“OFFICIALLY DEAD.”

Dunstan Times, Issue 3383, 18 July 1927, Page 8

“OFFICIALLY DEAD.”

REFUSES TO PAY RATES

As an illustration of bureaucracy in Russia under the Soviet regime the “Krasnyaa Gazeta,” a leading Soviet Russian newspaper, publishes a story about a Moscow citizen named Zhakubovsky, who, although living in the flesh, is officially dead, and likely to remain so. Citizen Zhakubovsky had been taken suddenly ill and was sent to the hospital. Mis condition was so desperate that the attending physician said that there was no chance of saving him. But Zhakubovsky began to get better, and in a short .time was so far recovered that his wife came to take him home. When the patient and his wife appeared at the office of the hospital and asked for his medical certificate the clerk in charge started to hand the paper to Mrs Zhakubovsky. The convalescent, however, stepped forward and said he could take the certificate himself. ' “But who are you?” inquired the clerk. 'T am Zhakubovsky, the sick man,” was the reply. The clerk looked the patient up and down suspiciously, turned the pages of tiie hospital records and declared — “You are reported here as dead. Here you are, madam; please sign for your certificate.’’

The certificate noted that Citizen Zhakubovsky had been treated in the Bashrushino Hospital and had died of inflammation of the chest. Zhakubovsky concluded to waste, no time and effort in controversy, so accepting the certificate he and his wife left, laughing over their adventure.

But when they got home they found it was no laughing matter, as the manager of the tenement houses refused to register Zhakubovsky among the tenants.

“You are dead,” he said. “You have no longer a right to live.” A little later, however, Zhakubovsky had occasion to ho thankful for the error made at the hospital. When the tax collector came around Zhakubovsky refused to pay, and said that lie was officially dead. At the collector’s derisive laugh Zhakubovsky exhibited his death certificate. After reading this the emissary of the Treasury shouted — “Well then you must have come for a visit, from the other world.” Then he left and failed to return. Thus far Citizen Zhakubovsky has paid uo laxfcs.