New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-03
FIGHT FOR AN OLD MANS BODY.
AN oBDURATE LANDLADY WITH AN UNSETTLED
BILL CAUSES RUMPUs

AN OBDURATE LANDLADY WITH AN UNSETTLED
BILL CAUSES A RUMPUs.
Isaac Blitzenstein, an aged Russian died at No.
so Jefre ;on-st.. on Monday. His landlady. MIS-
Harris Neumann, with whom the old man had lived
for a long time. informed the Moscow Verein, to
which Btzenstein belonged and the members
made arrangements for the funeral which was TO
take place on Tuesday. The only known relatives
Of the dead man were sister. who 1t Is said. lives
In Brooklyn and wife and five children In Russia
When the merters Of the lodge arrived on Tues
day. all decked out In the regalia OF their order'
they prepared to remove the body. Just as the
pallbearers were taking the coffin out or the
souaid room the door was blocked by the portly
form Of Mrs. Neumann. who said she had little
bill that would have to settled before any funeral
could take place. She then asked for $2o. IS due on
a board bill and $22 for the use OF her nat as a
place to die In and rental for the room wnere the
wake was held Her demand threw the assembled
throng into on uproar, and the funeral was tempo
rarily abandoned Many Of those present had quit
work In the sweatshops for the nay. and when they
sew their day had been wasted they were much ex-
cited The officers OF the lodge pleaded with Mrs
Neumann. and finding this no good they threat-
ened For four hours they wrangied, Dut she wouu
not give in. Finally the members decided 10 ho'u
meeting and vote s25 OF the treasury to pay the
woman On Wednesday the meeting was held' ana
here the discussion broke out anew II was not
over when the meeting adjourned. and on THURSDAY
the case was again taken up. 1t was nnaHy oe-
cided that the lodge should again assemble yester
day morning. and If Mrs. Neumann did not reduce
the amount of her claim they would bury the pody
regardless Of her wishes.
At 10 o'clock the neghbcrs again assembled. anu
IN small groups discussed the situation. one OF
the officers rendered Mrs. Neumann sio. pu. h she
refused. saying she would 60 TO cGurt Stnr%nnd IS
to move the body, when new comphcaiions n de-
manded that all. of the property ,S SSd tne ,.
dead man be given to her or the IN, ~
neral could not go on. All the property IN signt
was a few trnkets and an old chest meg S, WIN un
and Lena went to the Madison;st police h stat1n 1n,
and complained to Sergeant McSweenie. VINO sent sent
Policeman Shine to investigate AZ the same u u,e me
the sergeant called up the Public administrators
by telephone and told him OF the wrange over tne
dead mans effects The .Administrator sent deP s
time the neighborhood was aroused. ana presentsu
much the appearance OF the exciting times OF tne e
strike Men and women wildly gestculated ana
in foreign tongues conden ned the hard-hearted
Seeing that Policeman Shine did not intend ID, TO TO
decided after final consultation. to storm the
tenement and take the body by force. This was
done Mrs Neumann was carried from the room,
screaming and protesting. and the body nnailv
old mans friends. not Including the landlady or
the sister. followed on foot to Cypress Hill Gene
tery where the burial was made with all the
elaborate ceremony of the verein. II there Is any
part of the 800 insurance. which Is due from the
lodge left after the funeral expenses are paid. 1t
WIKI be sent to the widow and children. IN Russia,
unless Mrs. Neumanns calm Is honored In the