Year: 1878

| Hundreds Of stories are related of the
horrible deeds Of the body snatcher,
but among them all none is more remark
able and soul-harrowing then the one
just about to be narrated. The facts were
given to the, writer recently, and it is
believed that they are row published
for the first time.


In the town of Kilmare, IN the north
of Ireland, reside many families of dis
tinction. The head Of one Of these was


Mr.. Bell, young gentleman of twenty
FIVE. he inherited large astate from


MS uncle, and soon afterward removed


from his former abode to take possession


of the family mansion in Kilmare. He


married the only child of wealthy East


India merchant residing in Liverpool, ~


whom he had two children. In the


fourth year OF their welded life Mrs. Bell


was taken suddenly i'll, and expired the


next day. The symptoms were of a pc


culiar nature, and the limbs so increased


in size immediatly after death that


magnificent diamond ring Of great value


could not be removed from the lady's


finger, and was buried with her. Of


course, this fact was we'll known to the


inhabitants of Kilmare, as Mrs. Bell was


the wife Of the most considerable man


thereabout, aud naturally, therefore, all


concerning her was matter Of conversation


and rumor.


The old churchyard of Kilmare stood


on the side of q hill, and Immediately in


the rear Of the church and adjoining the


chancel was the tomb Of the Bell family.
J. Here, in accordance with immemorial


usage, the body of the deceased lady was


to repose, and there it was deposited on


the third day after her demise. After


the ceremony the key OF the vault was


put IN its usual place by the sexton in the


yestry Of the church


The day had been gloomy, and as


night drew on a thin rain fell, which in
creased at about midnight to a smart


shower. Mr.. Bell, who was about retir-
ing, went to an open window, and as he


did SO, fancied he saw white figure


crossing the lawn in front of the house.


The next moment it disappeared, and,


satisfying himself that he was the subject
of delusion, he commenced to undress.
Suddenly the clear tones Of the door-bell
rang through the building. Mr. Bell
paused and moved toward the door Of
the Apartment to listen. In few seconds
the sound again reverberated through
) the house, and Mr.. Bell opened the door
and stepped out into the corridor.


At that moment as he glanced down
the stairway, he saw the housekeeper
moving toward the front door. Then he
heard her set the small lamp she carried
on the table, and open the lock and
bolts of the massive door, Then dread
full and prlonged shrek followed, and at
the same moment Mr. Bells butler ran
along the hall toward the front door. Mr.
Bell had reached the head Of the stairs
and was in the act Of descending when
the butler reached the spot where the


housekeeper lay on the floor apparently
in a swoon. What was Mr. Bells sur.
prises to see the butler raise his hands
fix his gaze upon the door, and then sink
to the floor as though struck dead
Utterly bewlldered and confounded Mr.
Bell hastened down stairs. The sigh
8 that met his gaze when he reached the
! center Of the hall almost froze his blood
There stood the figure of his wife in hel
grave clothes, leaning against the pillar


of the door, with one hand thrown across


her breast. For moment Mr.. Bell was


almost overcome. Then he remembered


the white figure which he saw crossing
; the lawn few seconds before the bel


rang, and another glance showed hin


that the garments Of the figure befor,


him were dripping with rain


: "Julia, my darling, my wife!' M
> > Bell exclaimed, and stepped toward the
figure.


It made a movement toward him, ant
the next instant it was enfolded in hi
= arms. The scene that ensued battles al
description. It was indeed the wife bu
;; ;; that day buried. who was restored to tn


arms of the bereaved husband and chill
= dren. The explanation which she offere,
= = was very imperfect and unsatisfactory
= Fora short time after her supposed
: death she was aware Of all that went OF


around her, but before she was placed il


the coffin she lost all consciousness. Sh


said that the first sensation of conscious


she had was was one of pain. Then sh
IS saw an indistinct glimmer, and finally
o severe pang shot through her frame Witt
, a powerful effort she rose and saw wo
It man standing by her side. The woman
oAAAOhOA es0A AAONA, anu CIlCd MIS-. DCl
b discovered that she was lying in coffi
J in the family vault. Fresh strength cam
/ to her every moment, and releasing her
a self from the shroud, she stepped to til
le ground and passed out of the vault, tn
n door of which was wide open. Down til
4, churchyard path she passed to the mai
If street, along which she walked for half
is mile, until she reached her late HON,
s. Fortunately the large gate to the par
le was unfastened, and she fastened up tn
1t roadway to the dwelling. The rest tn
4 reader knows. She rapidly regained he
is health, and lived to good old age.
N But who was the woman who stood b
At the side of the coffin, when the corps
t. suddenly arose and startled her into sue
ID den flight?


I. Next day the lamp was found extir
+ guished on the floor of the vault. It ws
er identified as one which usually stood


the vestry and was used by the sexto1
r 1t had doubtless been removed at tl
le same time when the key of the vault W,
k. taken. Beyond that all was mystery.
y The object of the woman, howeve
d was easily discovered. AS already state,
II