The Yellow Creek Grave Robbery

Reprinted from the Morrisons Cove Herald of October 26, 1972

The most sensational Halloween tale ever told in this area is a true story that took place 40 years ago this month. The Herald’s ghost writer has opened the mystery trunk this Halloween and dusted off the chilling narrative of a 1932 grave robbery …

When John Vernon Oaks of Aliquippa, Beaver County was buried Oct. 5, 1932, his family thought that was the last they would hear of him, but a group of five in a conspiracy against an insurance company soon proved this reasoning false.

Oaks died at the age of 27 and was buried in St. Paul’...