The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-09-15
INSISTED THAT
CORPSE Be BURIED
Insurance Policy No Good, 1t
Body of Joseph Wilkes
Was Dlssected
AND SO IT'S RESCUED
FROM PICKING VAT
Man Who Died of Consump-
ton at City Home Has
Narrow Escape from
Med Students

Because the insurance com pany in
which he held a small policy would
not honor it unless he were buried.
Joseph Wilkes. sixty years old, will
be inferred this afternoon In Maury
Cemetery, South Richmond, though
no died May 81 last.
The mans death occurred at the
City Home, the cause being tuber-
culosis, When no ono claimed his re-
mains, the body was delivered to the
anatomical board. which turned il
over to the University College of Med
icine. There it was placed in IL pick
ling vat along with a number of
other bodies. awaiting reassembling
of college in the fall. the last session
having come to close the early
part of May.
s~~eral weeks ago Mrs. Laura West
colt. residing on Ninth Street road.
in the suburbs of South Richmond,
began to make inquiries for the body
Wilkes had boarded in her home and
she had nursed him before his con-
ditton became such that he had TO
BE removed to the City Hospital. In
her care, he had left an insurance
policy amounting 10 "A little over $500.
He asked her to have this cashed at
his death and to pay his burial ex-
penses.
Refused to Honor IL.
Mrs. Westcott lost track OF her
ooarder after he was removed from
her home When she learned that
ne was dead. she presented the pol
icy for payment. but the compan ny
refused To honor it. the holder being
unable to ascertain the whereabouts
f.T hA Nx,Itr IN 90
in the college picking vat Then she
called on Or. John w Rroadnax,
president of the anatomical board
He said that he had no objection &c
! the removal OF the body from the
i vat. but inasmGoh as II lay beneath
lnost of the other bodies, she would
/ have to walt until they were taken
/ out at the opening of college. This
was done Wednesday. and SO Mrs
Nestcott sent an undertaken down
yesterday with the proper permit and
rescued the corpse OF her former
/ hoarder from the dissecting knives
" th~ medical students.
| So far as could be ascertained las
night, Joseph Wilkes had no relative.
4 In this country. England being hi.
| native home.
Body Well Preserved.
When removed from the vat the
/ mans body was found to be In al
! excellent state Of preservation, his
features being especially well pre-.
served and easily recognizable though
a bit darkened and dtscolored.
If possible, Mrs. Westoott will 10
! cate his relatives in the old countr,
and notify them that he has beer
given decent burial following hi
narrow escape from the dissectins
room.
This Is the second body In recen
months TO be rescued from a picklin,
vat, Some time last June youns
man from North Carolina came Ii,
to Richmond in quest of his sister
After considera Bile effort. he flnall,
located her corpse In a vat at tn
Medical College of Virginia.
As the brother was without funds
the body was sent home and givei
a respectable burial at the expens
of charitable woman of Richmond
whose identity was not disclosed. Thi
case attracted much attention and wa
accorded considerable space in TIL
press.