The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-06-16
A FINE POINT.
Regarding Railway Tickets is Forever
Settled.

fosey, lnd., rode 10 East IT. Louis
on round-tnp ticket, died there
and was brought back a corpse on
the stub. The auditor cf the road
ierked the conductor up and a cor
respondence between officials be-
gan. Finally it fell into the hands
of j. ID. Wellman, OF New Albany,
assistant attorney Tor the railroad.
He saw the vanity Of pursuing the
case further and disposed OF it as
follows:
"Mr. r. A. Campbell, G. p. A., St.
Louis, Mo-:
"Dear Sir: | understand that
John Smith bought a tirst-class tick
ct from Posey to East st. Louis and
return, and before the 80 days
limit on the return portion expired,
John Smith died, and that the re-
turn part of the ticket was rendered
for transportation of the remains or
body of John Smith back to Posey.
Information does not disclose
whether the body OF John Smith
was enclosed by coffin and box, or
what the additional weight or ex-
cess of coffin and box was. When
Smith went 10 East st. Louis he
had a right TO carry with him GER
tain amount of excess baggage,
made up Of the necessary wearing
apparel, ETC., incident to the trip.
Whether a coffin and box would be
such usual and necessary apparel
has not to my knowledge been de-
cided. Ii man should start out to
die while on the trip coffin might
well be part OF the necessary bag
gage. | would not like to be the
general passenger agent, however,
who advertised to carry collins as
part of the necessary baggage over
my route.
"The baggage question we will
pass up Tor the present for more
important one. That John Smith
went from Posey to East st. Louis
there is no doubt, but did he ever
come back, or is John simply some
where asleep at the SWITCH
"That ticket was good only for
John Smith. Now, did John pre-
sent himself at the proper place and
time to be carried back to Posey, or
if John was OF tender years, or non
compos, who was in charge of him?
81 presume that the auditing de-
partment takes the position that
John Smith did not return to Posey,
but that he went To New jerusalem
and | do not find that station on
the Airline time card, although II
do find Golden Gate short dis
tance east of Posey. Another ques-
ton arises: Does a contract OF car.
riage limit the transportation 10 the
asbestos soul, or the spiritual part
OF man, or do you, by the sale of a
ticket, contract to carry safely to
the place of destination, the body
as well as the spirit, or both?
Numerous actions have resulted
in recoveries against the carrier for
failure to transport the body safely !
for instance, on account of some
personal injury, but there is no ease
where damages have been awarded
for damage To tina. part of man that
ives on forever and can not be
damaged even by railroad com
Dany.
The auditing department is liable
o heresies, also every undertaken,
or | have heard the skilled doctors
i divinity, standing at the head OF
coffin, say that Mr.. So-and so was
,nly asleep in some ones arms
hat he is not dead but sleepeth.
{ this be true, John Smith was en-
tiled to be carried back TO Posey
md it was the duty of the conduc-
or to wake him up on arrival OF
he train at that station.
The auditor has in his favor a.
general rule adopted by most rail
Dad companies, that when perl
on presents himself, enclosed in al
.oflin and box with handles on the
outside to assist in dropping him
,ently on the baggage truck, and a
certificate of the doctor pasted on
he lid saying in dead language
hat all specifics had failed-that
'ome friends, or the county, must
purchase a first class ticket, across
which is written the word Corpse.
This ticket, though first-class, does
not en;i,le him to ride in the parloi
.ar, or even the smoker, but only
n the baggage car. Such person
may really be entitled to walk the
golden streets or fly about the azure
lone, but in this instance, the bag
gage master finds him place where
ne can hear the music of wheels
md low joints. | feel sure the