Year: 1878

DuIlHS lne tnaTJl>l TlOlS III lSfU,


James Binn was arrested for murder


and lodged in Lancaster Jail, Ireland.


He was tried, convicted and sentenced


to be hanged. Before the last sentence


of the law was executed, he made a
confession of many crimes, and among
the rest of his exploits as professional


body-snatcher, in which business he


had been engaged for many years, the
following facts were ELECTED:


In July, 1920, he was living in Bel
fast, having fled from England to es-
cape punishment for his offenses. He
had done several small jobs in Belfast
for the doctors, and on the night of
July 20, in the year named, a we'll
known physician of Belfast sent for
him and tod him that he had a very
delicate piece of work for him TO per-
form. A Mrs. Bell, lady of great
beauty, and the wife of rich proprie-
tor, had just died of a very peculiar
disease, and the doctor and his associ-
ates desired the body to investigate the
cause OF death. The doctor paid him
so much money down, and dispatched
him 20 Kilmare with such instructions
as were necessary. He was to secure
the corpse, and a coach would be ready
at the church-yard gate in which there
would be two assistants who would be
ready to help him at given signal.


He went to Kilmare on the day of
the funeral at which he was present.
He examined the lock on the door of
the vault and was satisfied that he
could easily remove it. At midnight
he went to the churchyard armed with
a wrench, pair of shears, and pick
lock. First satisfying himself that the
coach was in waiting he entered the
graveyard and proceeded TO the vault.


The night was dark and the rain was
falling. Creeping up by the side of the
church, he approached the tomb of the
Bell family. To his surprise he saw
that the door was open, and faint
light burning inside. Stealthily draw
ing near he glanced in. He saw the
coffin lying along the marble slab, and
in front of il a woman was standing. A
second glance showed him that the wO-
man was at work trying to remove a
ring from the fingers of the dead A
sudden thought struck him, and crouch
ing down he reached in at the door and
with his shear which he had brought
to rid the corpse of its cumbersome
shroud, he CT. piece from the skirt of
the woman dress and retired unob-
served. As he remained for an instant
peering into the strange scene, to his
horror and astonishn ent he saw the
corpse arise and raise the hand which
the woman was apparently in the act
of putting to her mouth. The woman
gave a shrek, rushed through the door,
and fed, leaving the lamp burning on
the floor.


The body -snatcher guessed at once at
the woman's desig'I, and, impressed
with the conviction that she was per-
son above the ordinary rank, he re-
solved to follow and see where she went
to. He had no difficulty in tracking
the rapidly retreating figure. 1t passed
out of the church-yard at small
wicket on the north side of the church,
and entered the parsonage.


Satisfied that he possessed an impor-
tant secret. out of which he could make
money. he returned to the vault. The
light was still burning, and he signalled
the men in waiting. They were soon
on the spot, but on entering the vault
they discovered, to their utter amaze
ment, that the coffin was empty.


The body-snatcher kept his secret.
and the mysterious disappearance of
the body was mstter of unmixed sur
prise. Distinguishing the lamp, the
men quit the churchyard, the body
snatcher returning to his quarters at
small inn, and the assistants going back
to Belfast i'm the carriage.


The next morning the news of Mrs.
Bells restoration to lite was abroad in
the town. The body-snatcher fingered
in the neighborbood until he eascertained
that the clergyman had quilted home
for friends house. 1t was with some
difficulty that he obtained an interview,
as the domestics informed him that the
lady was indisposed and confined to her
room.


"My business" he said, sis Of very