The New York herald., 1879-03-05
STATEN ISLANDERS SCARED

TERRIBLE EXCITEMENT CAUSED BY ExHUMNs A
YELLOW FEVER CoRPsE--vILLAGERs ApPRE-
HENsIvE OF THE PLAGUE.
An express wagon containing coffin covered with
a cloth driven from the burial ground at
Seguines Point on Staten Island. about two o'clock
yesterday afternoon. to the lower landing of the
Staten Island ferry when tho driver applied for pas
sage to New York. The gatekeeper. knowing
the stringency of the law in relation to
the transportation of dead bodies, demanded
to know il there was one in the coffin.
The driver said there was. and the gatekeeper de-
manded to see his authority for removing it. Upon
this an'ederly man who sat with the driver in the
wagon produced a written permit from the Quaran-
tine Commissioners, signed by j. 4. Colvlle, Super
intendent, authorizing him to exhune the body Of
one Louis Livingstone. Together with this he pro-
duced also permit from Stephen Nagle Register Of
Records in New York, authorizing H. Frankel to re-
move the body of Louis Livingstone, who had died
of yellow fever September %, 1878, from the
burial ground at Seeuine's Point to Mschpelah Come
terry. The elder man declared that he was II.
Frankel and that the driver employed by him.
SCARED VILLAGERS.
While these papers were undergoing examination
Marshal Frean. of Edgewater village, young man
who has been employed in the Quarantine Hospital.
approached the wagon. saying THAT is IL yellow
fever corpse. know the SMELL" The words were
spoken with ndscreet distinctness, and a number
Oh bystanders who heard them stricken with
panic. All declared that the efiuyium from the
coffin most offensive and nearly all left
the spot. The spread rapidly in the
little village and ere long great excitement
was stirred up Ladies shud1ercd With horror at the
thought of the terrible disease being started afrcs
and several Of them visited drug store in tho
neghborhood to purchase disinfecants The wife
OF one of the most prominent citizens of Richmond
county had stood in doorway as the wagon passed
terrible. Her name and words quoted far and
near in short time and the panic grew proportion
ately.
NO rHoRoUGHrAuR AT THE FERRY.
In the meantime the gate keeper ut the ferry doubt
full OF the efficacy of the documents and not alto
gether uninfuenced by the manner OF Frean, de-
cared that he would not allow the wagon on tho
ferryboat. Mr.. Frankel bewildcred and the
driver at his wits end Frean added TO their
distress by calling constable who stood b. to
arrest the two men and take them before Justice
Garrett and he would make a charge. This the con-
stable did. and wagon. horse corpse aud all
driven through the village to the court room.
In the meantime Justice Garrett was sitting COM
fortaply In Il cosey saloon nearly two blocks from
bis court room chatting with a number of village
dgnitaries over sundry glasses OF beer. Frean
into the saloon in great excitement Lie told mis-
story rapidly. and the Justice listened.
''Where are the menT' he inquired
"McDempsey tthe constable) has taken them up to
the court" replied the excited man.
oh, pshaw! tell him to bring 'em here" said the
Justice. Il can't 30 up there"
STATEN ISLAND COURT
Accordingly the two men were brought to the
saloon, and. finding tnot the Justice was holding
court there. looked more bewildcrcd than ever.
They produced their papers, however, showing til t
tho exhumaiion had been regular and that they had
the authority from the Board OF Health i'll New York
for transporting the body through this city.
THAT amt the ground make Il charge on" said
Frean. ''They were creating nisauce III the village
by standing in the street with yellow fever
corpse
Tie justice examined the papers aud then said,
you'll have to 80 TO DR.: Vandcrpocl and get his
authority to remove the body. Then come back
here, and Il you've done anything wrong you'll be
He then calmly resumed his beer and his convcr-
saton, and the two men got into their wagon again
and drove to Dr. vanderpoel's office. They were
accompanied by the constable, who, however refused
TO get INTO the wagon and went foot, preferring
to be at q comfortable distance from tae coffin
though no objection was made to its being driven
around the village.
An hour later they returned The Justice was still
in the saloon aud again opened Court there.
Judge" said Constable Bic Dempsey, .Dr ThoInp-
son says this here permit is u bogus one they
Newer mind about that" said Justice Garrett
"Frcan. you're the complainant in this matter, amt
YES" said that individual and the Justice accord.
ingly wrote ont short affidavit, which Frean
to aud signed without reading it, What the coutcuts
of the afidayit are WAS not made known but IL Is d
part OF the official record in the Justice pocket
Constable McDempscy was then examined aud said
that he had accompanied the two prisoners quar-
antinc, when Dr. Thompson. ia DIR. Yaudcrpocl's aD-
sence ordered them to take the body back and bury
it again ''IIc sad though, continued the witness,
tnt IL they'd get caskct. all sealed up, would be
all right"
ibid he say these papers bogus'' asked tho
Justice.
"Yes," said the witness, unhcsita.iDgly.
FBANKEL's frgEyCE.
Mr.. Frankcl was then examined lie siid that
Jouis Livingston was Polish jew and cousin OF
his frankes - wife; he had to Icw York from
Texas last and had been taken Ill in hotel
III the Bowcry, whittier he went arriving in
this city; the reported to the Board pf
Health and the decision was promptly given that tho
disease was yellow fever; the unfortunate man
removed to Quarantine September 20 and died
there on september ~
"Your Honor ain poor man." continued Mr..
frankcl but he was a relative OF my wife and I
wanted to do what was right. went TO some others
of hts friends and made up what money
necessary, and applied to the Quarantine Commits
sioncrs permission TO remove the body and barry
IL according TO our own religion in tho Jowisn
Cemetery. They told me to wait until cold weather.
80 waited. Now have got their permission, and
thcy told me TO go to th. New York 50ari Of Health
and they gave me their permit. and thought that
all that was necessary"
II will order this body to The Morgue for the pres
cnt," said the Justice, "and You will stand com
intted in charge of the constable until tomorrow
twelve o'clock
II presume shall need me money! said MIR.
Frankcl with unconscious irony, "and shall have
to 10 to New York To get i."
''Uh. you will be able 20 arrange all that with tho
constable" said the Justice briskly, and he signed
the oror OF comnits and the two prisoners thanked
him without explaining why, and went out with the
constable.