This memorial is still under investigation.
The following newspaper article was published in the Lockport Daily Journal on Tuesday May 24, 1898:
"Suicide at Ransomville.
The body of John Brock was found in the woods near Ransomville Sunday afternoon with a bullet hole in his head.
The man who is a farmer aged 48 years and of supposedly good reputation had put a revolver to his right ear and fired the fatal bullet which came out of the left ear."
The following newspaper article was published in the Lockport Daily Journal on Monday October 3, 1898:
"RANSOMVILLE'S GRAVE ROBBERY.
Coroner Slocumb of Niagara Falls was called upon Saturday by John Cuddaback, a wealthy farmer of Ransomville, who told him a grave in the Ransomville cemetery had been rifled in a peculiar manner. He said that the mound containing the remains of a farm hand named Rock, who was found dead in some woods north of Ransomville some months ago, had been opened and that Rock's head and arms were cut off. The discovery was made Friday and Ransomville is greatly aroused over the matter. The body after decapitation had been rudely bundled back into the grave and covered up very shallowly.
It was found in a doubled up condition, twined and crooked, by the investigators. Many now believe that Rock came to his end by some, other hand than his own and that the exhuming had something to do with covering up the guilt of the parties concerned. Another theory is that the medical students or doctors dug up the body to use for scientiflc investigation. Coroner Slocumb told Mr. Cuddaback to have a strict examination made, which will be done."
The following newspaper article was published in the Niagara Falls Gazette on October 10, 1898:
"RANSOMVILLE WON'T ACT.
GRAVE ROBBERY CASE WILL BE DROPPED WITH NO INVESTIGATION.
The Ransomville grave robbery, which Is still a matter of excitement in the town where It occurred is likely to be dropped.
Because John Brock, the worthless suicide, had no personal friends with money, the matter will pass Into history, a mere village tradition.
The reason why is apparent. Brock had no friends. The persons said to be Involved in the case have. There is no one to push the matter. No one seems to care.
"While we are pretty sure who it was. We can't prove anything," said a Ransomville citizen to a reporter for The Gazette.
So Ransomville has concluded to let her dirty lien remain unwashed.
As exclusively published in the Gazette, the grave of John Brock, who committed suicide on the Curtiss farm on May 21 was opened, the head and arm taken off, the body rudely dumped back in the grave and shallowly covered with dirt.
John Cuddaback, an Influential farmer and a member of Fillmore Chapel, to which belongs the Halstead cemetery, where the ghouls worked, took up the matter. He has dropped it now. He brought it to the attention of Coroner Slocum of this city, he reported in to the Lockport authorities. Yet nearly two weeks have gone by and Ransomville as far as the robbery is concerned has sunk Into a state of apathy.
A reporter for the Gazette visited Ransomville yesterday. He learned many things. There are many wild rumors about as to what the grave robbers did. One report is that the the head of Brock was put on a stick and carried about the village. This could not be verified. Yet the the report exists.
Another story is that a man in the village loaned his rig to one of the persons implicated by the rumor. It is said he returned and showed the man from whom he got the rig a human head.
W. A. Curtiss who owns the poultry farm was interested in Brock, who was his laborer at the time he committed suicide.
He went to the man rumored to have furnished the rig and asked him about the truth of the rumor.
"Why should they get a rig of me, They've got one of their own."
"They" are the persons believed to have committed the crime.
The same man who was said to have furnished the rig was asked, "Did you not see a head and arm In the possession of these men?"
"They didn't take the arm", said the man.
He further implied that if a search was made near the cemetery that the arm would be found. If that was so, it is probable that dogs carried it away as it was not found.
Afterwards he denied knowing anything about it.
So the people at Ransomville believe that two men, while drunk, committed this grave desecratlon.
They also believe it is not worth while to take the matter up. Brock was without friends. He was a worthless character. His grave, despoiled or not, is of no concern.
Some people are indignant because the believe the grave of even a suicide is a sacred matter and the culprits should be dealt with according to the law. If drunken people can go into cemeteries, rifle graves, and carry human heads about with him on their orgies, some think these men should be punished.
But the general opinion Is that the matter Is not worthy of attention. Even if a grave was desecrated in the most foul manner, it is nothing because Brock had no friends. So it has been decided in Ransomville to drop the matter.
Poor John Brock."
The following newspaper article was published in the Buffalo Courier on October 16, 1898:
"CASE OF GRAVE ROBBERY STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE.
Niagara Falls, Oct. 15—Niagara County is still excited over the Ransomville grave robbery. All sorts of stories are afloat, and the affair is one of the most gruesome in the annals of the county .
Later investigations show that the grave of John Brock, the farm hand suicide, who was found with a bullet hole through his heart on the lands of the Curtis poultry farm, was most rudely opened and as it now seems, by two prominent residents of Ransomtville, who, were it is claimed, were intoxicated at the time. The citizens of Ransomville owing to the prominence of the young men, have refused to act. The matter has not been officially brought to the attention of District Attorney Hopkins. The people seem to fear it will bring too heavy a scandal upon well known names.
Brock was practically friendless. He was a hard drinker. At periods he went on protracted sprees, and these periods of debauch would be followed by spasm s of repentance. John Cuddaback, who reported the matter here, was interested as he is a member of the church from whose cemetery the corpse was stolen.
The affair is a hideous one. There are many people who will try to see that action is forced. "If people can't rest in their graves because of drunken men, it is a horrible state of affairs" said one to The Courier representative. What the outcome will be no one can say.
The names of the suspected offenders is quite generally known"
I have been unable to find a tombstone for Mr. Brock. I suspect he is buried in an unmarked grave.
The following newspaper article was published in the Lockport Daily Journal on Tuesday May 24, 1898:
"Suicide at Ransomville.
The body of John Brock was found in the woods near Ransomville Sunday afternoon with a bullet hole in his head.
The man who is a farmer aged 48 years and of supposedly good reputation had put a revolver to his right ear and fired the fatal bullet which came out of the left ear."
The following newspaper article was published in the Lockport Daily Journal on Monday October 3, 1898:
"RANSOMVILLE'S GRAVE ROBBERY.
Coroner Slocumb of Niagara Falls was called upon Saturday by John Cuddaback, a wealthy farmer of Ransomville, who told him a grave in the Ransomville cemetery had been rifled in a peculiar manner. He said that the mound containing the remains of a farm hand named Rock, who was found dead in some woods north of Ransomville some months ago, had been opened and that Rock's head and arms were cut off. The discovery was made Friday and Ransomville is greatly aroused over the matter. The body after decapitation had been rudely bundled back into the grave and covered up very shallowly.
It was found in a doubled up condition, twined and crooked, by the investigators. Many now believe that Rock came to his end by some, other hand than his own and that the exhuming had something to do with covering up the guilt of the parties concerned. Another theory is that the medical students or doctors dug up the body to use for scientiflc investigation. Coroner Slocumb told Mr. Cuddaback to have a strict examination made, which will be done."
The following newspaper article was published in the Niagara Falls Gazette on October 10, 1898:
"RANSOMVILLE WON'T ACT.
GRAVE ROBBERY CASE WILL BE DROPPED WITH NO INVESTIGATION.
The Ransomville grave robbery, which Is still a matter of excitement in the town where It occurred is likely to be dropped.
Because John Brock, the worthless suicide, had no personal friends with money, the matter will pass Into history, a mere village tradition.
The reason why is apparent. Brock had no friends. The persons said to be Involved in the case have. There is no one to push the matter. No one seems to care.
"While we are pretty sure who it was. We can't prove anything," said a Ransomville citizen to a reporter for The Gazette.
So Ransomville has concluded to let her dirty lien remain unwashed.
As exclusively published in the Gazette, the grave of John Brock, who committed suicide on the Curtiss farm on May 21 was opened, the head and arm taken off, the body rudely dumped back in the grave and shallowly covered with dirt.
John Cuddaback, an Influential farmer and a member of Fillmore Chapel, to which belongs the Halstead cemetery, where the ghouls worked, took up the matter. He has dropped it now. He brought it to the attention of Coroner Slocum of this city, he reported in to the Lockport authorities. Yet nearly two weeks have gone by and Ransomville as far as the robbery is concerned has sunk Into a state of apathy.
A reporter for the Gazette visited Ransomville yesterday. He learned many things. There are many wild rumors about as to what the grave robbers did. One report is that the the head of Brock was put on a stick and carried about the village. This could not be verified. Yet the the report exists.
Another story is that a man in the village loaned his rig to one of the persons implicated by the rumor. It is said he returned and showed the man from whom he got the rig a human head.
W. A. Curtiss who owns the poultry farm was interested in Brock, who was his laborer at the time he committed suicide.
He went to the man rumored to have furnished the rig and asked him about the truth of the rumor.
"Why should they get a rig of me, They've got one of their own."
"They" are the persons believed to have committed the crime.
The same man who was said to have furnished the rig was asked, "Did you not see a head and arm In the possession of these men?"
"They didn't take the arm", said the man.
He further implied that if a search was made near the cemetery that the arm would be found. If that was so, it is probable that dogs carried it away as it was not found.
Afterwards he denied knowing anything about it.
So the people at Ransomville believe that two men, while drunk, committed this grave desecratlon.
They also believe it is not worth while to take the matter up. Brock was without friends. He was a worthless character. His grave, despoiled or not, is of no concern.
Some people are indignant because the believe the grave of even a suicide is a sacred matter and the culprits should be dealt with according to the law. If drunken people can go into cemeteries, rifle graves, and carry human heads about with him on their orgies, some think these men should be punished.
But the general opinion Is that the matter Is not worthy of attention. Even if a grave was desecrated in the most foul manner, it is nothing because Brock had no friends. So it has been decided in Ransomville to drop the matter.
Poor John Brock."
The following newspaper article was published in the Buffalo Courier on October 16, 1898:
"CASE OF GRAVE ROBBERY STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE.
Niagara Falls, Oct. 15—Niagara County is still excited over the Ransomville grave robbery. All sorts of stories are afloat, and the affair is one of the most gruesome in the annals of the county .
Later investigations show that the grave of John Brock, the farm hand suicide, who was found with a bullet hole through his heart on the lands of the Curtis poultry farm, was most rudely opened and as it now seems, by two prominent residents of Ransomtville, who, were it is claimed, were intoxicated at the time. The citizens of Ransomville owing to the prominence of the young men, have refused to act. The matter has not been officially brought to the attention of District Attorney Hopkins. The people seem to fear it will bring too heavy a scandal upon well known names.
Brock was practically friendless. He was a hard drinker. At periods he went on protracted sprees, and these periods of debauch would be followed by spasm s of repentance. John Cuddaback, who reported the matter here, was interested as he is a member of the church from whose cemetery the corpse was stolen.
The affair is a hideous one. There are many people who will try to see that action is forced. "If people can't rest in their graves because of drunken men, it is a horrible state of affairs" said one to The Courier representative. What the outcome will be no one can say.
The names of the suspected offenders is quite generally known"
I have been unable to find a tombstone for Mr. Brock. I suspect he is buried in an unmarked grave.
This memorial is still under investigation.
The following newspaper article was published in the Lockport Daily Journal on Tuesday May 24, 1898:
"Suicide at Ransomville.
The body of John Brock was found in the woods near Ransomville Sunday afternoon with a bullet hole in his head.
The man who is a farmer aged 48 years and of supposedly good reputation had put a revolver to his right ear and fired the fatal bullet which came out of the left ear."
The following newspaper article was published in the Lockport Daily Journal on Monday October 3, 1898:
"RANSOMVILLE'S GRAVE ROBBERY.
Coroner Slocumb of Niagara Falls was called upon Saturday by John Cuddaback, a wealthy farmer of Ransomville, who told him a grave in the Ransomville cemetery had been rifled in a peculiar manner. He said that the mound containing the remains of a farm hand named Rock, who was found dead in some woods north of Ransomville some months ago, had been opened and that Rock's head and arms were cut off. The discovery was made Friday and Ransomville is greatly aroused over the matter. The body after decapitation had been rudely bundled back into the grave and covered up very shallowly.
It was found in a doubled up condition, twined and crooked, by the investigators. Many now believe that Rock came to his end by some, other hand than his own and that the exhuming had something to do with covering up the guilt of the parties concerned. Another theory is that the medical students or doctors dug up the body to use for scientiflc investigation. Coroner Slocumb told Mr. Cuddaback to have a strict examination made, which will be done."
The following newspaper article was published in the Niagara Falls Gazette on October 10, 1898:
"RANSOMVILLE WON'T ACT.
GRAVE ROBBERY CASE WILL BE DROPPED WITH NO INVESTIGATION.
The Ransomville grave robbery, which Is still a matter of excitement in the town where It occurred is likely to be dropped.
Because John Brock, the worthless suicide, had no personal friends with money, the matter will pass Into history, a mere village tradition.
The reason why is apparent. Brock had no friends. The persons said to be Involved in the case have. There is no one to push the matter. No one seems to care.
"While we are pretty sure who it was. We can't prove anything," said a Ransomville citizen to a reporter for The Gazette.
So Ransomville has concluded to let her dirty lien remain unwashed.
As exclusively published in the Gazette, the grave of John Brock, who committed suicide on the Curtiss farm on May 21 was opened, the head and arm taken off, the body rudely dumped back in the grave and shallowly covered with dirt.
John Cuddaback, an Influential farmer and a member of Fillmore Chapel, to which belongs the Halstead cemetery, where the ghouls worked, took up the matter. He has dropped it now. He brought it to the attention of Coroner Slocum of this city, he reported in to the Lockport authorities. Yet nearly two weeks have gone by and Ransomville as far as the robbery is concerned has sunk Into a state of apathy.
A reporter for the Gazette visited Ransomville yesterday. He learned many things. There are many wild rumors about as to what the grave robbers did. One report is that the the head of Brock was put on a stick and carried about the village. This could not be verified. Yet the the report exists.
Another story is that a man in the village loaned his rig to one of the persons implicated by the rumor. It is said he returned and showed the man from whom he got the rig a human head.
W. A. Curtiss who owns the poultry farm was interested in Brock, who was his laborer at the time he committed suicide.
He went to the man rumored to have furnished the rig and asked him about the truth of the rumor.
"Why should they get a rig of me, They've got one of their own."
"They" are the persons believed to have committed the crime.
The same man who was said to have furnished the rig was asked, "Did you not see a head and arm In the possession of these men?"
"They didn't take the arm", said the man.
He further implied that if a search was made near the cemetery that the arm would be found. If that was so, it is probable that dogs carried it away as it was not found.
Afterwards he denied knowing anything about it.
So the people at Ransomville believe that two men, while drunk, committed this grave desecratlon.
They also believe it is not worth while to take the matter up. Brock was without friends. He was a worthless character. His grave, despoiled or not, is of no concern.
Some people are indignant because the believe the grave of even a suicide is a sacred matter and the culprits should be dealt with according to the law. If drunken people can go into cemeteries, rifle graves, and carry human heads about with him on their orgies, some think these men should be punished.
But the general opinion Is that the matter Is not worthy of attention. Even if a grave was desecrated in the most foul manner, it is nothing because Brock had no friends. So it has been decided in Ransomville to drop the matter.
Poor John Brock."
The following newspaper article was published in the Buffalo Courier on October 16, 1898:
"CASE OF GRAVE ROBBERY STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE.
Niagara Falls, Oct. 15—Niagara County is still excited over the Ransomville grave robbery. All sorts of stories are afloat, and the affair is one of the most gruesome in the annals of the county .
Later investigations show that the grave of John Brock, the farm hand suicide, who was found with a bullet hole through his heart on the lands of the Curtis poultry farm, was most rudely opened and as it now seems, by two prominent residents of Ransomtville, who, were it is claimed, were intoxicated at the time. The citizens of Ransomville owing to the prominence of the young men, have refused to act. The matter has not been officially brought to the attention of District Attorney Hopkins. The people seem to fear it will bring too heavy a scandal upon well known names.
Brock was practically friendless. He was a hard drinker. At periods he went on protracted sprees, and these periods of debauch would be followed by spasm s of repentance. John Cuddaback, who reported the matter here, was interested as he is a member of the church from whose cemetery the corpse was stolen.
The affair is a hideous one. There are many people who will try to see that action is forced. "If people can't rest in their graves because of drunken men, it is a horrible state of affairs" said one to The Courier representative. What the outcome will be no one can say.
The names of the suspected offenders is quite generally known"
I have been unable to find a tombstone for Mr. Brock. I suspect he is buried in an unmarked grave.
The following newspaper article was published in the Lockport Daily Journal on Tuesday May 24, 1898:
"Suicide at Ransomville.
The body of John Brock was found in the woods near Ransomville Sunday afternoon with a bullet hole in his head.
The man who is a farmer aged 48 years and of supposedly good reputation had put a revolver to his right ear and fired the fatal bullet which came out of the left ear."
The following newspaper article was published in the Lockport Daily Journal on Monday October 3, 1898:
"RANSOMVILLE'S GRAVE ROBBERY.
Coroner Slocumb of Niagara Falls was called upon Saturday by John Cuddaback, a wealthy farmer of Ransomville, who told him a grave in the Ransomville cemetery had been rifled in a peculiar manner. He said that the mound containing the remains of a farm hand named Rock, who was found dead in some woods north of Ransomville some months ago, had been opened and that Rock's head and arms were cut off. The discovery was made Friday and Ransomville is greatly aroused over the matter. The body after decapitation had been rudely bundled back into the grave and covered up very shallowly.
It was found in a doubled up condition, twined and crooked, by the investigators. Many now believe that Rock came to his end by some, other hand than his own and that the exhuming had something to do with covering up the guilt of the parties concerned. Another theory is that the medical students or doctors dug up the body to use for scientiflc investigation. Coroner Slocumb told Mr. Cuddaback to have a strict examination made, which will be done."
The following newspaper article was published in the Niagara Falls Gazette on October 10, 1898:
"RANSOMVILLE WON'T ACT.
GRAVE ROBBERY CASE WILL BE DROPPED WITH NO INVESTIGATION.
The Ransomville grave robbery, which Is still a matter of excitement in the town where It occurred is likely to be dropped.
Because John Brock, the worthless suicide, had no personal friends with money, the matter will pass Into history, a mere village tradition.
The reason why is apparent. Brock had no friends. The persons said to be Involved in the case have. There is no one to push the matter. No one seems to care.
"While we are pretty sure who it was. We can't prove anything," said a Ransomville citizen to a reporter for The Gazette.
So Ransomville has concluded to let her dirty lien remain unwashed.
As exclusively published in the Gazette, the grave of John Brock, who committed suicide on the Curtiss farm on May 21 was opened, the head and arm taken off, the body rudely dumped back in the grave and shallowly covered with dirt.
John Cuddaback, an Influential farmer and a member of Fillmore Chapel, to which belongs the Halstead cemetery, where the ghouls worked, took up the matter. He has dropped it now. He brought it to the attention of Coroner Slocum of this city, he reported in to the Lockport authorities. Yet nearly two weeks have gone by and Ransomville as far as the robbery is concerned has sunk Into a state of apathy.
A reporter for the Gazette visited Ransomville yesterday. He learned many things. There are many wild rumors about as to what the grave robbers did. One report is that the the head of Brock was put on a stick and carried about the village. This could not be verified. Yet the the report exists.
Another story is that a man in the village loaned his rig to one of the persons implicated by the rumor. It is said he returned and showed the man from whom he got the rig a human head.
W. A. Curtiss who owns the poultry farm was interested in Brock, who was his laborer at the time he committed suicide.
He went to the man rumored to have furnished the rig and asked him about the truth of the rumor.
"Why should they get a rig of me, They've got one of their own."
"They" are the persons believed to have committed the crime.
The same man who was said to have furnished the rig was asked, "Did you not see a head and arm In the possession of these men?"
"They didn't take the arm", said the man.
He further implied that if a search was made near the cemetery that the arm would be found. If that was so, it is probable that dogs carried it away as it was not found.
Afterwards he denied knowing anything about it.
So the people at Ransomville believe that two men, while drunk, committed this grave desecratlon.
They also believe it is not worth while to take the matter up. Brock was without friends. He was a worthless character. His grave, despoiled or not, is of no concern.
Some people are indignant because the believe the grave of even a suicide is a sacred matter and the culprits should be dealt with according to the law. If drunken people can go into cemeteries, rifle graves, and carry human heads about with him on their orgies, some think these men should be punished.
But the general opinion Is that the matter Is not worthy of attention. Even if a grave was desecrated in the most foul manner, it is nothing because Brock had no friends. So it has been decided in Ransomville to drop the matter.
Poor John Brock."
The following newspaper article was published in the Buffalo Courier on October 16, 1898:
"CASE OF GRAVE ROBBERY STIRRED UP THE PEOPLE.
Niagara Falls, Oct. 15—Niagara County is still excited over the Ransomville grave robbery. All sorts of stories are afloat, and the affair is one of the most gruesome in the annals of the county .
Later investigations show that the grave of John Brock, the farm hand suicide, who was found with a bullet hole through his heart on the lands of the Curtis poultry farm, was most rudely opened and as it now seems, by two prominent residents of Ransomtville, who, were it is claimed, were intoxicated at the time. The citizens of Ransomville owing to the prominence of the young men, have refused to act. The matter has not been officially brought to the attention of District Attorney Hopkins. The people seem to fear it will bring too heavy a scandal upon well known names.
Brock was practically friendless. He was a hard drinker. At periods he went on protracted sprees, and these periods of debauch would be followed by spasm s of repentance. John Cuddaback, who reported the matter here, was interested as he is a member of the church from whose cemetery the corpse was stolen.
The affair is a hideous one. There are many people who will try to see that action is forced. "If people can't rest in their graves because of drunken men, it is a horrible state of affairs" said one to The Courier representative. What the outcome will be no one can say.
The names of the suspected offenders is quite generally known"
I have been unable to find a tombstone for Mr. Brock. I suspect he is buried in an unmarked grave.
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