A Grave Mystery, about 1885

A Grave Mystery - about 1885

On Wednesday last the grave of Mrs. Bennett, mother of Stephen Bennett, an old lady who died over twenty years ago and was buried in a secluded cemetery near Mr. Bennett's late residence on the hill east of this place, was opened for the purpose of solving a mystery that had occupied the minds of the community for some time.  In May last one of the neighbors in passing through the cemetery, which is now unused, Mrs. Bennett's interment being the last, noticed something peculiar about the appearance of the turf over her grave, and upon investigation found that it had been very neatly removed and replaced again at some time not long anterior.  Among some bushes by a fence nearby he found a heap of stones with fresh dirt dried upon them, and over the fence he found fresh earth scattered among the grass of some distance around in such a manner a to not attract attention.  He reasoned that the ghoul had taken this method to dispose of the superfluous dirt and stones, as none was scattered anywhere about the grave.  The circumstances gave rise to much speculation among the neighbors, and led to the opening of the grave as stated.  It was found that the earth had been recently disturbed and all the stones removed.  Parts of the coffin were found near the surface, but no definite result could be reached as a sufficient number of bones of the deceased were found to render it doubtful whether the rest had decayed or been taken away.  Why any body should be to so much labor and pains to burrow in so old a grave, only intensifies the mystery, which is likely to remain unsolved.  --Mt. Upon Cor. to Gilbertsville  Journal. 

 

[Grave written of was that of Mrs. Abigail Bennett, wife of Solomon Bennett who died Dec. 26, 1865, at the age of 85 years]