New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-24
Charges Her Relatives Sc
cretly Exhumed Body
at Wilmington
Alleges w. J. Burns
Saw the Autopsy
Vital Organs Sent to New
York and the Corpse
Reinterred

LOUISVILLE, Ky. Sept. 2S.-The
s,sv Of Mrs Robert Worth Bingham.
,,-msrly Mrs. Henry NJ Flagler. was
,,humed secretly at Wilmington, n.
r shortly after midnight last Tues
hy 81 the instance Of Mrs. Bingham's
ylatives. According 70 q statement
-sde tonight BY attorneys for Judge
Bingham. an autopsy was performed
i the presence Of William J. Burns.
n, detective, and several physicians,
some OF the vital organs removed and
sent to New York and the body pre-
,snsbly reintcrred.
All Of this was done surreptitiously,
The statement declares, the secret
closely guarded until the object was ac-
,onplished, and adds: 1T belongs TO
the public TO form its own opinion Of
this CHASTITY drama"
when, Il ever" the statement con-
,udes. whispered suspicion shall be-
come an audible charge, such charge
will be met with facts
Bingham's Statement
The statement follows:
"On Friday morning last September
81 the press was full OF rumors to the
effect that the body Of the late Mrs.
Robert Worth Bingham was to be dis
Inferred Her grave is IN the cemetery
a. Wilmington, y. {.
Neither Judge Bingham nor any Of
lis friends knew anything whatever
about the matter, and the same is true
Of Helm Bruce. counsel for the execu-
tors and legatees under Mrs. Bingham's
ylll The dispatches stated that the
health officer Of Wilmington would
make no statement and would not even
affirm or deny that he had granted any
permit for disinterment Il was fur
iher stated that the collateral relations
Of Mrs Bingham had put a guard over
her grave.
"On Saturday q friend Of Judge Bing-
ham was in Wilmington to ascertain
exactly the condition of affairs. 1t now
appears that at o'clock on last Tues
DAY morning September lS) the disin-
,erment took place, that an autopsy
vas performed in the presence Of Will
lam ]. Burns and several physicians,
that vital parts Of the body were re-
moved and that these parts were turned
over 10 some one and taken to New
York. II is needless 10 say that all Of
this was surreptltious and was a secret
closely guarded until the object was
accomplished.
Reason for Guard
1T is presumed that the disinterred
body was rebured. II was then that
the supposed necessity arose OF
isalously protecting the grave from
violation.
1T belongs to the public to form
Is own opinion Of this ghastly drama
Mrs Bingham was attended in her
lst illness By Dr.. NJ. i. Ravltch. Dr.
w. F. BCCgcss and DR.. 5. A Steinberg.
On Thurs day, July 10, two weeks be
'ore her death, Mrs. Bingham had a
syere attack Her brother, William
2 Kenan. was summoned by Judge
Bingham and came. He conferred fully
With d. Ravitch concerning Mrs
Bingham condition and approved
s7erything that was being done.
"On Sunday. July p, Mrs. Bingham's
condition was such that Judge Bingham
TrOte her sisters that he thought that
hey should come. Responsive TO tins.
ser 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
me custody Of DR.. Boggess. These rec
'rds will be kept in a secure place and
produced when proper occasion
arises.
when, II ever. whispered suspicion
shall become an audible charge, such
sharge will be met with facts
Mrs. Bingham died in Louisville July
q last. The death certificate gave myo-
esrd!tis as the cause.
Mrs. Bingham left an estate having
an estimated value of over S70,000O0O,
ne greater part Of which her will gave
% members Of her family. A codicil
. the Will executed about month be
,ore her death beQueathed S5,O0O,OOO to
'adge Bingham. That this cOdicIl
you'd hG contacted hoe bapp indicated