The morning call., 1892-03-25
WHO'LL GET THE CORPSE?
Legal Cattle for the Custody of
j. Segnrs0n's Remains.
A Serious Controversy Between Rival Under
.akers-The Body Taken Ba to the
Morgue on a Search Warrant.


Who Is entitled to the.custody of the
corpse of j. Segurson?
That Is the question Police Judge Love
VIII De called upon 10 decide this morning.
About month ago the unfortunate laborer
fell into an excavation on Waller street. be-
tween Scott and Pierce, and broke his neck.
He died at the City and County Hospital last
Monday. The physicians attached to that
institution tried to obtain the body for the
purpose OF mounting the skeleton, but
friends Of the deceased took possession OF
the remains TO give them proper burial.
The time set for holding the inquest was
10 o'clock yesterday morning, but at that
hour the body had not been returned from
Undertaken McMenomy's establishment at
1857 Mission street, to the Morgue. The
remains were delivered to McMen omy upon
an order signed by Patrick Howard, ex-
ecutor OF the will OF the deceased, alter the
autopsy was held. "Wednesday morning j.
c. OConnor IL Co.. undertakes at 767 Mis-
sion street, telephoned to the Coroner that
Patrick Segnrson. brother of the deceased,
had given them Instructions to take charge
OF the body and make arrangements for the
funeral.
SURRENDERED.
The firm was informed that the remains
had been surrendered to McMenomy, and
so the matter stood until the time arrived
for holding the inquest.
Ii required positive orders from the Cor
oner TO compel McMenomy to return the
body 10 the Morgue. After it had been
viewed by the jury. the body was hastily
taken back TO McMenomy's place. The
inquest resulted in a verdict of accidental
death.
Then the struggle for the possession of the
body was resumed. Attorney Burke, by
instructions from the brother of the de-
ceased and OCOnnor IL Co., went to De-
partment 2 of the Police Court and swore
out two warrants. One was search
warrant for the recovery Of the body. and
the other was warrant charging Me-
Menomy with misdemeanor for unawfully
OBTAINING corpse for a pretended lien.
The complaint states that McMenOmy re-
fused to surrender the body 10 the brother
OF the deceased until paid for the services
he had already performed.
WARRANTS SERVED.
The warrants we're turned over TO Officer
Marshal for service. He did not at once
arrest McMen0my, but secured the fast
notifying body and removed it TO the old
City Hall. The venerable property clerk,
Mr. Cullen, held up his hands in horror
when the strange burden was turned over
to him. He refused to receive it, although
assured that the body must remain in the
custody Of the police until the ownership
was decided in court.
In his dilemma Marshal took the body to
bhC Suc, NllcIt tOIODeI udINOOQ also
refused to take charge of it. I'm through
with this case" said he, land will have
nothing more to do with it,
well" argued the troubled policeman,
Il must leave the body somewhere. and the
MoTgue appears to be the best place.
Leave it with McMenomy," said DIR.
Garwood. II don't want to be held re-
spOnsible for the body. Why, it's liza BILE to
fall 10 pieces before this controversy is de-
cided in court"
Being informed that the body could not
remain with McMenomy the Coroner finally
relented and agreed to allow the remains
10 repose on a slab until the struggle is
Strengthened out in Police Court to-day.