The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-21
HE DUG UP THE COFFIN
Relative of Samuel Scott, the
Recent Suicide,
Exhumes His Remains to Get
Evidence Necessary
To Prove That j. M Knights Bill for
Burial Expenses was Too Large
O. Sensational Case in Court

When Undertaken J. NJ Knight
short time ago filed suit against Geo
C. Corning for burial expenses or the
latter's brother-in-law, Samuel Scott,
who committed suicide in Topeka, June
2S. 1897, he did not dream that Mr. VIII
Bradbury, who represents Mr. Corn
ing in Topeka, would go to the trouble
to exhurne and examine the body of
the deceased and the material used in
burial, for the purpose of using the
evidence thus gained in defense of the
suit.
But this is exactly what he did, and
the trial, which took place in Justice
w 8 McCIintock's court, was full OF
sensational incidents, and the testfmo-
ny developed some entirely new facts
about the undertaking business
When Samuel Scott committed sui
eide Geo c. Corning telegraphed VIM.
Bradbury, a young farmer living just
south of the city. to attend to the bur
iaI and have the expenses as small as
possible This he endeavored to do.
He filed a statement, also the United
States army discharge papers of Sam
ueI Scott with the old soldiers commit
tee, which consists of J. NJ. Wnkersor.
J. W. Tobias and J. D. Evans They
made an order which was presented tc
Mr.. J. NJ. Knight, giving him inStruc-
tions to bury the body as provided by
law and present his bill, not to exceed
$50, to the county commissioners This
he did The body was put in pine
coffin covered with material some
thing like crepe, with handles COM
posed of lead and tin, a shroud OF black
calico was put round the body and the
remains were taken to Fosters ceme-
terry. south of the city, in Mr.. Knights
free ambulance, and inferred He pre-
sented his bill for $50 to the county
commissioners, and County Auditor W.
-
sworn to by Mr.. knight before County
Clerk Charles T. McCabe and filed with
County Auditor w. E F'agan was as
follows:
sioners: To burial expenses for Sam
Scott, $50 1 do solemnly swear that
the foregoing account is just and cor
rect; is due and remains unpaid; that
the charges herein are the correct
charges for such services and supplies,
dollar for dollar, so help me God.
'+(Signed-) J. NJ KNIGHT
But after getting this $50, Mr.. knight
giving credit for $50 paid from the old
soldiers fund. The bill was referred
back to Mr.. VIM Bradbury, and the
latter refused to pay the SIS asked by
Then Mr. knight brought suit before
Justice McCHntock against George c.
Corning and had attachments issued
for some live stock on the old Corning
he asked that he be given judgment
for s25 with interest, and that the
costs be charged to the defendant
Filed with the petition was the bill
as rendered to Mr.. Corning 1t is as
follows:
ITO George c. Corning Dr.:
To case and box .-.--.............-$4 $46
Burial suit s
Suit undercIothing ....
HearSe .-..-..s........... ;
Empaln1ng "-...--.---.--....-.. Is
oredie r9iai by old soldiers; : fund.:.s5o SO
Balance due $25
When the case came to trial before
Justice McClintock the plaintiff and
his attorney appeared in a confident
mood They commenced the case and
showed up their side of it. But when
the defense sprung it's surprise, the
other side was completely taken back
and did not recover the shock.
On August 10, Mr.. VIM. Brad bury
who is Mr.. George c. Corning's agent
in Topeka, and who had charge of the
burial of Samuel Scott, took Undertak-
ers George B. Palmer and Ed De-
Moss to Fosters cemetery where the
body had been inferred June 29 last
The grave was opened and the coffin
and clothing on the body were exam
fned and small samples of both taken
and they were introduced in evidence
in the trial
This created a sensation when these
articles were introduced IN evidence.
Mr. j. NJ. knight had testified that
the body was buried in a solid cedar
casket covered with heavy broadcIoth
and having on it six solid silver han
dies which cost him SIS a set He said
that the burial robe was OF broadcIoth-
Mr.. George B. Palmer was put on the
witness stand and he said that a living
profit from the burial of Samuel Scott
as made by J. NJ Knight would be $50
to $50 He said that box was of pine
with knots in it, the handles were of
lead and antimony and that the robe
was of black calico. Attorney Herald
tried to get Mr. Palmer to admit that
he had it in" for J. NJ Knight He
denied any such charge.
Ed DeMoss, of the undertaking firm
of DeAIoSs & Penwell, testified to about
the same as Mr. Palmer. He said that
a large profit could be made on the
goods furnished at $25.
As court records in Justice McC1fn-
tock's court. the testimony of Ed De
Moss and George B. Palmer is sum
married. as follows: Handles of tin
and lead worth $5 q dozen Plate on lid
not silver. Coffin not covered with
broadcIoth, but q cloth something like
crepe, worth 40 cents a yard Burial
robe of calico. not broadeloth. worth
less than 80 cents. Coffin top of pine