Pennsylvania Act 1923-180 — REMOVAL OF DEAD BODIES, AUTHORITY GRANTED TO COURTS

Act text

REMOVAL OF DEAD BODIES, AUTHORITY GRANTED TO COURTS
                  Act of May 19, 1923, P.L. 281, No. 180              Cl. 09
                                  AN ACT

     To confer upon the courts of quarter sessions of the several
        counties of the Commonwealth jurisdiction and power to
        authorize the removal of the remains of the dead from private
        burial grounds, which have or shall become unsightly and
        unsuitable places for interment.

        Section 1.  Be it enacted, &c., That whenever any private
     burial ground by reason of the drilling of oil wells, or the
     opening of mines or quarries in the vicinity thereof, or from
     any other cause, has become or shall hereafter become unsightly
     and an unsuitable place for the repose of the dead, the court of
     quarter sessions of the county in which such burial ground is
     situated, on petition of the trustee or trustees having charge
     thereof, or of any person having a relative buried therein,
     shall have jurisdiction and power to authorize and direct the
     removal of the remains of all dead from such private burial
     ground to such other suitable ground as shall be provided by the
     petitioner or petitioners for the reinterment of the bodies.
     Notice of the presentation of a petition for any such order of
     removal and reinterment shall be given by advertisement, once a
     week for a period of three (3) weeks, in at least one newspaper
     of general circulation published in the county, and in such
     other manner as the court may direct.
        Section 2.  Such removal and reinterment shall be made by the
     petitioners in a careful manner, at their own expense, to
     another suitable burial ground provided by them, or, if desired
     by the relatives or friends of such dead, to some properly
     regulated burial ground or cemetery in the immediate vicinity,
     and said court may enforce, by proper process, orders and
     decrees made under this act: Provided, however, That before the
     removal of the remains of the dead, notice of such removal shall
     be given by advertisement, once a week for two successive weeks,
     in two daily newspapers of the county wherein such burial ground
     is situated: And provided further, That relatives and friends of
     such dead shall have the right to remove the remains, at their
     own expense, at any time during the proceedings before actual
     removal under order of court: And further provided, That all
     bodies when so removed shall be placed in separate caskets and
     graves, and the headstones, monuments, or other marks placed
     over the remains of said bodies shall be taken, by the persons
     authorized to make such removal, and placed as near as can be in
     the same relative position as before removal.