New Britain herald., 1917-09-24
BINGHAM GRAVE IS
 OPENED IN SECRET
Husband Tells Of Body Being
 Exhumed on Sept. IS

Louisville, Ky Sept. 24.-The body of Mrs. Robert Worth Bingham, for merly Mrs. Henry M. Flager, was ex- humed secretly at Wilmington, N. C., after midnight last Tuesday, at the instance of Mrs. Bingham's relatives.
 An autopsy was performed in the presence of a detective of national reputation and several physicians, some of the vital organs removed and sent to New York. and the body presumably reinterned, according to statement given out here by at torneys for Judge Bingham.
 The text of the statement follows:
 "On Friday morning last (Sept. 21) the press was full of rumors to the effect that the body of the late Mrs. Robert Worth Bingham was to be disinterred. Her grave is in the cemetery at Wilmington, N. c.
 'Neither Judge Bingham nor any of his friends knew anything what ever about the matter, and the same is true of Helm Bruce, counsel for the executors and 1egatees under Mrs. Bingham's will. The despatches stated that the health officer of Will mington would make no statement ana WOulO uOl even dllltIH or ucIly that he had granted any permit for disinterment. It was further stated that the collateral relations of Mrs. Bingham had put a guard over her grave.
 "On Saturday. friend of Judge Bingham was in Wilmington to as sert in exactly the condition of af- fairs. It now appears that at o'clock on last Tuesday morning (Sept. 1s,) the disinterment took place; that an autopsy was per- formed in the present of William J. Burns and several physicians; that vital parts of the body were removed, and that these parts were turned over to some one and taken to New York. It is needless to say that all of this was surreptitious and was q secret closely guarded until the ob ject was accomplished.
 Ut is presumed that the disinterred body was reburied It was then that the supposed necessity arose of jealously protecting the grave from violation.
 Seriously Ill Two Weeks Before Death
 Ut belongs to the public to form it's opinion of this ghastly drama.
 Mrs. Bingham was attended in her last illness by Dr. M. l.. Ra- witch, Dr. w. F. Boggess and Dr. S. A. Steinberg On Thursday, July 12, two weeks before her death, Mrs. Bingham had a severe attack. Her brother, William K. Kenan, was sum- moned by Judge Bingham and came. He conferred fully with Dr. Ravitch concerning Mrs. Bingham's condition and approved everything that was being done.
 "On Sunday, July 22, Mrs. Bing- hams condition was such that Judge Bingham wrote her sisters that he thought that they should come. Re- sponsive to this her sister, Mrs. Wise. came, arriving Wednesday evening" July 25. Mrs Bingham was then fully conscious and remained so until Thursday night. Mrs. Wise remained with her until the end came on Friday.
 There were two trained nurses. Their official charts and records are in the custody of Dr. Boggess. These records vii be kept in secure place and produced when a proper occasion arises.
 When, if ever, whispered suspi- cion shall become an audible charge, such charges will be met With facts v
 Mrs. Bingham died in Louisville July 27 last. The death certificate gave myocarditis as the cause
 Mrs. Bingham left an estate hav- ing an estimated value of over $7O,- 900, 1000, the greater part of which her will gave to members of her family. A codicil to the will, exe- cuted about a month before her T,,I Bingham. That this codicil would be contested has been indicated