Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-06-02
SENSATION AT = FUNERAL.
A Frail Wife Denied the Privi-
Iege OF Seeing Her Dead Hus.
hand


A Frail Wife Denied the Privi-
Iege OF Seeing Her Dead Hus.
band.
PITTSBURGH, PEsS, June IA sensa-
ton was caused at the funeral services
of Robert ]. Smith, well known and
wealthy jeweler Of this city, which were
held in Trinity church, South Side yes
terday. The church was filled with
fashionable au Hence, comprising 20 ne
Of our best people. Among the numer-
GUS carriages which drove up to the
house OF the dead was one containing
his WIFE, she had forfeited all claims
to being called his wife by reason OF her
unfaithfulness. About Elk months ago
he was divorced from her, as they had
separated several months before. Since
that time Mrs. Smith, who is a woman
OF voluptuous form and beautiful fea-
lures, has been one OF the queens
of the demi-monde OF this city.
She lives in an aristocratic house oil
prostitution on Caldwell street. Ac-
companied by another frail sister, Lizzie
Smith took a seat near the coffin OF her
former husband. She was dressed in
deep black, and wore heavy veil. Dur
ing the funeral services she burst out
crying, "Oh, my husband When the
ceremonies closed the lid was removed
from the glass OF the casket, and the
minister invited those present to look
for the last time on the face OF the dead.
Lizzie, who, during all this time was
seemingly more affected than any one
in the church, moved frantically toward
the coffin, and was within few feet OF
il, when Mr.. Smith, brother OF the de-
ceased, threw his arms over the glass and
prevented her from looking in, remark
ing:
eco back. Keep away. You can not
see him."
Rev. McCready mOtioned her to leave,
and said:
go away. You have no right to see
him, and yoi shall not see him"
The woman made desperate effort to
get to the cofIiu, screaming:
"Oh, my God Imust see my hus
band. Stand aside, will see him in
spite OF you. / will gee him."
Mrs. Smith, the mother OF the de-
ceased, ordered her to leave, and Miss
Smith, her daughter, shouted:
"Stay away. You ruined by brother,
aud you cannot look at him."
While the widest commotion pre-
vailed in the church, the lid was fasten
ea TO its place, and the frantic woman
crowded and showed toward the pnlpit
Her carriage followed at the end OF the
cortege, and at the grave in the ceme-
terry she made the most touching ap-
peals to those who superintended the
rites to allow her just one glance at the
face of the man she had learned TO love,
but to whom, it was claimed, she had
been the occasion OF so much domestic
inielicity. The saddest chapter Of the
mournful narrative remains yet to be rela
ted. The impressive ceremonies had been
rendered at the grave, the coffin had
been lowered into the earth, the minis
ter had said, "Dust TO dust, and ashes
to ashes" while spadeful OF clois had
been dropped on the nd OF the coffin,
the friends in tnelr carriages had desert
ed the place, and the grave-diggers had
begun to fill in the earth, when Lizzie,
the recreant wife, ran and looked in.
The tears streamed down on the rough
box, while she pleaded most earnestly
to those about to allow her to see the
dead man. This privilege was once
more refused, and, as the carriage which
OF the cemetery, her cries were most
heart rending.