Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1894-10-20
SOLD HIS BODY.
The Party of the Second Part Did No
Have n Cinch. After All.


Have n Cinch, After All.
In tho month of March, 1882, the fol-
lowing agreement was drawn up i'll the
city of Boston:
This agreement witncsScth: That
Henry Bayles Grahamc. 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
of the first part, and to make such dis
position of the said body of the party OF
the first part rs he, the said Robert J.
Bedwin, the party of the second part,
may see fit and proper. and tho said
Henry Bayles Grahame, the party of the
first part. hereby invests the party of the
second part, the aforesaid Robert j.
Bedwin, 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 in con-
sideration of the sum of five hundred
dollars $4,000, the receipt of which the
said Henry Bayles Grahame herewith
acknowledges this 18th day of March.
A. ID. 1852. "
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 up in good faith, and
the parties to it fully intended to live
up to its provisions.
Henry Bayles Grahamc was n dry
goods clerk in Boston l2 years ago. He
received meager compensation for his
service and lived in a little attic room
in Cambridge Bedwin was 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 of his intellectually, and.
second, because he appeared to be ap-
preaching the last stages of consump-
ton. The second reason for the liking
was rather grewsomc one, but Bedwin
was what might be called u crank on
the subject of dissection. and as well 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 IF discus
sion over it, and eventually Bedwin
made the proposition which resulted in
the drawing up of the agreement with
out the aid of a lawyer. There was no
stipulation rs to what the sick and APP
parently dying man should do with the
money, so he Immediately expended
part Of it in paying six months board
in advance in the Adirondacks.
Henry Bayles Grahaine showed his
copy Of this agreement to the writer yes
terday. He looked like a man i'll fairly
good health-not rugged. to be sure, but
far from dying man. My recovery
was simply miracle. said he. AT
the time accepted that money was SO
poor that hadn money enough TO bny
medicine, even if l got medical attend
ance for nothing. was glad to take il
Just to have little comfort in what
supposed We're my last days. i got well
enough TO leave the mountains i'll eight
months and went to St. Paul. where
got q place i'll real estate Office, and
was lucky enough TO assist my employer
in saving several thousand dollars by the
discovery of some forged deeds. He gave
me tip on western lands and loaned
me some money to speculate with To
make long story short, l went from
one good thing to another until made a
lot of money. could sell out today at
$50, 600. Curiously enough, the tables
are turned now Bedwin is rs poor or
almost as poor rs i was l2 years ago,
but he is u queer fellow and will not
accept any help at my hands. He wrote
me a letter and told me frankly that he
had worried himself sick waiting for
me to die, and he insists on holding me
to the terms of the contract As mat
ter of fact, think he will die before !
do. This waiting for living man to
become subject for the dissecting ia
BILE is monomania with him, and from
mutual friends of ours l know he is
dwelling OH it night and day am now
on my way To Boston. and if can't get
him to tear mp the agreement, which
couldn't be enforced anyhow, I'll make
will and leave my body to cremato-
~. don't like this thing hanging over
me.
This is an experience that does not
come to many men i'll lifetime. New
York Mail and Express