The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1881-06-07

4 Irail Wife Denied the privilege
Of Seeing Her Dead Husband.

P,,s-burs Special to Cincinnati Enquirer.
A sensation was caused at the fun
eral services of Robert ]. Smith, ,
well-known and wealthy jewelsr o
this city, which were held in Trinity
church. south side. today. Th1
church Wa filed With Q iashionabl,
audience comprising come 0f our bss
people. Among the numerous carriages
which drove up to the house Of tb&
dead was one Containing his wife.
She had forfeited oil claims to beiue
called his wife BY reaso0 Of her M
iaithfulness. About six months q,
he WAS divorced from her. ~ they had
separated several mouths before.
Since that time Mrs. Smith, Who 10 4
woman VI volurtuous form and beauti.
full features. has been one Of the
queens Of the demi-monde of the city.
She lives in m aristocratic house Of
prostitution ON Caldwell street. Ae-
companied BY another frail sister.
Lizzie Smith took . seat near the
coffin Of her former husband. She
WAS dressed in deep black, and wore
u heavy veil. During the funeral
services she burst out crying, "Oh my
husband" When the ceremonies
closed the lid Was removed from the
glass Of the casket aud the minister
invited those present to look for the
last time on the face Of the dead.
Lizzie. who, during al this time Wal
seemingly more affected than any one
in the church. moved franticslly
towards the coffin, and was within Z
few feet Of it. when Mr.. Smith, 9
brother Of the deceased. threw BIZ
arms over the glass and prevented hel
from looking in. remarking:
$50 hack. Keep away. You can
not see him."
Rev. McCready motionsd her 4
leave, and said:
Go away. You have NO right Z,
see him. aud you shall not see him.
The woman made . desperate efor1
to get to the coffin, screaming:
"Oh, my God. / must zee ny
husband. Stand aside, ! will zee hin
IN spite Of you. / will see him."
Mrs. Smith. the mother Of the de
ceased, ordered her to leave, and Misl
Smith. her daughter. shouted:
"Stay away! You ruined my
brother, and you cannot look at him.
While the widest commOtlon pre-
vailed in the church, the lid va.
fastened to its place, and tine frantic
woman crowded and showed towarc
the pulpit. Her carriage followed a
the end Of the coriege, aud at thu
grave in the cemetery she made thu
most touching appeals to those who
superintended the rites to allow hei
just one glance At the face Of the man
she bad learned To love. but to whom
it was claimed. she aIso had been the
occasion Of 10 much domestic inie
licity. The saddest chapter Of the
mOurnful narrative remains yet to be
related. The impressive ceremonies
had been rendered ut the grave. the
coffin had been lowered into the earth,
the minister had ssid, ''Dust To dust,
and sshe, to ashes" while . spaaleful
Of clods had been dropped on the lid
Of the coffin, the friends IN their car
riages had deserted the place. and the
grave disgers had begun to gil in the
Garth, when Lizzie. the reereant wife.
ran and looked in. The tears streamedl
down on the rought box. while she
pleaded most earnestly to those about
to allow her to see the dead man.
This privilege was once more refused
and, rs the carriage which carried her
was being driven out Of the cemetery.
her cries were must beart-rending.