Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1891-01-31
A STRANGE WILL.
Directing That His Heart be Cut From
His Dead Body.
THE easily oPERATIoN-A FAMILY
CUSTOM-THE REMAINS
CREMATED.

A strange case came to light in
South Baltimore yesterday. DR..
Charles f. Heuser, a well-known
druggist and physician, whose place
Of business was at GA South Charles
street, died Wednesday of consump-
ton. He was found dead early In
the morning. Near him was his last
will and testament. In it he direct
ed that after he had passed away his
heart be removed from the body.
After this the organ was to be re-
placed, and his body cremated at
Loudon Park. His ashes were to
be distributed among those of his
friends who cared to have a souvenir
of him. He gave directions as to
how the heart should be removed.
The frontal bone was to be cut, then
the ribs, and then the knife was to
be used to cut each artery that CON-
municated with the body. 1t was
then to be lifted out and exposed
for several minutes. After dispos-
ing of his property which did not
amount to very much the strange
document ended. 1t was signed by
DR.. Heuser and two other witnesses
who did not care to have their names
made public. The will was turned
over to his executor who saw that
the last wishes of the dead man were
carried emf.
All the requests were complied
with. The cremation of the body
cost $40; two carriages and hearse
and the coffin and doctors bill
amounted to $50, making a total of
$40. There were no pall-bearers, no
near relatives, no funeral services
when the body of the old man was
placed in the fiery receptacle. All
who knew him say that he was queer.
He was well educated, highly cul-
tered, and was musician and COM
poser Of some note. He did not
have many friends, and with the
few he did have seldom held inter-
course. Reading was hts passion.
Mr.. Theodore Stablein was named
as an executor of his will. There
was some hesitation on tho part of
Mr.. Stablein about carrying out the
instructions of the old man,
REMOVING THE HEART.
DR.. A. Boehm was sent for after
DR.. Geo. W. Benson had refused to
cut out the dead physicians heart.
DR.. Bernard T. Meyer, Samuel
Meyer, his son, and three sisters, the
Misses Crone, with whom the dead
man boarded on Sharp street, saw
the operation performed. They all
assembled in the dead mans room at
four o'clock Thursday afternoon.
The body was on the bed. DIR.
Boehm barred the breast, and after
using the knife and saw for little
while, had the breastbone and ribs
cut away. He severed the arteries
connecting the heart with the body,
and pulled it out and held it up to
view. The ladies in the room almost
tainted. DR.. Boehm then replaced
the organ in the body. The wound
was sewed up, and the body dressed
for the funeral pyre. All fear Of
being buried alive was past.
The body was placed in cheap
pine coffin stained in imitation of
walnut, and carried to the little par
lor over the drug store, where the
old man had done business for so
many years. 1t remained there I'M
til half-past three yesterday after
noon, when it was taken to Loudon
Park Cemetery. At four O'Clock it
was put in the crematory and in
three hours was reduced to ashes.
DR.. Heuser's wife died twelve
years ago. 1t is said by those who
knew him intimately that even after
he knew that life was extinct he
plunged knife into his dead wife's
heart and opened the arteries in her
wrists SO as to preclude the possibili-
ty of being buried alive. He used to
tell how he did it, and always said he
would have something like it done
to him when he died.
1t is said that DR.. Heuser only
followed custom which has been in
his family for years. Many of the
members of the family gave instruc-
lions that their hearts be pierced or
arteries opened when they died, so
much they dreaded the chance Of
enq buried alive the doe on 3
i,oas however, was the only one Of
the family that has been cremated.