The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-18
LAST Sad funeral RITES
Said Over the Remains of Ex-Jndqe
John handlcy.
BRIEF SERVICES 1T ST. LUKE'S
Crowd Was Filled with Morbid and I'm.
scomly Curiosity-WilI Is Read to
Pail Bearers. who Arc Pledged
to Secrecy.

Never before in Scranton's history
has funeral attracted such an elbow
ing, showing and unruly crowd as that
which pushed and tore at one another
yesterday in ana outside st. Luke'S
church on Wyoming avenue, where the
services We're held over the body of
eX-Judge John Handley. 1t was NOR
bid curiosity and not II desire to do
reverence to one prominent and well
known.
The service was of the very simplest
nature. 1t consisted only of the i'm
pressive Episcopal ritual There We're
no unusual details. nor had anything
been announced which offered even the
slightest excuse for the unseemly and
undignitied actions of the immense
throng.
Fortunately it was impossible for
more than half of them to get inside
the church. Many of those who did get
in. especially those who stood or sat in
the rear made an exhibition which Is
sometimes seen at wedding but does
not often occur at Il funeral They
whispered. gossiped, glggled and
did pretty near everything but hold in
due reverence the solemn occasion.
Rich and Poor Present.
Aside from the unseemly curioSit?
feature. the funeral of Judge Handley
in Il measure attested his prominence,
the esteem In which his memory was
cherished and his worth while living.
Those who composed the large gather
ing represented persons in all walks
of lie. OF men and women best known
in the Citys social. business and pro-
fessiunal world there We're many but
the majority We're evidently people Of
the common classes. Some of these
were poor. in fact, many Of them We're,
which possibly gave rise to the suppo-
s,iun that they We're persons whom
Judge Handley had befrieuded, Ger
tainly their mourning was honest, and
they contributed their part toward the
responses in the service.
When o'clock had arrived the only
available space in the large church
were the pews reserved for the Lacka-
wanna Bar association and the few
friends who were expected to accom-
pany the remains from the apartments
ON Lackawanna avenue. AS was
proved later this reserved space was in
sufficient, and when the services be-
gan the auditorium contained probably
the largest throng in its history. The
side aisleS. the rear of the church and
the entrance We're packed full. Out
side the closed doors a crowd of several
hundred waited impatiently.
At the Residence.
All of yesterday the body rested in
the casket in the rear of the Merchants
and Mechanics bank in the room
which Judge Handley had used as an
office. The casket was cloth-covered
and plain and had eight handles, one
on each end and the others along the
side. The upper half Of the cover was
kept removed and disclosed to view the
life-!ike countenance. The appearance
was of profound slumber rather than
death In the room We're six floral re-
memberances-a wreath of roses and
violets from Miss Jennie Howell, roses
and palm leaf from Mr.. and Mrs. F. II.
White. roses from Mr. and Mrs. p. II.
Coyne, cross of lilies. roses and hya-
cinths from the servants, and two
other set pieces. \ plate on the casket
bore the simple inscription: