The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-18
FAMILY REFUSED
TO CLAIM BODY
Brother OF Miss Ola Thaxton
Now Finds That 1t Was Sent
to Medical College.
TELEGRAMs ARE ON RECORD
Health and State Anatomical
Boards Show Disposition
Made OF 1t.

Examination of the records on file
in the Health Department and at the
Joseph W. Bliley Undertaking Com
pany yesterday showed tina, the body
OF Miss Ola Tha%ton. OF Raleigh. y. c..
who died at the City Home on March
30. was delivered to the State Ana
tomical Board on May 10 and sent TO
the Medical College of Virginia. Tel
ograms are on file in the office OF Chief
OF Police Werner showing that rela-
tives OF the woman had refused 10 take
the body, despite the fact that Miss
Thaxton's brother. Lee Thaxton. who
was In the city yesterday. complained
that the family was not notified of her
death until three weeks after II oc-
Cured
The messages In the chiefs office
were sent BY Chief }. =. stcll OF Ra
ieigh. OF whom the nrst inquiries were
made. In tho fig; chile: Stell said that
the body would be sent for. but shortly
lftcr another message was received to
the effect that her father John Thax
on, would no, receive 1t. Both tele-
grams were dated March 80
Fnmi!y Would Not Take IL.
According 10 q statement made yes
terday afternoon by Frank Bnley.
member OF the Undertaking establish
ment. the body was turned over to his
"rm by tho Clty Home. and that every
snort was .1aue to place il In the
'ihnis OF relatives, without avail. After
ho.Glne II al tAeii own expense mem
hers OF the hrm delivered IL TO the
state Anatomicsi Board. TO be used for
experimental purposes In the medical
colleges. the Health Board record
.nows, that IL Was delivered TO the
-!eiitai College of Virginia on May 10.
Mr. ThaMton stated yesterday that
h" came 10 the city FOR the purpose OF
coating his sisters body bat that he
had teen unable to get satisfaction
from any one connected with the case
.-r. Biiey. on tho other hand. stated
most emphatically that he had ex-
pressed the desire TO talk with Mr.
Th1Hton. but that he had not been able
20 sec him He said that the posi-
hilities were the body had no, been
used by the college and that 1t nigh;
be :uCdvored
Turned over TO Board.
We received the body on March 80
from the city home" said Mr. Blney.
We immediately communicated with
relatives in Raleigh, and received a
telegram from Miss Thaxton's father
Sty!ls that he would have nothing 10
90 with the body. Later we got into
Communication with ner brother. tell
ing MIN that she probably could be
buried decently for SIS or $50. bu,
i'ctived no reply 70 that letter After
holding the body for about three weeks
we again located her brother and
wrote him that unless ne made some
arrangements Tor its disposition we
would have to turn il over to the Ana
iomicdi Board. as the law required.
lie then wrote requesting us not 10
take that course. adding that he would
he IN the city in two or three davs TO
take he matter ny. Not hearing any
thing more. there was nothing for us
TO 40 but to deliver the body 10 the
Anatomical Board, which was done.
Rendered No BnI.
There is absolutely no foundation
10 the report that we ever rendered
bin to Miss Thaxton's father. The
Tact Is we bore the expense of pre-
serving and taking care OF the BODY.
Had II been possible We would gladly
nave buried il in the potter's field but
we could not Obtain permission from
the city"
Information concerning Miss Thax-
tons movements while in Richmond
are meagre. she is said TO have board
ed on Seventeenth Street and to have
been employed in one of the tobacco
factories. She spent five days in the
CITY Home. and the records there show
mat she died OF lobar pneumonia.