Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-10-17
SOLD HIS BODY.
The Party Of the Second Part DId Mo-
Have q Ctneh Affer All


Have . ciBch, After Ali.
In tho month Of March, 1882, the fol.
lowing agreement was drawn up In the
city of Boston:
This agreement witnesseth: That
Henry Bayles Grahame, being Of sound
mind and understanding, doth hereby
covenant and agree as party Of the first
part to permit Robert J. Bedwin, party
OF the second part, to receive and hold
within "a hours after the death Of the
party Of the first part the body Of the
said Henry Bayles Grahame, the party
Df the first part, and TO make such dis
position OF the said body Of the party Of
the first part as he, the said Robert j.
Bedwin, the party Of the second part,
may see fit and proper, and the said
Henry Bayles Grahame, the party Of the
first part, hereby invests the party Of the
second part, the aforesaid Robert J.
Bcdwin, with full and absolute authority
IN the receiving and disposal Of the body
OF the party Of the first part, the said
Henry Bayles Grahame, for and I'm con-
sideration Of the sum Of five hundred
dollars $4,000, the receipt Of which the
said Henry Bayles Grahame herewith
acknowledges this 10th day Of March,
A. ID. 1882"
Lawyers and conveyancers may not
admire the form Of the contract and
doubtless could detect many flaws by
which the party Of the first part might
get the better Of the party of the SEC
ond part, or vice versa, but the docu-
ment was drawn mp In good faith, and
the parties to IL fully intended to live
up to its provisions.
Henry Bayles Grahame was a dry
goods clerk in Boston IL years ago. He
received a meager compensation for his
service and lived in little attic room
in Cambridge. Bedwin was a medical
student. He had wealthy parents and
was able to crafty any whim or fancy
that might seize him. He became ac-
quainted with Grahame and took a
great fancy to him for two reasons
first, because cf his intellectually, and,
second, because he appeared to be APP
preaching the last stages Of consump-
tiOn. The second reason for the liking
was rather a grewsome one, but Bedwin
was what might be called crank on
the subject Of dissection, and az we'll as
he liked and admired his friend he was
anxious to secure his body after death,
which he honestly believed was not far
off. There was great deal Of discus
sion over 1t, and eventually Bedwin
made the proposition which resr Id in
the drawing up Of the agreement with
out the aid Of lawyer There was no
stipulation as TO what the sick and ap.
parently dying man should do with the
money, 80 he Immediately expended
part Of II in paying six months board
In advance In the Adirondacks.
Henry Bayles Grahaine showed his
copy Of this agreement to tho writer yes
terday. He looked like q man in fairly
good health--nOt rugged, 10 be sure, but
far from dying man. my recovery
was simply a miracle, said he. "At
the time / accepted that money was 80
poor that hadn't money enough TO buy
medicine, even II got medical attend
ance for nothing. was glad TO take 1t
just 10 have little comfort in what
supposed were my last days. got well
enough 20 leave the mountains in eight
months and went 20 st. Paul, where
got place In real estate Office, and
was lucky enough 10 assist my employer
IN saving several Thousand dollars by the
discovery of some forged deeds. He gave
me zip on western lands and loaned
me some money 10 speculate with. To
make long story short, went from
one good thing 70 another until made u
lot Of money. ! could sell out today at
$3.50, 600 CuriOusly enough, the tables
are turned now, Bedwjn Is as poor or
almost a. poor as ! was ~ years ago.
but DO IL q queer fellow aud will not
accept auy help ~ my hands. flo wrote
IDe q letter aud told mo frankly that lac
bad worried himself sick waiting foE
NO ~ die, aud be insists on holding nae
30 tho terms " the contract ~ mat
ier " fact, ! think he will die before
DO This waiting for . LIVING maD ~
baeOme subjeet fg tho diasacting Ia
bic IL . pmiaplApia slil bim, aud from
mDtaRl fTtegas N QUA know he 10
dwelling oD Il night aRd day. ain now
on my Bay % I3lstOIi, and u can't got
bin ~ tear W the agreement, which
o0pldu't b. sufgeed anyhow, ~ make
VIII aud iAsgs ny body ~ q eTemato'
~ doD't liko this hing hanging oysr
uie
1his b an sapoIlenes fbai aoss 1ot
00uo ~ many men ~ y lifetime New