The Macon Daily Telegraph
12 March 1906

LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE

ROSE HILL CEMETERY

Macon, Ga., March 11, 1906
To the Editor of The Telegraph:
I would respectfully ask permission to say a few words in reference to a
communication published in this morning's Telegraph, from Miss
Mitchell of Atlanta, complaining of the stealing of flowers from her lot
in Rose Hill.

Her complaint implies gross negligence of those in charge of the cemetery
in protecting it from depredations. She says: "Anyone leaving the
cemetery with such a mass of flowers would attract attention." Probably
she is not aware that a large portion of the cemetery has no fence around
it and intruders can enter and leave the cemetery without ever passing
through any of the gates. This letter which appears in your paper had
already been sent to Mator Smith and by him referred to me for investigation.

I regret that all I can learn of this theft is, that on last Sunday
monring, at a very early hour, three young white boys, one wearing a red
cap, were seen leaving Rose Hill by the College street gate with a
quantity of flowers -- doubtless the ones taken from Miss Mitchell's lot.
This young lady I know well and esteem highly, and I am sure she will
admit I did all I could to aid her in beautifying her lot. And I am
greatly grieved at its desecration. On the afternoon previous I passed
her lot and stopped to admire the beautiful flowers. I take this occasion
to state, for the benefit of patrons of Rose Hill, that with the present
arrangement, it is impossible to prevent these frequent depredations. My
duties as sexton will not admit of my effectually policing the grounds.
Rose Hill covers a large territory. If I had no other duty thatn to watch
the grounds I could not be all over it at once.

No one is more anxious to put a stop to these desecrations than I am. I
have made every effort to break it up and detect the guilty parties. I
have frequently gone there early in the mornings, before work hours, and
remained at night long after work hours. I have for a long time had a
standing offer to pay, out of my individual pocket, $10 to either of my
men who would furnish me with the names of anyone they saw taking flowers
from the lots. They have never been able to catch anyone in the act. In
fact, the thieves know those employed there and do their mischief when
none of them are around. I have frequently asked for an officer to assist
in looking after this matter. An officer constantly on duty in Rose Hill
might make an arrest occasionally. While it would not entirely break it
up, the arrest and severe punishment of a few culprits would have a
tendancy to check it.

So far as the stealing of flowers and ornaments from the cemetery lots is
concerned, Rose Hill is not the only sufferer. Every cemetery in the land
is subject to these vandals. I have it from the superintendent of
Greenwood of New York city that with twenty policemen constantly on duty
it is impossible to entirely prevent it.

If the publication of this complaint should result in deviating some plan
for the better protection of property in Rose Hill, none will hail it with
greater joy than Yours Truly, ROLAND B. HALL, Sexton Rose Hill Cemetery.

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Rose Hill Cemetery

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