The evening times., 1898-03-17
BURIAL OF THE LIVING.
Premature Interment Is Discussed
by Doctors and Lawyers.


New York, March T.-Physicians and
lawyers discussed premature burial in
the Marlborough Hotel last night. The
occasion was the March meeting Of the
Medico-LegaI Society. There were many
women present.
II. Gerald Chaplin. lawyer, read pa
per. He prepared a bill to prevent pre-
mature buTials. which was introduced in
the legislature by Assemblyman Reding-
ton, on March T. and which is now in
committee
He stated that he had studied the ques-
tion closely, and was sure that prema-
ture burial was possible though rare
All who entered the discussi ln which
followed agreed that premature burial
may occur. excepting Mr.. Carl HaVser,
who said he doubted If there ever was an
authentic case
He was promptly cOntradicted by Mrs.
Ida Trafford Bell, who arose and said:
at may seem unusual for n woman to
take part in such a discussion as this
but | feel called upon to show Mr.. Hau-
ser that he is wrong: ] am a living ex-
ample of the possibility of being buried
alive.
81 was prepared for burial. and was
about to be carried to a hearse when
signs of life were discovered. and j was
saved from the most awful fate that
can be conceived.
Mr.. Hauser says truly that il doctors
do their duty premature burial is i'm
possible. They did not do their duty in
my case. The bill prepared by Mr.. Cha
pin may save but one person from such
a fate. The saving of one will more than
compensate for all the trouble the bill
may cause 10 doctors. undertakers and
public officers"
Mr.. Chaplin read the Redington bill
which provides for mOrtuaries with ply
sicians in attendance at cemeteries and
Crematories, for the keeping of bodies for
seVenty-two hours after death. and fer
tests of death by physicians by making
inCisions into arteries. by the seeking of
a transparent appearance in the hand
by the holding of "A mirror before the
mouth. by the holding of heated iron
against the skin. and by an examin alton
of the eyes. In the bill a physician iS
made guilty of misdemeanor if he ne
elects to make the tests free of charge
and the manager Cf a cemetery who dis-
obeys the proposed law is to be fined g.
GOO
Dr. II. j. Garigues. Clark Bell. former
Surrogate \. II. Daley, and others, ap-
proved the passage of such n bill. 81
though each suggested some alteration in
the bill as drawn.
There was To have been report by 4
committee on the case of Captain Drcy-
fus. Clark Bell stated that the committee
would not be ready to report until next
month, but he said he felt that the pub
liCity of what seemed to be the sad spec
tacle of France attempting to blind iIs-
tice and to stihe an investigation that mad
brought .Iscredit to the nation made il
necessary for the society TO take some
formal notice of the case.
Former Coroner NJ. Elinger recited the
history of the case, and former Surrogate
Daley said:
"The methods adopted by French courts
to convict Dreyfus and Zola are an out
rage on civilization, None could read of
the trial of Zola without Indignation.
This society should condemn that action.
We are few, but no fewer than the little
band of libertyloving people who started
the movement against slavery in this
country.
I'VE can enter n protest as intelligent
people against this race prejudice, ignor-
ance and corruption. 1t is a little out
side the object of this society to do so.
but ii is all we can do. i desire to have
a full and complete report on this case
from our committee