Newspaper Tidbit: Addendum -- Halloween Prank Ends in U.S. Prison

More than one person has asked if the investigation turned up the "pranksters."  The answer can be found in the following newspaper article --

Richmond Times Dispatch
17 March 1935

HALLOWEEN PRANK ENDS IN U.S. PRISON

One Gets Five Years, Two Others Less for the Despoiling of Grave

[Special to The Times-Dispatch]

QUANTICO, March 16 -- Three Quantico marines must serve sentences ranging from one to five years in the naval prison, Portsmouth, N.H., because they robbed a grave near here and dragged the corpse through local streets October 31 as a Halloween "prank."

Those convicted were Gene Cays of St. Louis, five years; Emil H. Hauch, Jamestown, N.C., two years, and John C. Killingsworth of Fort Gaines, Ga., one year. Hauch's parents reside in Washington.

At court-martial proceedings conducted here last month they were found guilty on charges of removing the corpse of John M. Rainey, World War veteran, from its grave Halloween night. The nude body was found abandoned in a front yard here the following morning.

Formal sentence of the marines came today following confirmation by Secretary of the Navy Swanson.

Newspaper Tidbit: Halloween Prank (1934)

Richmond Times Dispatch (Va.)
3 November 1934

BODY DISINTERRED, HALLOWEEN PRANK

Real Ghouls Stir Indignation of Quantico Folk

Quantico, Va., Nov. 2--(AP)-- Marine base authorities tonight sought to apprehend the real ghouls who were abroad Halloween night along with such legendary creatures as ghosts, witches and hobgoblins.

The morning after Halloween a naked body was found lying in a vacant lot almost under a street light. It was identified as that of John Rainey of Prince William County, who died September 29 and was buried in the Marine Corps Cemetery on October 1.

Further investigation revealed that the body had been dug out of its grave and dragged to the spot where it was found. Part of the clothing had been removed at the grave and the remainder scraped off as the body was dragged over the ground.

An empty wine bottle found at the open grave was the chief clue left by the perpetrators of the deed and plans were made today to examine it for finger prints. Indignant local authorities have called upon the Department of Justice to assist in the investigation.

Deed: Cushing to Trustees of Sudley Methodist Church (cemetery)

Deed:  Cushing to Trustees M. E. Ch. S.
PWCo Deed Book 44, pg. 227

This Deed made and entered into this 28th day of January 1896 by and between Henry C. Cushing and Clara P. Cushing, his wife, parties of the first part, and A. H. Compton, C. F. Brower, Wm. M. Wheeler, F. H Sanders, and A. J. Ayres, Trustees of the Sudley Methodist Episcopal Church South parties of the second part, all of the County of Prince William and State of Virginia; Witnesseth: In consideration of their affection and Christian regard for the Church members and officials of the said Sudley Church and their desire to aid them in the establishment of a cemetery at their place of Worship, the said parties of the first part have given, granted and conveyed, and by these presents do give, grant and convey to the above named Trustees and their successors in office with general warranty, a lot of land adjoining the lot on which the Sudley Church Building now stands, Beginning at A. a cedar tree near the corner of Fetzer and the Church lot, thence with said lot S. 88 E. 18 poles to a stake on the North side of the Sudley and Manassas Road, thence with the said road S. 30 W. 18 poles to a stake on said road, thence N. 86 W. 19 poles to a stake in Mr. Cushing's field, thence N. 4 E 17 poles to the beginning and containing two acres and two poles. 

In Trust that the said land shall be used kept and maintained as a place of burial for the dead, subject to the control of the Methodist Episcopal Church South under the discipline usage and ministerial appointments of said Church from time to time authorized and declared by the General Conference of said church and the annual Conference within whose bounds the said premises are situate.

Witness the following signatures and seals the date first before written.

H. C. Cushing {seal}
Clara P. Cushing {seal}

State of Virginia, Prince William County, to wit:

I, Crawford Cushing a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid in the State of Virginia do certify that Henry C. Cushing and Clara P. Cushing, his wife, whose names are signed to the deed hereunto annexed bearing date of January 28th 1896 have acknowledged the same before me in my County aforesaid. 

Given under my hand this 10th day of February, 1896.

Crawford Cushing, J.P.

In Prince William County Court, February 12th 1896.

This Deed was presented to the Court with the certificate annexed and ordered to be recorded.

Teste:  Edwin Nelson, Clerk 

Deed: Lowe to Leary (with graveyard)

Deed:  Lowe to Leary
Prince William County Deed Book 57, pg. 4

THIS DEED made this 28th day of August, in the year 1907, between S. R. Lowe, Jr., and Ida M., his wife, of the one part and Henry G. Leary of the other part, WITNESSETH; That the said Lowe and wife for and in consideration of the sum of Three Thousand dollars, in hand paid, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged have granted, bargained and sold and do by these presents grant, bargain, sell and convey unto the said Leary with General Warranty all those two certain tracts or parcles of land lying and being situate in Coles District in Prince William County, as follows: 

1st Tract, containing by estimation 202 acres and is the same land of which Basil King, died seized and possessed and which was conveyed to Samuel R. Lowe Sr. by John S. Mosby, Comr. by deed recorded in Liber 26 page 474. 

2nd Tract, Beginning at a stone pile on the east side of Blandsford Road, thence S.12-1/4 E.49 poles to P. a small white oak marked with a knife, a corner of S. R. Lowe, Jr., thence with said Lowe's line S. 19 1/4 W.175 poles to the Blandsford Road, thence with the road to the beginning, containing 24 acres, be the same more or less and which last tract of land was conveyed to the said S. R. Lowe Sr. by J. B. T. Thornton, Corm. by deed recorded in Liber 42 page 308, and the said two tracts being the same which were conveyed by the said Sam'l R. Lowe Sr. to the said Sam'l R. Lowe J. and Willis E. Lowe, by deed recorded in Liber 50 page 439 and the said Willis E. Lowe conveyed his undivided interest in the said two tracts of land to the said S. R. Lowe Jr. by deed recorded in Liber 56 page 313.

But the said Samuel R. Lowe, Jr. reserves and excepts from this conveyance the grave yard situated on the first mentioned tract, containing one-half acre and the right of ingress and egress to and from the said grave yard. And the said Lowe and wife covenant that they have the right to convey the said two tracts of land unto the grantee, that they have done no act to encumber the same, that the said grantee shall have quiet possession of the said two tracts of land, with the exception of the one half acre herein reserved and that the said Lowe and wife will execute such further assurances as may be requisite.

Witness the following signatures and seals.

S. R. Lowe, Jr. (Seal)
Ida M. Lowe (Seal)

Prince William County, to-wit:

I, J. M. Ellicott, a Justice of the peace for the county aforesaid, in the State of Virginia, do certify that S. R. Lowe, Jr. and Ida M. Lowe, his wife, whose names are signed to the writing above, bearing date on the 28th day of August, 1907, have acknowledged the same before me in  my county aforesaid. Given under my hand this 28th day of August, 1907.

J. M. Ellicott, J.P.

In Clerk's Office Circuit Court of Prince William County, October 28, 1907.

This DEED from Lowe to Leary was received with certificate annexed and admitted to record.

Teste:  E. Nelson, Clerk

Tombstone Tuesday: John Frank Dogan / Edith May Leachman

Sudley Methodist Church Cemetery (Photo: C. G. Lynn)

JOHN FRANK DOGAN

Sept. 20, 1949

May 5, 1923

EDITH MAY LEACHMAN

His Wife

May 15, 1857

June 7, 1945

Edith May Leachman was the daughter of John Thomas and Elizabeth (Lewis) Leachman.  John Frank Dogan was the son of William Henry and Lucinda Dogan.  They were married 30 April 1890 in PWCo.

Tombstone Tuesday: J. B. T. Thornton (1857)

Dr. J. B. T. THORNTON

Son of 

Peter & Mary Taylor Thornton

Born

At Hunters Hill, Caroline Co.

Died

Near Brentsville

Sept. 5, 1857

Was for years member of the County Court of Prince William Co. & a portion of the time presiding justice of said court.

Amanuensis Monday: Deed: Hixon to Milstead (1915)

Prince William County
Deed Book 67, pg. 77
Hixon to Milstead

This deed made the 17 day of September 1915, between G. W. Hixson, party of the first part, and Frank Milstead party of the second part,

WITNESSETH: That for and in consideration of its value cash in hand paid by the said second party to the said first party, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the said party of the first part doth by these presents bargain, grant, sell, release, convey and confirm unto the said party of the second part, with general warranty of title west half of lot Number 47, as designated in the plat and survey of West End Cemetery, adjacent to the town of Manassas, in the county of Prince William, the same to be used as a burial place for white persons only.

Witness the following signature and seal.

G. W. Hixson {Seal}

Prince William County, to-wit:

I, L. M. Jones, a notary public for the county aforesaid, in the State of Virginia, whose commission expires on the 12 day of August, 1916, do certify that G. W. Hixson, whose name is signed to the foregoing deed, bearing date on the 17 day of September, 1915, hath acknowledged the same before me in my county aforesaid.

Given under my hand this 17 day of September, 1915.

L. M. Jones, N. P.

In the Clerk's Office, Circuit Court, Prince William county, September 18, 1915.

This DEED from G. W. Hixson to Frank Milstead, was received with certificate annexed and admitted to record.

Teste:  J. E. Herrell, Clerk
#369

[Manassas City Cemetery was also known as West End Cemetery and Citizens Cemetery/Confederate Cemetery.  ~cgl] 

Tombstone Tuesday: Clerenda Fitzwater

Valley View Cemetery, Nokesville, Virginia

CLERENDA FITZWATER

Born

July 28, 1843

Died

November 26, 1911

Aged 68 years, 5 mos., 28 days

Another link is broken

In our household band,

But a chain is forming

In a better land

Sunday's Obituary: Elizabeth "Betsey" Carr Tebbs

Alexandria Gazette
23 March 1852

On the 15th of March, at Grassland, the residence of her son, Col. Samuel Tebbs, Mrs. Betsey Tebbs, in the 81st year of her age. Mrs. Tebbs was the widow of Col. Willoughby Tebbs, of Dumfries, Prince William county, and for the greater portion of her life resided in that section of the State. For some years past she has been a resident of Middleburg and its vicinity.  It will be gratifying to her numerous friends and relatives to learn that the summons of Death did not come to her unawares, or find her unprepared. She had been for many years a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and was gathered to her fathers, as we trust, in the confidence of a certain faith, in the comfort of a reasonable, religious and holy hope, in favor with God, and in charity with the world. Blessed are they who thus die--Even so, saith the Spirit, for they rest from their labors.

[Elizabeth "Betsy" Carr Tebbs, the daughter of William Carr, is buried beside her husband in the family cemetery, "Tebbsdale," in Prince William County. ~cgl]

Tombstone Tuesday - Mildred (Tyler) Woodyard

Mildred V.

Woodyard

May 17, 1871

June 3, 1915

Gone home

[Valley View Cemetery, Nokesville, VA]

~ ~ ~

Manassas Journal

4 June 1915

Mrs. James Woodyard Passes Away

At six o'clock yesterday evening Mrs. James Woodyard passed away at her home at Brentsville in her forty-third year. Mrs. Woodyard, who was a victim of tuberculosis, was Miss Millie Tyler before her marriage.  She has resided at Brentsville all her life, and is well known in that community.

Mrs. Woodyard is survived by her husband and eleven children. The children are Roxier, Benjamin, James, Harvey, Peter, Paul, Daniel, Alice, Susie, Catherine, and Mrs. Lillie Keys. She leaves no brothers or sisters.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Brentsville Baptist church, of which the deceased was  a member, by Dr. H. L. Quarles to-morrow afternoon at one o'clock. Interment will be made in Valley View Cemetery.

Newspaper Tidbit: PWCo Unclaimed Dead Get a Proper Farewell at Woodbine Cemetery

InsideNova printed a nice article about the June 7 memorial and interment of the remains of 41 unclaimed citizens at Woodbine Cemetery, in partnership with Woodbine Church and the PWCo Sheriff's Office. The article includes a list of the deceased and their dates of death.

Many thanks to InsideNova and reporter Jill Palermo for their interest and compassion in helping to honor 41 souls who may have gone forgotten.

The e-edition of the article can be found here.

Follow Up: Memorial & Interment of PWCo Unclaimed Deceased

On Tuesday, June 7, 2016, the Prince William County Sheriff’s Office and Woodbine Baptist Church came together to provide a memorial service and a peaceful final resting place in the Woodbine Church Cemetery for the remains of 41 unclaimed deceased persons. 

Sheriff Glen Hill
(photo by C. Lynn)

The memorial service was officiated by Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Eugene R. Wells, who opened with prayer and presented the PWCo Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard.  Additional speakers included Sheriff Glen Hill, Manassas Mayor Hal Parrish, and Sheriff’s Office Chaplain Don Belanus.  The name of each deceased person was read aloud.

Virginia law charges local sheriff's offices with taking custody of deceased unclaimed residents, but it does not say how officials are supposed to dispose of them.

Sheriff Glen Hill stated, “I am grateful that Prince William County Sheriff’s Office is able to serve the unclaimed citizens of Prince William County and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park, and provide a noble funeral for them through our partnerships with community organizations.”

In Prince William, the Sheriff’s Office contracts with various crematoriums for cremation, then in partnership with Woodbine Cemetery each unclaimed resident is supplied with a burial plot. Woodbine Cemetery has been gracious in providing space for the deceased unclaimed residents at no cost.  – Virginia Sheriff’s Association

Following are the names of the unclaimed deceased persons buried at Woodbine Church Cemetery on June 7, 2016:

Douglas Allen, Linda Archer, Betty Bayse, Eva B Cantello, John Crawford, John Ignatius Ciccolini, Larry Dixon, Maria Ehler, Daniel Eshelman, Laura Lynn Farley, Wallis Ray Fay, James Alberto Fletcher, George Freeberg, Stacy Green, Donnie Lee Grogg, Laurel Hauer, Robert Miller Justice II, Thomas H.C. Langel, Donald L. Marks Jr., Roberto Martinez-Rosa, Joseph A. Moneymaker Sr., Conception Ortiz, Paul Oullette, David Patton, Ronald Henry Payne, Mark Pennington, Reginald Poindexter, Gilbert F. Randall, Tyrone Powell Reid, Sa Say, Mark Settle, Omer Shipe, Angel Steele, Eran Stokley, Dolores Sullivan, John Sullivan, Donald Thomas, Michael David Vincent, Robert T. Wiedner, and two unnamed residents. 

Event: Memorial & Interment of PWCo Unclaimed Deceased Citizens

In Prince William County, the Sheriff's Department takes custody of and responsibility for the cremated remains of unclaimed deceased citizens which fall under their jurisdiction. 

There is no national database of the thousands of identified but unclaimed remains of individuals across the United States.  In many jurisdictions, mortuaries, law enforcement, and funeral homes store the ashes of unclaimed deceased individuals on shelves, in closets, in drawers, in any space available until a next of kin can be located.  In many cases, no next of kin can be found and the ashes of the individual remain unclaimed.

Several years ago, Woodbine Baptist Church and the Prince William County Sheriff’s Department partnered to provide a dignified resting place in the church cemetery for the County’s unclaimed deceased citizens.  This partnership continues today.

On Tuesday, June 7, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., Woodbine Baptist Church and the Prince William County Sheriff’s Department will conduct a memorial service and interment of unclaimed deceased citizens in the Woodbine Baptist Church Cemetery.  

The memorial service is open to the public and the community is invited to attend.

Military Monday: Decoration Day

Sun (Baltimore, MD)
12 June 1875

Gordonsville, Va., June 9, 1875.  -- The graves of the Confederate dead buried here were strewn with flowers to-day by the ladies of the Mt. Lee Memorial Association. The members of the association and visitors met in the Southern Methodist Church, a very handsome building, where Judge Charles E. Sinclair of Prince William county delivered the memorial oration.  Judge Sinclair was introduced by Hon. B. Johnson Barbour, of Orange, who opened the ceremonies with a few appropriate remarks. After the oration a procession was formed, each person carrying a basket of flowers, and marched to the cemetery about a mile from town, where, without further ceremony, an hour was spent in decorating the graves of the sleeping heroes.

This cemetery has been laid out and the dead reinterred there in the past few months. It is [e]nclosed with a substantial picket fence, with a very neat arched entrance. It contains the bodies of six hundred and eighty-five, most of whom died in the hospitals here from wounds received in the battles of Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville and Trevillians. Each grave is marked with a cast iron head board, made in the shape of a shield, upon which are the letters "C.S.A.," crossed cannons, and the number corresponding with the list of the dead.

Military Monday: Newspaper Tidbit: Confederate Graves

Manassas Journal
1 September 1916

CONFEDERATE GRAVES

Mr. Westwood Hutchison, after making a special visit with Mr. G. D. Baker, reported that on Mr. E. R. Conner's property, several miles from town, had been found six Confederate graves.  Mr. Hutchison made the report with the recommendation that the graves should be moved to the Confederate cemetery at Manassas.

Three of the graves were unmarked. The other three, as far as can now be read, are inscribed as follows:

Names of Soldiers

A. J. Smith, 16th Miss.
C. C. Archbell, Co. I, 4th N.C., age 90 yeras
--- Carter -- 1861

Mrs. Westwood Hutchison, president of the Memorial Association, will be glad to hear from anyone who may have further information concerning these Confederate dead.

Current Affairs: PWCo Board of Supervisors Set Precedent to Destroy History

Once again, Prince William County has proven its disregard for history and the rights of families and their ancestors.  In a unanimous decision during the September 8th session, the Board of County Supervisors voted to disinter a small family cemetery dating back to at least as early as 1855 in order to facilitate the building of a shiny new fire station.

Public safety and response times were the catch phrase for the BOS decision but it was evident to those in attendance (in person and via live media coverage) that the BOS decision was a foregone conclusion.  In a heavy handed show of favoritism, Chief Kevin McGee was given ample time for his presentation of why the only option was to remove the cemetery to facilitate "response times" while advocates for history like Bill Olson of the Historical Commission and direct descendants of those interred in the cemetery were given a scant 3 minutes.

In the end, the BOS decision came down to the almighty dollar (somehow removing the cemetery was a less expensive option than a land swap with the adjacent landowners -- which was conveniently never pursued).

Martin Nohe's comments in the Potomac Local News that he would "lose  a lot of sleep ... knowing the board has been put in a position to make this decision ... moving a cemetery" are disingenuous at best.  The Coles District Supervisor has been aware of the Norman/Lynn Cemetery beside the Coles Fire House since the earlier debacle on his watch when the PWCo School Board disinterred the Lynn Family cemetery to make way for a fancy new football stadium.  But then, it's an election year and "improving" his district with a football stadium and a shiny new fire station is an excellent platform to run a campaign on.

The BOS were presented with three additional options that would have permitted a compromise, leaving the cemetery undisturbed and still facilitating a shiny new fire station for the community.  Any number of means could have been employed to cover the additional cost (minimal at best in the scheme of things) but none were explored or considered.  Indeed, these options were never truly on the table.  The BOS vote was very much a foregone conclusion.

As a direct result of the PWCo BOS's disregard and disrespect for history and the rights of the deceased, as reported in an article from InsideNova.com, two Historical Commission Members Quit Following Decision to Remove Graves.

The BOS is probably collectively patting themselves on the back right now for succeeding in bulldozing over another historic cemetery (and the rights of their descendants) and disposing of two advocates for historic preservation at the same time.

With their vote and lack of regard (or compassion) for the families of those buried in the Norman/Lynn cemetery, the Prince William County BOS has set a precedent that cemeteries are merely nuisances to be overcome (and bulldozed) in the name of county growth and the march of "progress."  Especially in an election year.

Tombstone Tuesday: Dorcas Virginia (Keys) Dulaney

DORCAS VIRGINIA KEYS

Wife of 

CHARLES H. DULANEY

Born December 13, 1834

Died December 19, 1906

PUBLIC HEARING: Re Disinterment of the Norman/Lynn Cemetery at the Coles Firehouse

NOTICE:  PUBLIC HEARING

Norman/Lynn Cemetery at the Coles Firehouse in Independent Hill

There will be a Public Hearing on September 8, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. before the Prince William County Board of County Supervisors for comments on the possible disinterment of the graves beside the Coles Firehouse in Independent Hill.

The Hearing will be in the Board of Supervisors Chambers in the James J. McCoart Administration Building, 1 County Complex Ct., Woodbridge, VA 22192.  (This is the brick building in the County Complex.)

Because of the cost of the proposed new firehouse, compared to the cost of alternatives, the vote of the Board of Supervisors is predisposed toward disinterment of the Norman/Lynn Cemetery situated in the lot immediately beside the present firehouse.  It should be noted that the County has been aware of this cemetery since the original firehouse was built.

The Norman/Lynn Cemetery was established at least as early as 1855, with the interment of Charles E. Norman, a local merchant and county magistrate.  It may even be older, with the early demise of two of Charles and Mary Frances (Lynn) Norman’s children who would undoubtedly have been buried in the family cemetery.

A large turnout at the Public Hearing would show the Board of Supervisors that all gravesites – even ones that have been neglected (in this case, by the county itself) – deserve respect and should be allowed to remain undisturbed.  Let our ancestors rest in peace!

Wednesday's Child: Daisie B. Lynn

Sudley Methodist Church Cemetery, Catharpin, VA

DAISIE B. 

daughter of 

L. C. & H. T. 

LYNN

Born Feb. 8, 1890

Died July 11, 1892

Suffer little children to come unto me.

[Daisie Bonham Lynn was the daughter of Lewis Craig Lynn and Hannah T. Bonham. ~cgl]

Wednesday's Child: Ulysses Grant Cooper

Valley View Cemetery, Nokesville, VA

In Loving Remembrance of

ULYSSES GRANT COOPER

Son of 

T. J. and V. C. Cooper

Born Feb. 27, 1875

Died May 19, 1912

Aged 17 yr. 2 mo. 20 ds.

A precious one from us has gone

A voice we loved is still

A place is vacant in our home

Which never can be filled

God in his wisdom has recalled

The boon his love has given

And though the body moulders here

The soul is safe in heaven

~ ~ ~

Manassas Democrat
23 May 1912

DEATH OF U. G. COOPER

U. G. Cooper, seventeen years old, died of typhoid pneumonia in his home near Aden Sunday noon.  The funeral took place from the home Monday afternoon, and interment was in Valley View church cemetery.

The pall bearers were: M. S. Kerun, R. T. Jones, Joe Horn, Capper Knupp, Gordon Bailey and O. W. Brill.

A sister of the deceased was extremely ill of the same dread disease at the time of her brother's death, with little hope of recovery, both having contracted the malady at about the same time.