Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2016 All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== The Chicago Daily Tribune Thursday, November 24, 1898 GRAVE ROBBING MYSTERY GROWS H. Van Buren White Is Allowed to Go Free and Relinquishes His Insurance Claim. M'LEAN'S COFFIN EMPTY. Body Dug Up in Cabin Dressed in Clothes Known to Have Belonged to Two Men. CULPRITS MAY ESCAPE. [By A Staff Correspondent] BALDWIN, Mich., - Nov. 23. - [Special] - One thread, by which it was hoped to unravel the tangled web of mystery surround the White McLean grave robbing and insurance swindle case, was lost today when Justice Updegraff on motion of Prosecuting Attorney Blakesley dismissed the charge of grave-robbing against Hiram Van Buren White. For a time after White's release there was talk of rearresting him on a charge of perjury. Laban Carpenter, a grocer; Thomas Fisher, a butcher; and Robert Davis, a mechanic, all of Baldwin, and a Mr. Montgomery of Reed City, all declared they had seen late in August or early in September a man who was either H. V. B. White or his double. But the old man with the shrewd eyes and the well guarded tongue was not rearrested. He remained in the jail all day from choice, and is there tonight. He says he will start for New York in the morning and continue his quest for his brother from there by letters. He has given up, he says, all idea of claiming the money on the policy on the ground of his grewsome find in the log cabin at Hamlin's Lake. Is McLean's Body. That the body found in the sawdust was that of Alex- ander McLean is accepted by every one beyond doubt. It is true the corpse, when disinterred, was so far gone with decay that only the skin, hair, and mustache re- mained to hide its frame of bones still held together by cords and ligaments. But as soon as the body was brought to the light a half-dozen of McLean's brother Oddfellows said the face looked familiar. The Oddfellows would not rest till the point was set- tled, and, working by lantern light, opened the grave in which the tall Scotchman's frame had been buried. The coffin box cover was found fastened by only two screws. The coffin was empty. Its lining was spotted and stained. The midnight work of ghouls had followed closely the burial rite of the Oddfellows, in which the patent medi- cine man had volunteered even urgently to officiate as chaplain, and did so. On the head of the body taken out of the sawdust was long, scant brown hair, and a long sandy mustache. Such were Alex McLean's. But more conclusive proof of identity was not lacking. The clothing was that Frank White was accustomed to wear when working at Stearn's. All but the stockings. White says he intended to send for the policy now in New York and claim the insurance money. Had he been left to do this the Mutual Insurance company of New York would have investigated the case and set experienced detectives at work. Dismissal a Surprise. Great surprise was felt by many at the action of Attorney Blakesley this morning in moving for a dismissal of the charge against Hiram White, that of grave-robbing. The little courtroom was crowded at the hearing and all ex- pected to hear the evidence reviewed. On the contrary, no witnesses were called. Attorney Blakesley said he though there was no ground that would warrant holding the man to the Circuit Court. He believed a charge of being accessory after the fact even would be hard to substantiate. When he noted looks of surprise he rose again and said he knew many might be indignant, but that he always used his own best judgment in such cases. While the structure of the plot that sought to use the dead to defraud the living daily becomes more patent, hope that its perpatrators will ever be punished is waning. Lake County officials do not feel inclined to use public money in a possibly fruitless attempt to catch the men against whom the only charge that interests local people is that of desecrating a grave. On the other hand, their action has flushed the game and there is hardly a prospect any further move will be made by the plotters which might bring the alert agencies of a wealthy corporation in full cry at their heels. ==========================================================================