Iowa
Old Press
The New Era
Humeston, Wayne co. Iowa
November 10, 1887
The Chariton Grave Robbery.
The Herald of last week gave the following
regarding the grave robbery at Chariton: “The crime of grave
robbery is one that usually throws a community into a fever of
excitement. Chariton was the scene of a sensation of this
undesirable sort, this week the facts of which are about as
follows:
Last Sunday night baggageman McBeth of the Des Moines passenger
train noticed an unpleasant odor in his car and hunting about
soon located the smell as coming from a box which had been put on
at Chariton. Calling the Conductor, an investigation was made
which resulted in the discovery of a corpse. On reaching Des
Moines, the officers were summoned and telegrams sent back to the
baggageman here asking particulars as to who had delivered the
box, which culminated in the arrest of Dr. J. A. Gillespie, of
this county, but attending medical college at Des Moines. The
arrest was made by Marshal Cole, who also identified the body as
that of the wife of Jesse S. Corbett, the marshal having
previously visited the cemetery and satisfied himself that her
grave had been tampered with, the trail made by the body when
dragged over the grass being visible, while bits of her hair were
found in the hedge fence through which it had been pulled. The
body had been doubled up bringing the knees to the chin, then
bound with a rope and crowded into a box 22 inches long, by 10
inches deep and 16 inches wide.
The body was returned on Tuesday and the same afternoon
undertaker Bradrack returned it to the same grave. Marshal Cole
returned on the same train bringing young Gillespie with him and
lodged him in jail to await the action of the grand jury now in
session. Gillespie denies being guilty, further than having
checked the box, for another party, and claims that he can
explain the matter when brought before the proper authorities.
All kinds of rumors, some that seem almost unnatural, are afloat
concerning this crime, a crime that most people shudder to think
of, and are loath to excuse in others even in the interests of
science, but irate threats and speculation should not be indulged
in. The law will close about the guilty one as the investigation
progresses, the extreme penalty of which is two years in the
penitentiary or $2,500 fine or both."
LATER.
We learn from the Democrat, that the grand jury
being in session, took the case under investigation, found an
indictment against Dr. Gillespie. His bond was fixed at $2,000
which was furnished.
[transcribed by L.Z., September 2016]