The evening world., 1919-12-22
COPELAND MOVES
TO END 'SNATCHING'
OF MORGUE BODIES
Evening World Exposures in
CallieSS Case Sure to
Bring Reforms.

| Following the disclosures brought
out by The Evening Worlds invostiga-
ton into the hurried and secret burial
OF Mrs. Anna Calliess without the
! knowledge of her daughter, showing
the present lax system OF obtaining
and disposing of bodies at the City
Mortuary, Commissioner OF Health
Copeland to-day sent notices to the
heads OF seven city departments to
confer with him early this week to
devise a plan and, II necessary, new
legislation, which would prevent a re-
currenco OF the Callless case.
Or. Copeland, in his letter, sug-
gcstcd that tho conference be held
tomorrow afternoon at o'clock
Discussing the proposed meeting,
Or. Copeland said
we will take under consideration
the division Of responsibility which
now exists regarding the Obtainment
and disposal of bodies at the city
mortuary and try 20 determine on
some Capitalization system whereby
responsibility may be fixed"
Frank Cornell, one OF the two as
sistants already arrested charged
with classifying the records in the
death Of Mrs. Calliess. was ar
raigned this morning before Magis-
trate Harris in the Municipal Term
OF the City Magistrates Court in the
Municipal Building. lie was charged
with violation of Section 80 Of the
Sanitary Code, in that he made false
statements to John Fame, caretaker
Of the city Mortuary, ON the Morgue
permit, in order TO obtain Mrs. Cal
liesss body.
Connell, - through his lawyer,
Charles Fredericks Of No. IS Nassau
street, waived examination and was
held in $500 bail for Special Sessions.
Bail was furnished by John Fox, No.
1901 BathgHte Avenue, Bronx.
1t is alleged that Connell repre-
scented X. j. Kelly, Adjuster OF the
Terminal and Town TaNicab Com
pany--one OF whose cabs caused the
death OF Mrs. Calliess ana whose
company paid for her Durial--as
the the son-ln-law and nearest rela-
tive, knowing same to be false. Mr..
Kelly has statSi that he gave no such
authorization and acted IN the matter
| solely Though charitable motives.
| Council was out on $500 bail, set by
, Magistrate TOBIAS in the Night Court,
where he was arI'aIgned folIowing his
| nj
Magistrate McAdOO.
John Kearney, the other assistant
arrested, has already been arraigned
| and waived examination before Mag
istrate Harris. He was held in $500
| bah on two separate charges for Spe-
ciar Sessions. lie IS charged with
classifying the death certificate and
making false statements relative to
the procuring OF Mrs. Calliess's body.
William f'eHtherstun Departm entail
Counsel Tor the Department OF Health,
viii present to the Corporation Coun-
| sells office, this week, papers for the
city's civil action against Undertaken
George NJ. Kelly Of No. 337 Columbus
| Avenue, whose firm buried Mrs. Cal
I'licss, following which steps will be
| taken to cancel his license. Mr.. Kelly
has shifted the blame upon his assist
ants, claiming he was out Of town
been Cuntradicted by a former EN-
| plOyer, working for him at the time.
Those who have been asked to con-
| fer with Commissioner Copeland are:
| Commissioner OF Charities Bird s.
| Culer. Chief Medical Examiner
! Charles Norris, Police Commissioner
| Enright, Public Administ rator Will
lam NJ. Hoes, Corporation Counsel
! Burr and Assistant District Attorney
Lester Lazarus, who has conducted
the investigation for the District At
| turney's office.
Commissioner Copeland's prompt
action was taken Immediately upon
receipt of letter sent him by Dr.
| William n. Guilfuy, Registrar OF
Records, who was first appraised OF
the CHllless case by The Evening
World and who has been untiring in
his investigation into the whole
matter,