The Arizona champion., 1891-03-14
"A DEAD BRIDEGROOM.
A Singular Wedding at the
 COffn'S Side.
JOINED IN THE PRESENCE OF GRIM DEATH.
Who and What the Interested Parties
 Were and are.

man. Cile SIOOu DSSlue lile COlllll III which the dead man rested, and placed her right hand in his right hand, as her father stood at the head of the coffin and read the ceremony and answered for the voiceless lips in the coffin. That young woman is alive today, and lived at last accounts in Elm avenue, Philadelphia, She formerly lived in New York, but after the strange ceremony went to the Quaker City and married a truck driver. It is long story that led up to the cere- mony, and one that required a months work, day and night, to thoroughly sift and demonstrate its truthfulness.
 SINGULAR CEREMONY.
 4 little over a dozen years ago a scion of the Polish aristocracy, with eminent connections in Paris, came to New York to live. He was fairly wealthy at the time, and later on was joined by his mother, a widow. They lived in num- Der of New York boarding houses, and at l last put up permanently in one in Wash ! ington square. The young man there met the blue eyed young woman and | fell passionately in love with her. She was the daughter of the landlady of the house.
 1 The money of the mother and son be- ] gan to give out, and they were joined by an aunt from Paris, whose sole wealth was in valuable paintings. The young man was stricken down with quick con sumption. As his dying day approached i the father and mother of the young girl 1 suggested that the young people be mar ried. The mother and aunt of the young man acquiesced, but before the ceremony could be performed he died.
 His relatives could not speak English. They were devout members of the Cath ollie church, and were told by the father and mother of the young woman that l the laws of the church in this country permitted a marriage between a dead man and their living daughter. The dead mans relatives at first demurred, and then acquiesced. 4 friend of all the parties who was present at the cere- mony said that the body was in full evening dress, and was leaned up against the wall of the parlor, where its picture was taken before it was put into the coffin for the ceremony. "There is the spot" the witness said to me, as she pointed to a corner ill the parlor, "and don't I remember distinctly how fright ened my little daughter was when she entered the parlor and saw the dead man standing in the corner before the photographer came. When the time for the ceremony arrived a score of people were clustered in the room, and the bride, standing beside the coffin, took her dead l lovers hand in hers. Her father, at the head of the coffin, first addressed the corpse, Max, wilt thou have Fanny to | be thy welded wife? etc., after the man. ner of the ritual, and, bending down into the coffin, he uttered sepulchral Yes for the corpse.
 Turning to Fanny, the father said: Wilt thou have Max for thy welded husband? etc., and Fanny, between her sobs, said Yes A ring that had been bought for the occasion was then slipped on the wedding finger of the young wo- man. All the company then had cakes and wine and a wedding jollification." NOW A TRUCK DRIVERS WIFE.
 The body of that young man now rests in a sealed coffin in old St. Patrick's cathedral in Mulberry street. The mother of the boy is dead. The aunt was the Countess Marie de Pruschoff. Even in the little room in Eldridge street, where she told me of this strange l ceremony, she looked a veritable grand dame of France. She was 60 years old, and her silver hair combed over her fore head and her dignifed mien were truly aristocratic. She was in a little room b by 12, and was making shirts for i livelihood. She managed to eke out 5 a week. She had been accustomed to all the luxuries of life. She spoke of the dead boy as my crown, my pride and my joy"
 The mother of the boy was the Coun- tess Betl1owska. Max as boy went to school with the Dominicans in Paris and at the Lycee Bonaparte while waiting to be admitted to the Oratoriens, a learned religious order.
 The parents of the girl were MT. and Mrs. F. R. Emmertz. They frankly ad- ullIlGu li4C IltIlloS5GJ ollI nO S1Nl ll1C Ell.
 l loved Max very much" she said to me, land we were betrothed. A mar riage ceremony was said between Us as he lay in his coffin. was known as Mme de BetkOwska for long time after Max's death. took his name after the ceremony, and want to say this: That in the event of the death of his mother and aunt l should consider myself en- titled to any property that should fall to ! Max's widow At the time she said this she was the wife of the Philadelphia truckman.
 All the parties interested haze photo graphs of the body in evening dress as it stood in the corner before the ceremony. The ceremony took place on Oct. F, 1878, at B South Washington square. The principals all seemed to accept the ceremony as binding. The Countess Pruschoff owned the famous Murillo, The Flagellation of Christi" on exhibi- tion several years ago at the Metropolitan museum. There is a contest for it's ownership among several lawyers grow ing out of this strange ceremony.-Re- porter in New York Sun.
 Elderly Bride (to her husband)-Darl- ing, when 1 begin to grow old and plain. will you worship me as passionately as you donOw?
 Young Husband-Ah, dear, can vou doubt me! Do you imagine for Q moment