The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-12-07
FIGHT OVER a CORPSE.
undcrtAkers, Police mud Relations n
MNr-A MAfhe e RI In !. Ii MIA r ri uIn,,b

UnlcrtAkers, Police mud Relations n
War-A n Mother.in.I.nw's Triumph,
New ioEK, December 0.-From III,
quiet village Of Anncdalc, Staten Island
comes the following touching bit Of domes
tic history: Five years ago Miss Agnel
Van Pelt was joined in malrimony will
Patrick Butler, a fnbricator OF bricks doin,
business ut Fresh Kills. The husband wa.
Catholic and the wife Protestant, bu,
notwithstanding the divergence Of theolo
gical views they lived together happily
until about q year ago when Mrs. Butler
broken in health, returned TO the paternal
roof, and thenceforth Mr.. j. cooked his
own victuals. 1t was suspected by the
ncighbors that Butler wns not OH the
most friendly terms with Mr.. Van Pelt.
Mrs. Buffers health became worse and
worse, until on Saturday last, she died Of
consumption. Upon hearing the sad news,
the dsconsolate husband waited upon his
iather.in.law and demanded the remains oi
his wife," mo sir!' responded old Van
Pclt, "for the lust year OF your wife's mortal
existence YOU contributed nothing toward
her support, and now that she is gone yol,
need not concern yourself about the OBJ.
sequies. ! will bury my daughter in the
Moravian Cemetery Mt New Drop" "You
will, ehr r' rejoincd Butler. "hly claim is
first in this matter, and l will bury my wife
ut llavesiraw." This tritling difference
brought OH m alteration, in the
midst Of which both men forgot grief
III anger. Butler carried hostilities to the
unprecedented extent Of seizing his mother.
in.law by the throat. Van pet rushed 10
the rescue Of bis wife, and had lively en-
counter with his dead daughters husband,
during which the youngerMan WIS worsted
A neutral party summoned the police, and
| several officers were detailed to guard Mrs,
Buffers remains and prevent civil war
Yesterday morning ut o'clock the funeral
took place nj Van Pelt mansion. At the
appointed hour two under,akers and two
hearscs appeared at the house oi
mourning. Undertaken Oats Ind been
charged BY Mr.. Butler with the
melancholy duty OF removing Mrs. Buffers
remains 10 Haverstaw, while Undertaken
Vaughn was employed by Tun Pelt to
convey his daughters body to New Dorp.
Under similar circumstances, tive doctors
would have called each other .quacks and
emptied bottles Of nostrums OH each others
faces; but the undertakers set their medical
colleagues u Gne example OF moderation
and courtesy. They did not disturb the
solemnity Of the occasion by unseemly
brawls, but waited patiently about while
the services were being held in the house
The police were on hand as provision
against. evcntualities. When the sery.
ices were finished an effort. was made 10
settle the matter by arbitration, but neso.
tiations failed. Butler insisted upon his
right to bury his wife, but was ovcrrulei,
and Undertaken Vaughn had the dismal
satisfaction Of placing the coffin in his
hearse and conveying it unmolested to the
receiving vault at New Dorp. There being
no immediate indications Of war. the police
withdrew, and tranquility was restored 10
Annedale. Undertaken Oats quietly
mountedhi heare and drove oft. Whether
the belligereut Butler will resume hostili.
ties is still an open question. The police
are preparing for the worst.