The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-09-13
DEAD DNECROLEFT|N
C|TY'SSTREETSFOR
TWO WHOLE DAYS
Coroner Says He Notified
Police to Move Body
After He Saw 1t
COMPLAINT MADE OF
DANGER TO HEALTH
Body Was Finally Taken Away al
Instance of Health Department.
Spain Discusses the
Matter

Coroner Charles l.. Spain stated yes
terday afternoon that he had notified the
police department Thursday afternoon
that the body of Hartley Burke. a negro
pauper was in wagon at Avenue c and
Thirty-fourth street and that it should
be moved. The statement of the coroner
came because complaint had been made
that a dead negro was in a wagon at
Avenue G and Thirty-fourth street watt
ing for the coroner's attention and had
been at that point for two days.
The facts of the case according to Cor
oner Spain, are that the negro Hartley
Burke died a natural death early Thurs
day morning. The negro was a pauper
and by unknown persons was brought In
wagon to Avenue c and Thirty fourth
street and left there until Coroner Spain
was notified. The coroner viewed the re-
mains Thursday afternoon and at once
telephoned the police department that
they could remove the body
To the amazement of the coroner he
was greeted with inquiries yesterday
morning as to the reason why he had
not moved the body of the negro, as the
police department stated it was still in
the wagon at Avenue and Thirty fourth
street
why | don't move bodies" said Coro-
ner Spain, perplexed "at least | am not
cognizant that 1t Is part of my duties.
or course it is just barely possible that
Representative Motion. when he so ar
ranged 1t that the coroner's office should
be SO we'll paid also included that the
coroner should also move miscellaneous
bodies from place to place. But as / am
not familiar with that particular phase
don't intend to start a precedent by
moving any body.
In the case of Hartley Burke. this dead
negro, who has been lying i'm a wagon
at Avenue c and Thirty-fourth street for
two days, and who is still there for aueht
know to the contrary brings TO head
,he tact that we need city morgue and
county morgue-both could be COM
oined. notified the police department
TO move this negro Thursday afternoon
and they claim the county or / should
move him. The county Will not move him
even II he is "A pauper. because he died
within the city limits and IT is up to
birmingham TO take care of its dead
why this dead negro is allowed bv the
poaru OF health and the police depart
ment of Birmingham to remain in a
wagon at the corner of Avenue c and
ihirty-fourth street is beyond my under
standing as they have been notified in
ample time and Hartley Burke could have
peen buried in Potters field Thursday
afternoon instead of being allowed to rot
there In a public street.
AT police headquarters II was stated
last night that they had information that
the remains of Hartley Burke had been
moved and buried yesterday afternoon. IL
was understood that the health depart
ment had attended to the matter.
1t was also admitted that Coroner G. T.
Spain had notified the police department
Thursday afternoon and that the police i'm
turn had notified Health OFFICER Burson
Immediately but that III some way the
wrong address was given, necesstatinr
more delay. However, it Is stated that
the negro is now buried and off the street