The Topeka state journal., 1897-08-21

with knots in it. Coffin worth SO. Robe
undertaking. etc, worth SIS. Usual
price for ambulance s. So All expenses
worth $25.''
The fact that J. NJ knight had sworn
upon the stand that the coffin was of
cedar, the handles of solid silver and
the robe and coffin covering of broad
cloth, and the testimony of Messrs.
Palmer and DeMoss that the coffin was
of pine, the handles of tin, the coffin
covering of crepe and the burial robe
OF calico. the actual samples taken di-
rect from Samuel Scott's grave exhibit
ed in the court room, created a sensa-
ton
Speaking of the case, Undertaken Ed
DeMoss, who was one of the witnesses
who went with Mr.. VIII Bradbury to
Fosters cemetery. and examined the
remains and burial material of Samuel
Scott, said: Mr. Bradbury, Mr. Palm
er and myself went out to the cemetery.
Ihey had already opened the grave.
The body was in a horrible shape and
looked as if it hadn't been embalmed
at all The glass 6n the lid of the
coffin had fallen in on the face of the
man. We found that the coffin
had a white pine lid with poplar
mouIdings and sides of some other kind
of wood but not cherry. 1t was cover
ed with some sort of cloth which is very
cheap and is not broadcloth. The han
dies were not silver If they were
bought for more than S5 a dozen the
man who purchased them wasn't a
good buyer. We sawed out a piece of
the coffin and took one of the handles
off 1t broke right in our hands If
they had been solid silver handles they
would have cost over $500 and there
isn't a pair of them in the city of To-
peka- The little frost plate on the lid
with the words AT Rest was cheaper
than those which can be bought for
$1-35 a dozen We ticketed each piece
which we took from the grave and all
signed it. We cut off piece of the
burial robe and found it was black
Calico
Undertaken George B. Palmer who
was also with Mr.. Bradbury at the time
the grave of Samuel Scott was opened.
said: We found the body in very bad
shape The coffin was of pine and the
handles of tin. The burial robe was
black calico which would cost about 90
to 30 cents The coffin box was covered
with sort of cloth like crepe which
would cost about 40 cents a. yard. We
took part of the robe, a piece of the
GQrf1n and part of a handle which was
broken The coffin wasn't lifted by the
handles for they wouldn't have stood
it. All the pieces we brought back with
US were introduced in evidence in the
trial.
It is rumored that George C. Corn
ing intends to bring a criminal action
against Undertaken J. NJ knight for
making false affidavit of expenses and
attempting to collect more than the law
allows for such cases. The case deveI-
oped considerable of the tricks of the
trade" in regard to the burial of poor
people and the friends and relatives of
his relatives Mr.. and Mrs. George G.
corning, who were well and favarabI
known in Topeka, are very fndfgnanf
The committee of old soldiers who pass
on such cases, is said to be making an
investigation of the case, and it bids
fair to assume some very sensat tfonaI
features before it is ended
Justice W 8 McClintock refused to
give J. NJ knight Judgment for s25
against George C. Corning for which
the suit was brought