KinSource - Tale of the Week - Pleaded For A Decent Burial

KinSource

Minnesota Tales

The Minneapolis Tribune, March 23, 1902, p. 9

PLEADED FOR A DECENT BURIAL

Robert Biggar Endeavors to Give Dead Wife a Fitting Interment.

Money Was Not Forthcoming and a Pine Box Served as a Casket.

"I won't have my wife buried like a dog. It isn't my fault I'm poor. I was better off one time. If you'll just give her a ten-dollar funeral I'll feel better, but I can't see her buried in a pine box."

Robert Biggar thus pleaded with County Commissioner Nash yesterday.

"I can't do anything for you," was the answer the husband got. "I haven't anything to do with the coffins that we bury the poor in."

Biggar is without funds. His wife died suddenly Wednesday morning. The body was taken to the morgue and it has been there three days, while Biggar has tried to secure a decent burial for it.

There is something pathetic in the determination of the bereaved husband. They have seen times of plenty together, but things went wrong, and when he got down he could not get back again. But he stayed by her until she died, and then he tried to get money for her funeral. The money, however, was not to be found and, hoping to gain some little favor from the commissioners, he turned the body over to the county. He found that his wife would be buried in a pine box that would cost $2.75. There would be no lining and no handles, only a glue stain. He went to the poor department, but the officials there could do nothing for him. After visiting several other offices, he was at last referred to County Commissioner Nash, and he went to him early yesterday.

The commissioner referred him back to the poor department, and Biggar, seeing that he had the same hopeless round of officials to go over again, thereupon relieved himself as reported.

There is nothing for him to do, however, Coroner Williams says. Yesterday one of the box coffins was brought to the morgue and the body was placed in it.

Biggar has made arrangements for a grave in Layman's cemetery and his wife will be interred there.

"I've done the best I can for her," he said to a Tribune reporter.