The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-31
MRS. ROOSEY's DEAD BoDK.


John Rooney, a worker In a gas house In
First avenue: his wife. Catharine and their
children. moved into rooms on the top floor OF
the tenement at 0S5 East Twelfth street. about
six months ago. Soon tho eldest child. girl OF
Is. died. Mrs. Rooney. weakened BY her con-
slant attendance upon the child. and over
come with grief for her loss fell ILL., Her hus-
baud realized that he must send her to hospi-
tai. His savings had been exhausted In the
nursing and burial OF his child and in caring
snoS 80 could hardy % TOn money @ Day
the rent and buy food. Mrs, Rooney was admit
tod 70 the hospital on Harts Island. where she
"A friend oi Nj. and Mrs. Rooney, living in
sheriff street" 7. Grimm, undertaken lnln 81 50
came, to mo and ensSged me %
Sst,lns the body from The aorgys But We
went the next morning. and the kseper SAID
isSs had .S Rpt ,Sst ss'sd se iES% H down E
on the 5 O'Clock boat. We waited for the
boat but Il did not bring the body. When
then. I saw Commissioner Brennan on the pier,
told him o. The trouble had had, HG t ssnE ou.
with you on your $3.50 trip" The Commits
sioner probably supposed that he had straight
Mr. Rooney waited for the boat until night
fall. II brought his wiic's body. The coffin was
taken 20 the Morgue. and then he was allowed
to sec his wiie's face. He arranged with mo that
the funeral should take place on the next morn
oec es GaNtR "a tho Boad Of Gea6 S" Tor T burial
permit, One Of tho clerks ssid that
pose to issue several permits for the interment
OF tho same body. SO tho funeral did not
one once p "fs tie 1e Board F' St Health SSais @ yester
morning. almost heartsick. Poor Rooney gave
before tomorrow and went over 70 Brooklyn
and Jersey City to tell his friends. i found Dr.
Maggie in the Office Of the Board OF Health.
He gave me a duplicate permit at once. and also
a note to Mr. Blake. Superintendent OF the Out
door Poor. In the note ho asked Mr.. Blake 70
reach his hands. Mr. Blake after reading the
notice. told mo that he had written w to
Island d2r 'ne me. Original Gb ape permit pndo 10 sa
Morgue. Mrs. Rooney's body was put In the
hearse. and then started the little funeral for
NnY delay there might b. a fresh supply OF red
tape TO unwind.
Poor Rooney heard q the funeral after It
catch up with Il. but don't know whether he
had tho last look at his wiios face before the
grave WAS closed upon her.
The relatives Of those who die on HRrt's
Island have great deal OF trouble In getting
their bodies. They have 70 run back and for
their dead :. until they are out OF pocket and
patience. Even after they obtain burial per-
NIT. they are kept IN a, constant worry
about actually getting the bodies brought down
upon the steamboat that runs between the
Island and Bellevue Hospital. Then they have
to struggle with more rcd tape in tho Morgue."
Mrs. Rooney's body was received here at
about nightisll on Saturday. Deputy Keeper
Fogarty OF the Morgue said. Mr., Rooney
came here soon afterward. He asked mo for
the certificate rs TO the cause OF HIS wife's
death from the physicians who attended her
on Hart's Island | had not received IL.
and told him so. opened the cofiin so that
he might see his wifcs face. He went away
soon aitcrward. About an hour and n half later
u certificate that Mr. Rooney died OF consump-
tion WIS given 10 me. II had been sent TO
the Office Of the hospital. When Mr.. Rooney
came on the following morning | garc him the
certificate. aud he turned II over. believe. to
Mr.. urilln. The Board OF Health. | under
stand, would not give Mr.. Grifnn a burial
permit, and. OF course. | could not de-
liver Mrs. Rooney's body to him. ! am not
allowed to deliver "A body unless | receive a
burial permit from the Board Of Health. or an
order from ono OF the Coroners. Tho de-
lny in the delivery Of Mrs. Rooney Is
body to hcr husband was caused. suppose,
by the mistake OF taking the original burial
permit 10 llart's Island. III il had boon left here.
Mr.. Rooney could have taken his wifos body
away rs soon rs IL was received by me-"