Post by nzbc on Jul 23, 2016 17:16:46 GMT 12
CHARGE FOR EMBALMING BODY CONVEYED TO CHINA « • The cost of embalming the body of a Chinese greengrocer for transport to China formed the basis of an unusual debt claim heard by Mr. R. M. son. S.M., in the Ohakune Magistrate's Court. Plaintiff was Dr. Lewis Edmund Jordan, of Ohakune,, .who claimed £44 2s from Charles Guthrie, a Chinese, of Timaru, as the balance of a charge of 4o guineas for t£e embalming" of Guthrie's brother in April, 1933. It was stated that the embalming had been done under instruction from Mr. L. F. Baird, solicitor, of Raetihi, who had verbally assured plaintiff that there was some £4OO cash in the estate, for which he was acting, and the oi>eration could be paid for from JthiSamount. The deceased. Ah Duck King, had been in business as a greengrocer in Ohakune, and when Guthrie was notified of his death he cabled instruction for the embalming with a view to bringing the body to China. Guthrie appointed Mr. Baird to administer the estate, and drew £350 before taking the body to China. In has absfince the estate went bankrupt. Cross-examined, Guthrie said it was an old Chinese custom to travel with a body to guide the soul at various ports of call. Dr. Jordan stated that ho had done the operation in good faith under the impression that the estate was in a position to pay the fee. For plaintiff, Mr. J. R. Callaghan submitted that-Guthrie was personally liable.
The magistrate upheld this view, and gave, judgment for the amount claimed.
paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19371025.2.155