Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-12
WOMAN DEMANDS
HUSBANDS BODY
CAUSES SCENE AT PACIFIC
HOSPITAL
AUTHORITIES REFUSE TO GRANT
HER REQUEST
Action Filed by Wife Twenty-four
Hours Before Death Asking An
nuIment of Agreement
of Separation

Mrs. Beulah V. Axtell, 1921 Santa
Cruz street, who filed a suit in the
superior court Wednesday asking for
the annulment of a separation agree
ment entered into between herself and
husband, Clifton Axtell, well known
attorney, caused a scene at the Pa
cifie hospital yesterday afternoon, when
she demanded the body of her husband,
who died at 1926 o'clock yesterday
afternoon.
The hospital authorities refused to
surrender the body to her and after
a stormy discussion between Mrs. AK
tell, an attorney and an undertaken,
whom she had taken with her, on one
side and the hospital management on
the other, II. G. Talbert, an artist liv-
ing at the Hotel Seville, a friend of
the dead man, was summoned and he
also refused to allow her to take the
body
Talbert was appointed as executor of
the estate of Axtell and had instruc-
tions, 1t is asserted, not to allow Mrs.
Axtell, who has been separated from
her husband for some time, to have
anything to do with the funeral ar
rangements.
Mrs. Axtell insisted on having pos
session of the body and declared that
the hospital authorities had no right
to refuse to deliver it to her. On the
arrival of Talbert he curtly informed
Mrs. Axtell that she would not be al
lowed to interfere with the wishes of
the dead man and after a heated dis
cussion ordered her from the hospital.
The woman left the place declaring
it was a plan to keep her from sharing
the property of her dead husband.
Soon after she had gone the body was
removed to the undertaking estab
iishment of Bresee Brothers on the
orders of Talbert and the funeral ar
rangements will be made later.
Allows Wife $50 Monthly
The agreement which Mrs. Axtell
wished to have set aside in the suit she
filed less than twenty-four hours before
the death of her husband was entered
into May and stfpulates on the part
of the petitioner that her husband may
reside where he desires and with any
person he wishes. She agreed not TO
interest herself in his business affairs,
not to contract any debts in his name,
nor to bring any proceedings for main
tenance or alimony. Axtell made the
same stlpulations with reference to his
wife, and in consideration of her keep
ing her promises he agreed to give his
wife $50 a month and purchase lot
and house in which she should have
lifetime interest and be hers in the
event of his death.
Mrs. Axtell asked for an annulment
of the agreement on the ground that
she was unduly influenced and because
of the failure of her husband to keep
certain oral promises.
Axtell was a sufferer from stomach
trouble for several years. He contln-
,,oa 20 'grour vvorea and was sent to the
Pacific hospital month ago. He grad
ually lost strength and five days ago
became unconscious. He never rallied
from his state of coma and died shortly
after 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
His wife learned of his death and
Immediately made arrangements TO
take charge of the body. On the re-
fusal of the hospital authorities and
Talbert to allow her to have it she be-
came greatly angered and it is thought
she will bring legal action.