The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-03-17

IT anyone had told poor McSWegan that
he was going 10 be buried in patent leather
shoes and dress suit in $3.50 casket, with
a chestnut box" on the outside. and that
he was going 70 be shaved for the occasion
al a cost Of 50. he would probably have died
many years before of shock And not only
that, but SIS for 'refres hments'' at the
wake, which, OF course, Miss Margaret
would not dispense with under any circum-
stances with that $4,000 In the house
But beyond seeing the old man decent
ly put under ground, Miss Margaret took
no particular interest in the hoard. She is
as free from the love of money for moneys
sake as her uncle was ridden with it. and
50 she turned over everything to William
N. Hoes, the public administrator, in or
der that she and her cousins. of whom
there are eight, nephews and nieces of the
old man, might share and share alike. As
there is only one cousin in this country
the others living in Australia and ireland.
this incident shows with particular force
that Miss Margaret inherits none Of the
mercenary faint from her uncle.
Unfortunately for the undertakers. how
ever, Margaret turned over the $4,000 be-
fore she mad liquidated the bill for the fine
funeral, and when they presented II to Mr.
Hoes, thauOfficial promptly declined to
pay It. on7the score that It was exorbitant
and not In keeping with manner of life
to which McSwegan had been accustomed.
Mr. Hoes paid $3.50 on account June 49, 1894
and sent written notice of his intention
to contest the remainder of the bill.
The undertakers then assigned their
claim to the National Casket Company,
which, after looking over the items which
constituted the bill. withdrew the SIS for
refreshments at funeral house." and made
demand for the balance. But the public
administrator declined to pay this balance
uhtll IL was sanctioned by the court. Will
liam II. Willis, a lawyer of lis Broadway
was appointed referee to pass upon the
business of the bill, and he yesterday made
a report sustaining the validity of the
claim, and directing that the bill be paid
incidentally, Mr.. Willis discourses rather
Interestingly on what was due McSwegan
in the funeral way, but this will probably
bring small consolation to the deceased
gentleman's spirit, for, sad to relate, now
not only must the undertaken be paid out
Of the cherished hoard, but Mr. Willis
must get in addition, a good fee for himself
not to mention the lawyers But, as to Mr..
Willis opinion, for which he is to be
paid out of the S47 600, Il runs:
"A burial Of some sort is, of course, a
necessary thing, and in providing the same
an executor or administrator is entitled to
be allowed such expenditures as may be
reasonable and proper in view of the So
cial condition and wealth of the deceased.
cases except that every person is entitled
to decent burial II the property which
he has left will Justify It. AS against those
entitled to the estate as legatees or next of
kin, an executor or administrator, while he
is not justified in extravagant outlay, is
not restricted to the bare necessities of
the case, as he is where the rights of
creditors intervene.
Although McSwegan had been misery
in his habits, his mode of life had been
purely voluntary and by no means indi-
cative of his real condition in life Had
he so desired he could have lived in ease
and comfort The mere fact that he chose
to do otherwise. and by his parsimon-
ious habits to accumulate a very consider
able fortune should not be urged as a rea-
son why his funeral should likewise be
mean. His actual, not his assumed condi-
ton should control In determination what
was decent and suitable for his burial"
Not the least interesting feature of the
whole affair is that five of the heirs
pressed from the start for the payment
~ Ia "a