The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-05-27
A SCIENTISTS
STARTLING PROOF,
By OSCAR COX.

BY OSCAR cox.
copyright. 1909. by American Press Asso-
ciation.l
The great scientific investigator and
the great financier talked together.
What is death. doctor?" asked the
latter
81 don't know. Formerly we con-
sidered death the separation Of animal
and spiritual life. occurring when the
heart ceased to beat Now we know
that the body lives on after that
period. There are two causes Of bodily
death or corruption-viz. microbes and
self digestion. Microbes cannot act If
not permitted to enter. and self diges-
ton cannot take place except through
the agency Of water. Exclude the mi
crobes, exhaust the water, and, in my
opinion, the body may he kept alive in
definitely. In that case spiritual death
may be eliminated"
A year after this announcement JON
athan Starkweather. the financier, feel
ing ill, sent for DR.. Evan Carroll. the
man who made it. But before the
doctors arrival the patient had died Of
heart failure. Carroll produced an or
der signed by Starkweather twelve
months before for the body. Arthur
Starkweather, the deceased's oldest
son, knew Of the order. respected it,
and the body was transferred to DR..
Carroll's laboratory.
Arthur Starkweather inherited his
fathers fortune, but by the will. in
case of his death without issue. it
was to 60 to DR., Carroll in trust to
endow an institute for scientific re-
search. Two years after getting pos
session of the property Arthur Stark
weather died bachelor. DR.. Carroll
at once put in claim for the estate on
behalf of his institute.
Innumerable Starkweathers sprang
up to contest the will.
A meeting was called, committee
appointed and counsel employed.
A month later counsel informed the
committee that there was no doubt of
their ability to break the will, owing to
a flaw in the deed of trust. The trus-
tees attorneys were so far convinced
Of this that they made an offer to
compromise. The offer was submitted
to a meeting of the heirs-at-law and
unanimously declined.
DR.. Carroll, who was present at the
meeting, arose and stated that there
was some doubt about Jonathan Stark
weather being dead and he might be
capable Of making another will. All
were surprised at what was consid-
cred an absurd bluff on the part of a
man who stood at the head of scien-
tific research in America. Shouts of
"Proofw Produce him" SHOW your
handv' were heard from every quar-
ter. The doctor left the meeting with
out reply, but in few days every
member Of the heirs committee was
invited by him to present himself at
certain hour Of certain day at his
laboratory.
Upon arrival they were ushered into
a dimly lighted unfurnished- room, in
the center of which was a gigantic
test tube similar to those, much small
er, commonly used by experimenters.
In the tube was what resembled
skeleton, though it was rather like
strip Of dried cartilage. The skull,
covered with shriveled flesh, skin and
hair. was the only feature that sug-
gested human being.
The tube was hermetically sealed and
occupied space twelve feet square
by seven feet high, inclosed in plate
glass. A steam pipe appeared coming
up through the floor. DR.. Carroll and
several assistants in sterilized gowns
entered the inclosure. The tempera-
ture was noted and jet Of steam
turned on. Then the sealed end Of
the tube was opened, and after time
the cartilaginous figure began to as
sumo the appearance of a starved hu
man being. Soon after DR.. Carroll
removed it from the tube and placed
it in cushioned easy chair.
The figure finally opened its eyes. but
Immediately closed them. Then. open
ing them again. it fixed them on the
committee. There was something so un.
canny in the stare Of the corpselike
body that several of the committee.
unable to stand it. left the room.
At this point Dr. Carroll asked the
patient how he felt. He opened his
lips to speak. but the only sound that
came was such as is produced by
talking doll. 1t was very distressing,
and more Of the committee went out.
DR.. Carroll opened the door Of the
glass inclosure and asked the commit
tee if they recognized Jonathan Stark
weather. Several committeeman ad-
mitted that they did, but didn't wish
to see any more of him. whereupon
the doctor took from his pocket will,
properly drawn, and handed it to
Starkweather with stylographic pen.
Starkweather signed it, and it was wit
messed by the assistants.
Such is the story whispered among
the younger experimenters at the
Starkweather institute with reference
to the withdrawal of the suit to break
the Starkweather will on payment of
100000 to the heirs Of the $1,000, 900