San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-01-13
STATEMENT VS.. STATEMENT.
Commissions of s Further State
ments in Regard to II.

Commissions of S Further State
ments in Regard to II.
The Express this morning contains
the folio wing statement In regard TO the
article the LIGHT published about "Com-
mission on 4 Corpse" which was pub
lished. not with desire to do anyone
an injury, but to correct one OF several
evils that exist In this grub eaten city.
The card readf:
COMMISSION ON A CORPSE"
SAN ANTONIO, Jan. IL, 1883.
Editor Express:
In recent issues of the LIGHT and Express
considerable has been said relative 10 some
undertaken receiving a commission on a
matter as joke, believing II to have been
the outgrowth of a humorous intention rather
than that which now seems to have been con.
sidered a fact.
The facts are these: | have never received
a commission on either the dead or living for
a shave, nor would In this land of plenty
might shave deceased subject in my charge.
The case in question, however, has some
points which need explanation. man did
die as stated and Mr.. sam Hughes, the barber
In question, on Blum street, did shave him.
This barber owed me small bill for horse,
and, after shaving the subject, stepped
into his shop and asked him;
well, you can pay me that dollar now,
can't you!' This however, was said In
humorous manner, for / was perfectly IA
m;ar with him and his partner and felt no
dehcacy In joking them. Some time after,
Mr.. Hughes came to my stable while was busy
and paid me a dollar. whereupon l credited
him on account with the same, as my books
will show. In the meantime, IL seems, this
was construed as "commsson on a CORPSE"
when, In perfect truth, IL was but the pay
ment of an honest account. A LIGHT reporter
heard of the circumstance, and great fire has
been kindled from very small spark. Let
me again say, that in my whole business
career in San Antonio, | remember of no time
when or any OF my employees have found It
necessary to tilch dollar from the dead or
living. The LIGHT has, unutentionally, no
doubt, done me an injury, and this eNplana-
ton will set matters Alright. In the meantime,
desire to remain the public's obedient ser
want, L. II GRAY,
Firm of Bergstrom Gray.
Since this publication has been made,
10 which 1t would appear that
the LIGHT and its reporters
"kindled big fire out of little spark"
the truth 10 better told In justice to the
reporters. The following statement
reads for itself:
Mr.. T. ii. Gray on the 18th instant
called at the LIGHT office, and acknowl-
edged to me that the article "commis-
sion on corpse" was true, but as the
other undertakers in the city would use
1t against him in his business, the same
was calculated to do him a great Injury.
| told Mr.. Gray the LIGHT had no desire
TO do him any injury, and offered
to publish his statement II he wished to
make one, FREE OF CHARGE. Mr.. Gray
thought best not to make any public
statement, but requested me to "hx" It
up for him by saying Ibis demand for
the dollar was done in joke" He
said nothing to me about the barber
owing him any nony.
Il. b. JOHNSON,
Business Manager SAN ANTONIO LIGHT.
HERE'S ANOTHER.
Wednesday morning, after Mr.. Gray's
visit to this office, /, In company with
a friend, saw Sam Hughes, the barber,
at Lillsn's shop, and 10 the presence OF
Gus Albers, my friend, Mr.. J. w. Estes
and myself, he stated to me that the
item was correct in all Its statements.
FRANK Caldwell,
Attest: Reporter 5. A. LIGHT.
j. w. ESTES.
The LIGHT has no desire to do any OF
our good business men an injury. and
believes Mr.. Gray to be an upright and
honorable citizen; and the mere fact OF
his receiving q commission on any part
OF his business, is only in conformance
to usual custom that has prevailed In
this city among some business men, to
give and take commissions on business
passing through their hands, or brought
about by their influence or recommen-
datioDs.