The Heir Who Sold His Parents' Grave

Through an application by the sexton of Masonic Cemetery yesterday afternoon for a permit from Health Officer Palmer to remove the bodies of the father and mother of Arthur Schmeig from the family lot to a small plot of ground, a strange story came to light. It is the story of a young man who has had wealth but who is now poor and in needy circumstances.

Arthur Schmeig is well known in this city, and it is reasonable to say that he inherited a fortune of $75,000, but he hasn't got it now. His mother died in 1875 and was buried in Masonic Cemetery. Later, when his father died, he was buried in the same lot. A large fortune, consisting of lands in this city, West Seattle, near Everett and in Ballard, was left the young man. His uncle, County Commissioner Fred Gasch, the brother of his mother, handled the estate. The estate was settled about eighteen months ago, and the young man received valuable property.

Schmeig was in San Francisco at the Cooper Medical College for a time, studying to be a physician. He returned to this city, and while he was called “Doc” by many, it is doubtful if he ever gave his vocation strict attention. He has always spent money very freely. This has considerable to do with what occurred yesterday.

The sexton of Masonic Cemetery called on Health Officer Palmer and asked for a removal permit. At the same time County Commissioner Gasch appeared and objected to the issuance. Then it came out that the remains of Mrs. Schmeig were those of his sister, and that Arthur Schmeig had sold the lot in which the remains of his father and mother were buried to A. C. Freeborn.

Before acting in the matter Dr. Palmer looked up the law and found that a death certificate must be presented. The remains of Mrs. Schmeig having been buried in 1875, there was nothing in the health office records to settle the point, so he refused to issue the removal papers. The sexton reported the matter to Mr. Freeborn, and his brother, J. A. Freeborn, went to the health office and explained matters, but the removal was not granted.

A Post-Intelligencer reporter called on Mr. Freeborn last evening. He said, in substance, that it was not a case of a boy selling his parents' graves in the sense some people might look upon it, but rather the case of a young man disposing of a large lot, removing the bodies and tombstones to a smaller one, and thus giving himself money with which to purchase the necessities of life. He said that up to four months ago Schmeig had been living at Mrs. M. Kelley's on South Eleventh Street and since then had roomed in the Penny Hotel building. A. C. Freeborn had helped young Schmeig along, and finally the young man decided to sell the family burial lot. Mr. Freeborn tried to dissuade him, but in vain; Schmeig persisted because he needed money to purchase clothes and other necessities. Finally the lot was transferred to A. C. Freeborn by deed. Arrangements were made for a small lot to which the bodies were to be removed, together with the tombstones, and then Mr. Freeborn was to sell the family lot. The difference between the cost of the small lot and the price obtained for the large one was to be used for Schmeig's living necessities.

County Commissioner Gasch, when seen last night, said he did not care to talk much about the matter, as it was a very painful subject, involving the remains of his sister. He had been given a chance to buy the lot by Mr. Freeborn but did not like the way the affair was handled. He said he had consulted his attorney after receiving word of the intention to remove the remains and had then made his objections to the health officer. He agreed that Schmeig had come into a fortune estimated at $75,000, but what he had done with it he could not say. He also said that his nephew had been completely out of his hearing and sight for fully four months.