Robbing the Dead
Submitted by Herman R "Buck" Seibert Jr. March 14, 2012
Cincinnati Enquirer, May 27, 1885
ROBBING THE DEAD
A shocking and outrageous robbery perpetrated in Campbell County, KY. came to light yesterday. Several years since the wife of Captain Horn died in Newport Ky. and her remains were buried in Evergreen Cemetery, which is situated on the Alexandria pike about two miles south of Newport. At the time of her demise she was the owner of two elegant and valuable diamond rings and other jewelry that were buried with her. Tow of the ladies who assisted in preparing Mrs. Horn for burial said at the time that it was wrong to bury the jewelry with her, for in the event that it became circulated around that some man could be found that was man enough to steal the jewelry even if they left body. The words came true only a few short weeks ago and the perpetrator of the infamous deed is the last person that would be suspected. His name is Brown and he is the sexton of the cemetery.
About two weeks ago Brown took two men employed at the cemetery to arrange things at the grave of Mrs. Horn. He told them that the family had made a request of him to rearrange the body and the body was exhumed.
After it had been raised Brown sent the men away and they went, but secreted themselves behind a tree to watch him. In a few minutes after they were horrified to see Brown lift the skeleton from the casket and removed from the neck a necklace and locket and three rings from the fingers. After this he placed the body back in the coffin and it was re-interred in the same grave.
A few days after the two men were in Newport and being on a little spree, they were rather talkative and during their conversation in a saloon, they referred briefly to the robbery. The matter was communicated to the Directors of the Evergreen Cemetery, but they refused to take any action about the matter, at least they did not take any action on it, and the police were notified. Since that time they have been watching for an opportunity to fasten the crime and only yesterday succeeded in finding sufficient evidence against Brown by getting a confession from one of the men that assisted in exhuming the body. The case was taken immediately before the Grand Jury which is now in session in Newport and they will report two indictments today against Brown. One will be for grand larceny and the other for trespassing.
When it was learned that the Grand Jury would indict Brown, the police went to the cemetery in search of him and found that he was not there and on further investigation, found that he had left for parts unknown. Brown has been in the employ of the cemetery for about two years and until recently was regarded as an honest man. He was appointed in the place to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father who was for many years sexton of the cemetery.
It is said that the Grand Jury will censure the Board of Directors of the Evergreen Cemetery for failing to make immediate action in the matter when they were apprised of it by good authority.
Mrs. Horn was the wife of Captain Horn who was for many years the leader of the band at the Newport Barracks. After the band was removed to Columbus Oh, Captain Horn accompanied it and died in Columbus about a year since, and his remains were buried at Evergreen Cemetery along side those of his wife.
The people of Newport who are aware of the fact are highly indignant about the matter and in the case that Brown returns he will find that the climate has become very sultry since his departure. It is said that Brown has been sporting diamonds rather freely of late and there is a strong probability that other bodies in the cemetery that had jewelry buried with them have been relieved of it. The two Puntan sisters that were killed at the Sixth street fire in this city had their jewelry buried with them.