record the work of agents Of the ex-
ecutors. and has declared his belief
that the legal fight on the codicii leav-
ing the widower IS 5000 which Is
reported to be imminent. is due 10 the
influence welded by great corpora
ton. The motive for exhuming the
body has never Aeen4 disclosed
Refuse to Talk.
Attorneys for the executors and
Mrs, Lewis refuse 70 discuss the case
or to affirm or deny an order Of ex-
humation had been asked for 1t was
intimated, however. that the executors
wished to have more detailed infor-
nation on the exact causes Of Mrs
Birgham's DEATH
The secrecy with which II was con-
Quoted prevented the facts from he
coming public until today. when agents
Of Judge Bingham reported after an
investigation In Wilmington.
When the Bingham VIII was pro-
hated. a codicil written on DR.. Ea-
viteh's stationery and leaving to the
husband So. 900. 900 was attached. The
Will left practically the entire estate
to Mrs. Lewis and neither the will nor
the codicil have yet been attacked.
Attorneys for the executors and Mrs
Lewis objected. however. to the ap-
pointment of additional administra-
tors.
Hints Of a probe into the cause of
Mrs Bingham's death were given a
month ago at the court hearing on
the motion regarding the appointment
of executors, Attorneys for Judge
Bingham who drew the codicii were
IL m Mrs
hams state of health the day on
which IT was written. and as TO wheth-
err she had been given a drug.
Attorneys for Judge Ringam to-
night characterized the dIsinterment
as a CHASTITY drama"
when. II ever, whispered suspicion
shall become audible charge" they
declared. such charge will be me.
with facts"
Admits Giving Permit
Wilmington. n. c.. Sept 2s-Al-
though DR., Charles r. Nesbit, county
health officer. continued today to
maintain his noncommital attitude
when questioned by newspaper men,
he admitted to Shepard Bryan. Allan
ia. Ga. attorney here representing In
terests Of Judge Robert W. Bingham,
Louisville, KY. that he gave last
Monday a permit for disinterment of
the body OF Mrs. Bingham.
DR.. Nesbitt told Mr.. Bryan he was
approached last Monday by Graham
Kenan. Wilmington attorney. who
married a sister of Mrs. Bingham. ask
ing for a permit to disinter the body
Of Mrs. Bingham. stating that the
family on account of many rumors
were not satisfied with the statement
of the cause of death.
Or. Nesbitt told Mr.. Bryan he
could not give him any light on the
question OF whether or not permit
had actually been used. He did not
know OF his own personal knowledge.
Upon his return tomorrow from
Newborn, where he went today to visit
his father. Mr.. Bryan expects to have
instructions from Judge Binghams
Louisville attorneys as to what further
stems to take.
The question has been raised of
right to disinter the body In the alb
sence of a court order or the consent
of the husband. without proper au-
thority the law makes such an act
felony.
The grave continues to be guarded
day and night.
Burns Won't Talk.
New York. Sept. 23.--Detective
William j. Burns. when asked tonight
about the statement from Louisville
that he had been present at the disin-
terment Of the body Of Mrs. Robert
w. Bingham at Wilmington. n c..