Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-01-30
DOCTOR SUES UNDERTAKEN.
Unseennly Quarrel Over Negro Wo
mans Insurance Money.


A doctor and an undertaken, repre-
senting professions that are usually
harmonious in their relations, have
entered into legal combat in a LEGAL
magistrates court The bone Of con-
tention Is an insurance policy for $40
on the life of a colored woman who
died some time since. The undertaken
who buried the woman charged $S2
for his services, and the doctor in the
case attended the woman prior to her
death, to the amount of SIS worth.
The undertaken has the insurance pol
icy in his custody, and the doctor has
caused claim and delivery papers to
be served upon the former for the
paper. 1t Is an unusual case, perhaps
the first Of the kind that has been
tested here, and the relative merits
of the affair will be argued before the
magistrate on next Monday after
noon.
The story Is quite an interesting
one, and Is not unmixed with both
humor and sadness. Several weeks ago
an old negress. one OF the ante-bel-
lum, proud and aristocratic man.
miles," fell Ill. A doctor, young fell
low who finished college quite recent
ly and is just starting out on the up
ward climb. was called in to attend
the old woman. For some time he at
tended her, but the will Of Destiny
was that the old nanny should leave
this troublesome world.
In her last hours the old darky
called to her bedside a son. named
Andy (not Andrew, and expressed to-
him her earthly desire. This last wish
was that she he accorded a decent
burial. The spirit Of pride in her,
probably engendered when a young
slave in the service of an aristocratic
family of southern white folks re-
mained in her bosom to the last. She
told her son that even though she
was a poor darky she didn't want to|
be buried in the potter's field. Il wants
a decent burial" my son. land here Is
my insur'nce policy dat 1 wants you
to pay my fun'al expenses Wild" And
with that the old darky drew forth a
policy for $40 on her life, which she
turned owe rto her son.
The old negress was accorded a roy
al burial the entire outlay costing 1872.
The old woman's son turned the in
surance policy over to the undertaken
for collection, he to take out his costs
and turn the balance Of $S over to the
colored man.
In the meantime the young doctor
who attended the old negress notl-
fed the undertaken that he had bill
for $40 against the insurance policy.
Thirty-two dollars for burial expenses
and $40 for doctors fee made $42;
and that was 81 in excess Of the
policy. How was the matter to be
adjusted?
The undertaken generously came to-
the rescue and. 1t Is said, offered to
deduct 81 from his bill. This would
make the undertaker's dues $50 and
the doctors $40, which would con-
sumo the entire amount of the pol
icy. Time passed on, and the un-
dertaker filed the claim with the in
surance company.
Insurance policies such as the old
negress had are not always collected
Immediately, and some Of them, 1t Is
said are never collected. 1t took sew
eral weeks for the undertaken to COL
lect this particular policy, and In the
meantime. it is alleged. the doctor
raised the amount of his bill from $40
to SIS. 1t is stated that because the
doctor took this action the undertaken
refused to honor the bill.
And that is why the claim and de-
livery papers have been served by the
doctor upon the undertaken, the for
mer Is trying to exact what he claims
is due him from the latter by process
Of law. Claim and delivery papers
can only be issued for the recovery
OF personal property, and In this In
stance the insurance policy Is the
property sued for.
In the midst of the turmoil, how
ever, the old negress is sleeping peace
fully I'm the "cullud folks cemet'y;'
she was accorded a decent burial in
accordance with her last earthly wish.
The $40 she left behind is in an un-
certain state, and when the under
taker gets his share, the doctor his
share and the lawyers on either side
their shares there won't be enough
left to erect a tombstone to mark the
last resting place Of the faithful
News, Friday.