Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-10-08
AGENT KOONTT'S VERSION
Of the Mistake in Sending the Body to
New MartinSVlll0i
From the Weston Hospital for the
Insane-Alleges That DR.. Crum-
hacker Made Several Incorrect
Statements in His Letter to the
Register.

Mr.. r. KoOntZ, the express agent at
New Martinsville, who handled the tel
egrams sent to and from that town,
concerning the shipment of the remains
of a patient of the Weston Hospital for
the Insane to New Martinsville, has
furnished the Register with copy of
a letter which he sent to DR.. w. P.
Crumbacker, Superintendent OF the
Hospital. 1t will be seen that Mr..
Koontz takes issue with DR.. Crum-
hacker on TWO points.
First, DR.. Crumbacker states that
the name used in the kilograms which
he received from Mr.. Koontz, was
Mrs. Blamer" Mr.. Kootz says 1t was
Mrs. Bleuer"
Second, Mr.. Koontz alleges that DR..
Crumbacker's statement was mislead-
ing, in that it conveyed the impression
that there is no patient in the Hospital
from Green Hill, with name similar
to Mrs. Blamer; whereas Mrs. Anna
Blair or Bleuer has been there since
1885.
Mr.. Kootzs letter follows:
New Martinsville, October Z.
DR.. w. p. Crumbacker, Supt. Hospital
Insane. Weston, w. Va:
Dear Sir:-Your letter of October 9TH
lust received and l hasten to reply
herewith give copies OF all kilograms
received from and sent you in regard
TO remains of Mrs. Blamer. Your first
telegram reads:
Weston. w. Va, Oct. l, 1895.
To John Blamer, Green Hill, w. va:
(By special messenger from New Mar
tinsville)
Mrs. Blamer dead; instruct regarding
remains. If sent home, have express
agent guarantee charges, stating
amount.
(Signed) W.P. CRUMBACKER,
Supt.
There is a Mrs. Blair or Bleuer from
Green Hill" an elderly lady about "A
years Of age, who is now and has been
an inmate of your hospital since Sept.
1885.
The husbands name of Mrs. Blair or
Bleuer was John Blair" or Bleuer, who
died recently, and his home and post
Office address is Green Hill, We,Zel
County. w. Va. Your telegram was
delivered to Mr.. Joseph Blair or Bleuer,
as he spells his name, being the way
the name is spelled in German.
Mr.. Joseph Bleuer who lives near
"Green Hill" is a son Of the Mrs. Blair
or Bleuer. now an inmate Of your hos
pital While there was a very slight
difference in the spelling of the name,
Blair or Bleuer, from Blamer, every
thing else indicated that your telegram
was intended for Mr. John Bleuer, OF
Green Hill, and taken in connection
with the fact that Mrs. Blair or Bluer,
from Green Hill" is an inmate OF your
bospital. the family could come TO no
other conclusion that that the tele-
gram was intended for them. AS you
asked for guarantee of express charges
on remains Mr.. Joseph Bleuer re-
ouested me as agent Of the express
company here to send you the telegram
directing the remains to be forwarded
here. guaranteeing charges. Inc
following message sent you, and
please note how the word "Bleuer' as
mere written in my message to you,
and not Blamer, as you seem to have II.
To w. p. Crumbacker, Supt., Weston
w. Va:
Forward Mrs. Bleuer's remains here
first express; money deposited to pay
expressage.
Your reply to this message was as
follows: - w
10 H. Koontz, New Martinsville, W.
Va: .-,,.
Must guarantee undertaken
charges. stating limits.
CSigneO w. P. CRUMBACKER.
After receiving this telegram it was
immediately referred to MIR. Jacob
Blair. who instructed me to send uhe
following answer: -
To W. P. Crumbacker, Suptp weston
w. Va:
Undertaker's charges are guaranteed
not to exceed thirty-iive dollars.
no fc;9reO H. KOONTZ.
As soon as it was discovered that the
ran,ains were not those Of Mrs. Blair or
RIeuer from Green Hill" the follow
ing message was sent you;
To w. p. Crumbacker, Supt. Hospital,
Weston, w. Va:
Cornse YOU sent here is not Mrs.
p1oTere - will return corpse first train.
(Signed) H. KO0NTZ,
Agent.
please note that the name in the
above telegram was written and sent
Bleuer and not Blamer.
The remains you sent here may De
"Sqrab E. Blamer" as no given name
was given in your telegram. The family
of Rlair or Bleuer could not detect any
error from that. Anna Blair or Bleuer
is who the family supposed your mes
sage referred to.
You seem TO be under mlsap-
nrebension as to my connection
with the case. l have no
wife or relative at your hos
niral As YOU asked for guarantee Of
evnress charges il became necessary
for me to send the telegram IN my
name as the agent for the Express
COMPANY. which was done at the re-
ouest of Mr.. Joseph Bleuer Cthis is the
way he spells his name) OF Green Hill,
w Va. Ny only connection IN this
matter has been as agent for the Ex-
press Company, and telegraphing for
the family of Mrs. Blair or Bleuer.
In your article in Sundays Register
YOUR statement, while perhaps not in
tended. is nevertheless misleading in
that it conveys the idea that there is
no person in your hospital from
Green Hill" by any name similar TO
Mrs. Blamer. while II is no doubt true
that Mrs. Anna Blair or Bleuer is now
and has been there since September,