The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-11-24
Injustice to Mr. a. ToslIner, the Super
intendent of Riverside Serne-
! %ar.u Wn1fue


terry, Moline.
On Saturday. the Uaion (Moline De-
partment) contained vigorous attack on
Supt. Adolph Toellner. of Riverside Gem
etery, Moline, charging him with acting
in gruf and unkindly manner at the
grave of Conrad Wittick. The article in
question has caused bitter comment among
the Germans of Moline and called forth a
full denial from MIR. Toellner. Following
is the article as published in the Union of
Saturday:
An UntimeIy Dun.
A little circumstance occurred at the
| funeral of Conrad Wittick, last Thursday
afternoon, that has since been commented
upon rather extensively by the people of
Moline The procession had reached
Riverside cemetery. The coffin had been
taken from the hearse and lowered into
| the grave Then with lack of decency
that would disgrace almost anybody that
wore clothes, Adolph Toellner, the Super
intendent of the cemetery, stepped up to
| G, l.. Raymond, who had charge OF the
pail bearers. and right 10 their presence
demanded pay for digging the grave be-
fore allowing the proceedings to go any
further. To make such a demand of
respectable people who came to bury a
friend, at time the most sacred that can
we'll be imagined, was an insult OF the
meanest kind, aud deserves the CEN
sure it has received from every
decent man and women who has heard OF
lit. Mr. Toellner claims that his instruc
tions from the Board of Directors of River
side Cemetery are that no burial shall
take place until the digging OF the grave
is paid for. But this is no excuse Tor the
insult the friends of Mr.. Wittick received.
| ToeIuer could have spoken for his pay be-
fore the body was brough to the ground.
Almost any respectable man would rather
have paid the money out of his own
pocket than to disturb the sanctity of such
a solemn hour by demanding pay for his
few hours labor. Such proceeding will
not bear many repetitious in this part of
the country.
| We have been to some pains to ferret
out the truth of the Unions statement aud
are satisfied that the case has been over
stated in the Union. probably from a miss
understanding of the facts.
| Mr.. James Hoover. assistant of Mr..
Toellner says that mir. Toeliner did not
step up to Mr.. Raymond Uatil the whole
assemblage had left the grounds, and the
grave was already half filed up and Mr..
Raymond was about entering his carriage
when Mr.. ToellBer, in very polite mau-
ner, and low tone 0fgGiee, lDqulred whether
he or Mr.. Knox would settle the zee pres
scribed by the board Tor digging the grave.
MIR. Raymond replied that he would send
the amount tie aegt Jay, and then Mr,
| Toeilucr withdrew. saying it gas Al right,
The attack nadc on Ar. Tuellner hy the
Moloe reporter of the Union is therefore
iunwarrantei and unjusti6aOle.'
| Mr.. Hoover is very positive 10 his state
| one hundred feet from tbs grave When
what the Union calls An Uotimely Dan
was made.
To get at the true feeling of TIE
family in the matter. Mr.. Geo. Wit
tick was visited, and he expressed him
self as sorry the affair had happened; that
the statements relative to him we're made
without his authority. and that there
might be DO misunderstanding about the
M after, prepared the following card:
| La Justice to Mr.. a. Toaluer. I hereby
certify that the statements made in the
Union regarding Mr.. A. Toellner, Super
lintendent of the Riverside cemetery. were
made without my authority or counte-
nance. and that | have no knowledge OF
any disrespeGt on the part Ut Mr.. IoeilnE
before. during or sitter the proceedings Il,
my late lamented fathers funeral. '/1d
that | very much deplore the It t3m) Mt.
! GEO b. WITTICL
Moline, Ills, Nov. %, 1879,
The affair has made good deal of feeling
among the Germass of Moline. and has
also made many friends for mr Toellner,
Who, instead OF becoming enraged, has
simply made denial and lett his course
to be indicated by the actual facts, as they
occurred. 1t is to be hoSeG that the un-
seemly controversy will cease, aud the
bones of the poor, murdered Wittick,
whom all reyeFed will be allowed to rest in
peace. and that the paDgs of sorrow which
| the surviving members of his family feel
will not be made even worse by clashiug
over alleged Giscourtesies at his grave
Mr.. Toellner has made good superinten
dent of the cemetery, and far from being
a rough spoken man, is of a kindly nature,
and instead of adding 10 the sorrow of any
one. would be more inclined to console
those bereaved.
The right thing in the right place is
without doubt DIR. Bulls Baby Syrup, the