The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-06
DIED ytEWING COFFIN.
Singular Fate Of Aged Daniel ksim ~
Friends Funeral

READING. PA, Dec. 5.-One OF the
most remarkable mortuary c olnciu ~, .e
which Berks county has witnessed IN re-
cent years was the death. while attendinE
a funeral OF wealthy Daniel keim. at tiil
Church Pike township, yesterday anu 70
days dramatic sequel thereto. a lesal
battle was necessary for the RELATIVES 10
get possession OF the remains.
Mr.. Keim who was an eccentric oaIne-
lor farmer. seventy years old, had Oh iate
years attended nearly every, Luhetai IN
seven miles yesterday, from MS nome.
near Friedensburg, to attend the obsequles
of Harry Conrad, a weli-to-do farmer OF
Obey, who was to buried from nm
Church. Chatting pleasantly WIN i an1,.
about the church door, Mr.. keim finally
entered and took a seat In the gallery,
where he could get a good View OF his
old friend In the casket and OF the ofh-
eating cIsTgymsn s ReG eS Henry H' sho
lenberger who sat beside the aged bache-
lor noticed the latter leaning forward, as
II in distress. Then the old man straight
ened back and became deathly pale All
efforts TO arouse him failed. DR. Wag
ner. who was summoned 10 the gallery,
discovered q once that Mr.. keim was
stone dead. evidently an instantaneous
victim OF heart disease.
The body was then carried into the
school-house, and preparations made to
send II home, and after BRIEF interval
Mr.. Conrad's funeral services were con-
cluded
The singular sequel to this unusual
visitation OF death at funeral came to-
day The body Of Mr.. Keim was finally
removed from the school-house TO the
home of Sexton Nol, adjoining the
church. and a brother of the deceased,
Benjamin Keim was sent for. When
the brother arrived an unexpected com
plication arose. Noll positively refused 10
permit them 70 take away the BODY until
he was paid so for his trouble This the
surviving brother refused to pay, and the
undertaken finally drove away without the
remains.
Then Benjamin came to Reading and
consulted an attorney, with the. result
that this morning Detective Rambo was
sent down to remove the body.
When the officer arrived Noll resisted
but promptly delivered the body 10 the
brother when he was threatened with
arrest
There have been among Berks comfy
farmers few more interesting or peculiar
characters than was that OF Daniel keim
who thus died at his friends funeral. and
over whose remains there was so singu-
lar a dispute. He had never worn an
oYercoat, though he was permitted TO live
out the traditional three-SCore years and
ten. He was great walker, and, some
fifteen years ago. when robberes in the
country were quite frequent. Mr.. keim.
fearing he might be robbed. shouldered
about half bushel Of coin in a grain
bag. carried il 10 Reading. and deposited
II I'm bank. Considerable Of II was In gold
Although quite wealthy, he often cut wood
for acquaintance for his meals When
he came 10 Reading he generally carried
a bag with provisions. because he pre-
ferred a simple fare instead OF city
cooked meals.
He owned eighteen properties in the
vicinity OF Friedensburg, was worth about
eighteen thousand dollars, which he had
saved from his own earnings. and all his
tenants spoke most highly OF him. He
was born and raised in Pike township,
where he died.