Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-16
A Funeral Sensation.
ExrRAonplNAny SCENE IN a enrrc

EXTRAORDINARY SCENE IN A CHURCH.
very sensational scene took place
at the funeral of wealthy ieweer,
named Robert j. Smith, in Pittsburgh.
In the morning, among the numerous
carriages that drove up TO the house of
the dead was one containing the wife
from whom he had been divorced sever.
nj months ago. When the carriage
door opened in front OF her former hus.
bands house the woman stepped out
and rang the door bell One of the
family saw her and slammed the door
in her face. The cofllned remains were
removed TO the Twenty.ffth Street
Medodist church, and placed in the
middle aisle among the mourners.
The woman was not permitted To come
near the coffin, and during the cere-
monies stood beside the pulpit Dur.
ing the sad services she burst into tears
and exclaimed frequently, my hus.
band Oh, my husband ~
There was no one near her, while she
wept bitterly, and was conscious that she
was regarded as an offensive intruder.
Rev. b, A. McCready, pastor of the con.
gregation, otiiciated. When the address
closed the lid was removed from the
glass Of the casket, and the minister in.
vited those present to look for the last
time on the face OF the dead. The
woman, who during all this time was
seemingly more effected than any one
else in the church, moved iranticaily to.
ward tho coffin, and was within few
feet of II when Mr. Smith. "A brother Of
the deceased, threw his arms over the
glass face and prevented her from
looking in, remarkinR, go back, keep
away you cannot see him Rev. Mr.
McCready motioned her TO leave, and
said "Go away you have no right to
see him and you shall not see him"
The woman made "A desperate effort TO
get to the coffin, screaming: "Oh, my
God must see my husband stand
aside / will see him in spite OF you
| will see him T. Mrs. Smith, the moth
er of the deceased, ordered her 10 leave,
and Miss Smith, her daughter, shouted
stay away you ruined my brother
and you cannot look at him While
the widest commotion prevailed in the
church the lid was fastened TO its place
and the frantic women crowded and
showed toward the pulpit. The carriage
OF the divorced woman followed at the
end Of the corteFe, and at the grave IN
the cemetery she made the most touch.
ing appeals to those who superintended
the rites TO allow lust one glance at the
face OF The man she had learned to love.
but to whom 1t was clAimcd, she had
been the occasion OF much domestic in.
felicity.
The saddest chapter OF the mournful
narrative remains yet TO be related. The
impressive ceremonies had been rcu.
dercd at the grave, the coffin had been
lowered into the earth, the minister
had said. Ashes 10 ashes snd dust 10
dust, while n spade full Of clods had
been dropped on the lid OF the coffin.
The friends in their carriages had de.
serted the place and the grayc-digRers
had begun 10 Gil in the earth. when the
recrcant 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 re.
fused, and as the carriage which con.
tanned her was being driven out Of the
cemetery her cries were most heart.
rending.