Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-13
RUMPUS AT THE FUNERAL
And the Police Are Called in to Quiet
the M0urners.
MLLLEN is HELD FOR MURDER.
A Game Of Craps Alleged to Have Caused
the Fatal Fight.
OFFICERS ARE WORKING ON THE CASE

dav, had large ana livery iunerai yester-
day afternoon. He had no relatives in
Pittsburg, and the burial services were held
in the morgue office on Webster avenue,
where the body had been since Wednesday
night
All day there was an almost continual
procession OF people, principally colored,
who called at the morgue and viewed the
remains AS the hour for the funeral drew
near the number of visitors increased.
Just before the services began there came
into the morgue Office little, yellow
skinned woman, who wore an expression Of
anxiety and who mysteriously asked for
one of the men in charge. When he ap-
peared she led him to one side, and with
an evident attempt at impressiveness, said:
"That's not Moseley you've got in that
coffin"
''Oh, yes, il is," was the reply.
Had Seen the Ghost Walk.
"But say its not" she insisted. Then
dropping her voice almost to a whisper and
pointing dramatically with her right index,
she continued: "Last night Gabe Moseley
was in my house, in my room, a-rapping on
my windows, a-rapping on my door, g.
talking to me. Don't you s'pose know
when Gabe Moseley's round? I knows
him. That's some other man in the coffin. ;"
1t was thought at first the woman had
been drinking, and she was told to 60
away, but finally her manner was so earnest
she was allowed to 60 in and take a last
look at the dead mans face before the
casket lid was put in place. When she had
gazed long enough she turned and ex.
claimed:
at might be Gabe's body, but don't be-
lieve it! If it is his, then his spirit was to
see me last night Something's wrong! God
help mer'
She walked out then and disappeared.
No one seemed to know her, but all who
had heard her, practicularly the few colored
people who were present, were deeply i'm
pressed by her words 1t is supposed she
is some Southern girl, full of superstition
and who is possibly sweetheart of the
dead man, and has been mentally unbalanced
by his death.
Two Wives Claim Him.
This little incident had scarcely passed
bv when The hour set for the services hav-
ing arrived, Rev. G. W. Clinton, of the
Wesley NJ. E. Church, began his remarks
over the dead man. The friends and SYM
pathizers of the deceased filled both the
morgue Offices, the little yard in the rear
and the sidewalk in front. Most of them
were colored people, but here and there
white face could be seen. The minister
began his remarks by reference to the
fact that Moseley was q stranger here,
thousands of miles away from home and
people, with no mother to guide and direct
him, and though big-hearted, good fel-
low, was far away from God. The words were
uttered with deep feeling and with pecu-
liar pathos which visibly affected many of
his hearers
Over by the wall, in the rear of the
room, sat young woman, who had
probably been drinking and who was
deeply touched by the preachers words.
Finally she could restrain her feelings no
longer Rising, she exclaimed:
''He was dear, good friend to me, poor,
old Gabe! 1 loved that man! 1 was a good
friend to him.
The Polics Called In.
The interruption caused commotion and
there were cries of "Put her out. One
man said the white woman was Moseley's
wife. She did not contradict him, but an
Italian woman who was on the edge of the
crowd did, claiming she was his WIFE A
commotion ensued The minister waited,
but the confusion increased when Coroner
Mcdowell entered and, recognizing the
woman, sent for a policeman. Officer Nate
Gibbons soon came and placed the
woman under arrest amid the protestations
of her Italian claimant and number of
colored friends. In spite of her entreatles
to be allowed to look for the last time on
"dear old Gabe," she was hustled away to
the patrol wagon and taken to Central sta
ton. There she was recognized as Mary
ho hos II
for drunkenness, though little is known
about her. Whether she was the wife of
Moseley the police do not know.
The Coroner's inquest on Moseley's
death resulted in the holding of McAlien
for murder The murderer was brought
from Wheeling yesterday by an officer from
that city. After leaving this city he went
to Homestead, walked back over the hills
to the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, snd
took freight train to Washington county.
Before reaching the town of Washington he
got off the train, walked around the town
pursued by dogs, and got another train which
carried HIM to Wheeling. There was no
evidence of fear or regret in his manner,
and he laughed heartily over the murder or
anything else talked of He was arrested
Just as he alighted from the train at Wheel
ing, but his story to the officer secured his
release. An hour later he was arrested
again in a saloon while reading of the muir.
der.
Getting at the Facts.
The testimony taken at the Coroner's in. |
quest contained few important points not |
covered in THE DISPATCH story of the |
murder. Magistrate Gripp, who acted as |
Coroner put some leading questions to |
Edward Brooks, proprietor of the restau- |
rant. where Moseley was killed, tending to
bring out that Brooks house was gambling
den, a resort for women, q disorderly place /
generally, and that the muroer resulted
from a game of craps. Brooks denied all |
these implied accusations.
In telling of the affray Brooks. who was
the only eye witness, said: 'tMoseley and
McAllen quarreled upstairs over q state
ment that McAllen had made that had to
protect Moseley to save him. When Nose
ley went back to the kitchen he
declared he would knock McAllen down
with poker if McAllen came back
there. McAllen came back. Moseley
called to him not to enter the place, but he
walked into the kitchen and at the door
Moseley hit him with the poker and threw
it at him. MeAllen then picked up the
bread knife, plunged it into Moseley.
pulled it out half way and then pushed it
back in again. Then he turned and ran
out
The police are working on the case and
say they have several witnesses to prove that
the murder resulted from a game of craps
and that Brooks keeps gambling house.
There are several other important points
the police expect to turn up before the trial
of McAllen comes of in court
r. |