The morning call., 1895-02-11

troversy that occurred over the body, even
before it was cold in death. The conflict
occurred between rival undertakers actu-
ally in the room where the corpse was
lying.
Tomkins had been ailing for some time
and was attended by his closest friend,
Edward Adds, who had been his COM
panion for the past thirty years. About
two weeks ago he called in DR.. III. III.
Kugeler of 1865 Mission street, who paid
seven visits to the bedside of the patient,
including the last one, when he found him
dead.
When Adds, who is an employe of a
local shoe manufacturer and dealer, found
that his old friend was dead he laid out the
remains tenderly and went to the parlors
of the Union Undertaking Company to
make arrangements for the funeral, which
he soon completed.
"Then / went back" said Adds yester-
day, with Mr.. Taylor, who was a friend
of mine. The doctor came and wanted his
money for his services. Well, l opened
the trunk of the dead man and got his
money, which was exactly $475 in gold
coin.
DIR. Keugler said that he wanted
$40 Of it-that was $40 a visit. Well, did
not know any better and l let him reach
over and take three $40 pieces and a $40
piece.
''About this time Mr.. Burrell of the
Union Undertaking Company arrived to
take charge of the body, with my order
for the same. No one was better author
lied, so far as l knew, to give such an
order.
"As soon as the doctor found that there
was so much money in sight he went out
and telephoned to another undertaken a
man named Suhr, | have since learned.
The people that Mr.. Taylor and I had
selected TO conduct the funeral were held
at bay until he came with an assistant.
He was armed only with the certificate of
death signed by DR.. Kugeler. l endeav-
ored to interfere, but the landlord and a
man named Schmidt, who keeps a saloon
at the corner of Dupont and California
streets, told me that l could be sent to San
Quentin for ten years if l did not keep
quiet.
Il did not know the laws of the country
very well, and they frightened me nearly
out of my wits. The doctor supported
still more, for / thought a professional
man here was somebody, as they are in my
country.
s'The upshot was that after much dis
graceful haggling and direct threats on the
part of Suhr to send me to the peniten-
tiary for ten years l was completely con-
fused, and he took the body, / suppose, be-
cause the Union people did not get it,
The Public Administrator was notified
of the state of affairs, and deputy was
dispatched to the scene of the battle over
the dead.
He was quite severe on Adds for paying
the $40 to DR.. Kugeler and demanded to
know why he had touched any of the
effects of the deceased. When Adds said
4 1o,<~
pacified and took possession of the $405
which was left and the other effects left by
Tomkins.
He learned that the body was at the es-
tablishment of Suhr, and it will remain
for the Public Administrator to decide
which undertaken will bury the unfortu-
nate, who never did any one more harm
than to die.
Burrell stated that he went up with an
assistant to fill the order which he had
from Adds, whom he thought and still
thinks had right to give the order.
The Union Company will make an effort
to get the remains this morning, which
Mr.. Suhr says he will resist to the last ex-
tremity.
In the meantime Adds is trembling lest
he should be sent to San Quentin for ten
years by DR.. Kugeler, Schmidt and Under
taker Suhr.
He appears to be highly wrought up as
to what disposition will be made Of the re-
mains OF his friend.
DR.. Keugler was seen at his residence
last evening and declared that he was in
no way connected with the row among the
undertakers.
'T was called to attend Tomkins some
weeks ago, and have been treating him
since, or up to the time of his death" said
the doctor. In all made seventeen visits
and performed two operations. When
was called in this morning l arrived about
10 clock, when the man was dead, having