South Dakota Town Wants No
Graveyard
Public Protest Against Founding Undesirable Institution
Le Beau, S. D. Nov 5 1909
At an indignation meeting yesterday leading citizens protested
against the burial in or near this city of the body of L. T.
Perkins, 50 years old, who was killed about two miles out of town
on Wednesday, when his automobile turned turtle. This town has no
graveyard, and doesn't want one.It is said that relatives living
near Athens, Texas, will try to inter the body here, mount a
headstone on the Dakota plain and create a graveyard. This is the
first death in or near Le Beau during its existence as a town.
Inasmuch as the accident occured two miles from town the
municipal record is yet clear, and the right of Perkins'
relatives to bury the body within the corporate limits is
questioned.
Source: Philidelphia Inquirer Nov 6 1909
Graveyardless Town Refuses Burial Spot for Texan's Body
LeBau, S. D.
Nov 5 1909
In an indignation meeting yesterday leading citizens protested
against the burial in or near this city of the body of L. T.
Perkins, 50 years old, who was killed about two miles from town
when his automobile turned turtle on Wednesday.
This town has no graveyard and does not want any.
Public-spirited citizens immediately after Perkins body was taken
from beneath the machine, began contributing toward a fund to
send it post hastes to Melletter, S. D., 140 miles east, to the
nearest undertaker. This action was halted by the unexpected
arrival of a Mellette undertaker to dress the body.
This is the first time an embalmer has tried to operate in Lebau.
It is taken to mean that relatives living near Athens, Texas will
try to inter Perkins' body here, mount a headstone on the
spotless Dakota plain and create a graveyard.
This is the first death in or near Lebau during the fifty years
as a town. Inasmuch as the accident occured two miles from town
the municipal record is yet clear and the rights of Perkins'
relatives to bury his body within the corporate limits is
questioned.
Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram Nov 6 1909
Typed as appears in newspaper article.
Submitted By
Laura Gregory Roberts
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