Desecrating Graves.

Bruce Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 3099, 15 September 1899, Page 2

Desecrating Graves.

-Q. William Coutts, superintendent of the Nellfield Cemetery, Aberdeen, has oeen sentenced to six months' imprisonment for grave desecration. Tha case arose out of a claim made by a graveholder against the Master Bakers' Corporation, who own the cemetery, for interferences with his family grave. Investigation disclosed a terrible state of affairs. Inrga quantities ot human bones. Bkulis, and coffin ornaments w^re f jund buried indiscriminately in pits and the cemetery walks, Some graves were empty, and others were packed with remains. Ex-employees gave evidence that after the burial had taken place the bodies, with the superintendent's knowbedge, were removed from the coffins and thrown together anyhow in pits. The coffins were burned, and the bones removed from other graves to make room for fresh Durials. Serious allegations weie also made respecting the disappearance of jewellery and false teeth from the graves. As a result of the revelations tbe Bakers' Corporation decided not to defend the case, wbjgh. had been brought as a test one, but to pay eacb claimant £50 and costs. Coutts subsequently was committed on & charge o* desecration and several charges of perjury.