Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-06-02
FUNERAL SENSATION.

Extraordinary Scene IN Q Chnrcl.
4 very sensational scene took place at
the funeral of a wealthy jeweler, named
Robert j. Smith, in Pittsburgh. In the
morning, among the numerous carriages
that drove up to the house of tho dead was
one containing the wifc'from whom he had
been divorced several months ago. When
the carriage door opened in front Of her
former husbands house tho woman
stepped out and rang the door bell. One
of the family saw her and slammed the
door in her face. The coilined remains
were removed to the Twenty-fifth Street
Methodist church, and placed in the mid
die aisle among the mOurners. The
woman was not permitted to como near
the coffin, and during the ceremonies
stood beside the pulpit. During the sad
services she burst into tears and exclaimed
frequently, My husband! Oh, my hus-
"sad 20
T,ho,a was no one near her, while she
,ont i,;tto -ly, and was conscious that she
W. .s"-ao as an offensive intruder.
Tev % n a. Mct .~aady, pastor Of tho con-
Itcv. ~. a. a";.+ L When tho address
;nsS'; E' tI,a LII ~as rc,no> ed from the glass
oi'ti os the ' casket and tho n mister invited
those present TO look for the Ii. ST time or
the face of the dead. The won. an VINO
during all this time was seemingly oole
affected than anyOns else in the church,
moved frartically toward the coffin, and
was within a few feet Of it when MIR.
Smith. a brother of the deceased, throw
his arms over the glass face and pre-
vented her from looking in, rcmarking, "Go
back, keep away you canuOt see HIM.
Rev. Mr.. McCready motioncd her to leave,
and said "Go away: you have no right to
SEQ him and you shall MT see him." Inc
woman made desperate effort to get to
tho coffin, screaming son, my dou !:
must see my husband stand aside. l
will see him in spite of you! l Will see
him !" Mrs. Smith, tho mother OF the
deceased, ordered her TO leave, and MISS
Smith, her daughter, shouted - Stay
away: YOU ruined my brother and you
cannot look at him." While the wildess
commotion prevailed in the church the lid
was fastened to its place and frantic wom-
en- crowded and showed toward the pulpit.
The carriage of the divorced woman fol-
lowed at the end of the cortege. and at tho
grave in tho cemetery sho made the most
touching appeals to those who superln-
tended the rites to allow just one glance a,
the face of the man she had learned to
love, but to whom, it was claimed, she
had been the occasion oil much DOMESTIC
infelicity.
The saddest chapter of the mournful
narrative remains yet to bs related. The
impressive ceremonies had been rendered
ut the grave, tho coffin had been lowered
into the earth, the minister had said
Ashes to ashes and dust to dust, While
spade full Of clods had been dropped OF
the lid of the coffin. The friends in theil
carriages had deserted the place and the
grayc-diggers had begun to fill IN tn.
earth, when the rccrcant wife ran an(
looked in. The tears strcamed down OF
the rough box while she pleaded mos
earnestly to those about to allow her t.
see tho dead man. This privilege wa
once more refused, and as tho carriag
which contained her was being driven ou
of the cemetery her cries were most heart
rcndinw