MUST PAY FOR THE WAKE-1895

REGAN, MCSHERRY, HUSTED

Posted By: cheryl moonen (email)
Date: 2/19/2018 at 16:07:30

Sioux City Journal. Wednesday, November 20, 1895, Sioux City, Iowa. Page: 1

MUST PAY FOR THE WAKE

Dubuque, Nov. 19 – A decision in the unusual case was rendered by Judge Husted, of the District Court. Matt McSherry, who was well off, was drowned last summer. He boarded at the Central House, kept by Regan. The later gave the deceased a genuine Irish wake and put in a bill for expenses of the same to the estate, which the heirs disputed. The judge decided that as wakes were customary among Irish Catholics as a part of the obsequies the estate was liable for the expense and the claim was valid, and gave a decision accordingly. This is the first time a wake has received judicial recognition in this state.