The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1900-05-25
FEARED
KIDNAPER.
Child of Jerry Shifts Was Not
Allowed to Attend the
Funeral.
WIFES SISTER OBJECTED.
Funeral Was Private and the Sermon
Most Impressive.
LAID QUIETLY TO REST

Remains Taken to Country Cemetery and
There Interred-Mrs. Shifts VIII
Recover From the Effects Of
the Wound Inflicted by
Her Husband.
The relatives Of the late Jerry Shifts,
who ended his life by his own hand
after attempting to take the life Of his
wife, assembled at 1890 o'clock Thurs
day, at the residence of his sister, Mrs.
Laurin B. Hardesty. No. 1880 Hurford
street, for the purpose Of attending the
funeral. A representative Of the News
Democrat attended the service, which,
as previously announced, was to be pri-
vate. No one but the immediate friends
OF the Shifts family were In attendance.
A sister Of Shifts called at the Decker
residence previous to the funeral cere-
monies, and requested that the baby, a
little tot, one and q half years Of age,
be permitted to attend the services over
the remains of the father. This privi-
lege was denied by Mrs. Decker, Mrs.
Shilts's sister, where the little child Is
now living. The pleadings of the child's 8
aunt to take the child and return 1t
were of no avail. Mrs. Decker, fearing
an abduction Of the child, positively re-
fused to entertain the idea Of the
child's attendance at the service. The
aunt returned to the Hardesty resi-
dence, and made known the fact to
those assembled there.
At $3.50 o'clock Rev. w. e. Turner,
pastor Of the Church of God, situated on
Washington avenue, began the officiat-
ing ceremonies. Rev. Turner is fine
theologian, well educated and Is a good
orator. The services opened by singing
"Jesus, Lover Of My Soul" The pastor
read a portion Of the 21st chapter Of
Revelations:
"And I saw a new heaven and q new
earth; for the first heaven and the first
earth were passed away; and there was
no more sea. And John saw the holy
city, new Jerusalem, coming down from
God, out Of heaven, prepared as bride
adorned for her husband. And heard
great voice out of heaven, saying, Be-
hold, the tabernacle Of God is with men,
and they shall be his people, and God
himself shall be with them, and be their
God. And God shall wipe away all
tears from their eyes; and there shall
be no more death, neither sorrow, nor
crying, neither shall there be any more
pain: for the former things are passed
away"
The pastor said that God is the
Alpha and Omega Of all things. God
will wipe away all tears" Rev. Turner
beseeched God in a powerful prayer to
forgive the sins Of transgressors. 1--WE
often judge, not realizing the cirucum-
stances. But thou, oh God, knowest all
things. Let us not Judge lest we be
Judged We trust all to thee. knowing
that thou doeth all things well. We
ask that thou takest him and treat him
as thou knowest best"
The pastor then sang: Looking the
way. Fair as the morning." after which
he read a text from Revelations 20,
11th and 18th verses: And I saw a
great white throne, and him that sat
upon it, from whose face the earth and
the heaven fled away; and there was
found no place for them. And I saw
the dead, small and great, stand before
him; and the books were opened, and
another book was opened, which is the
book Of life; and the dead were judged
out of those things which were written
in the books, according to their works"
The preacher then entered upon his
discourse. II have been but a short
time since called upon to attend the
service Of Christian mother" he said,
'who was recently called to her maker.
That woman was the mother of this
man, and laid in this same room as
her son. This call places me, as a min
lister of the gospel in a peculiar posi-
tion. I cannot speak words to make 1t
better or worse. can say this morning
that our Heavenly Father has admon-
ished his children who are here as to
the lives they should live. Let us
draw curtain on the rest.
'If in our lives we could see the fu-
ture many Of US would be tempted to |
take our lives. We all must die. 1t is |
the nature Of the grass to grow. It Is |
the nature Of the flowers to die. 1t is |
the nature of man to die. After this the |
judgment.
DAY by day we see crepe on the doors |
of the homes Of our friends. Loved |
mystery. Life is full OF mysteries. |
There is an air of mystery in every
thing. The wind comes; no ones knows |
cometh or whittier 1t listeth. |
We do'not know. God knows that man
Is not q rational being. The fact that |
a man will take his life proves that he
Is not rational. What was the condi-
tion Of the mind at that time? 1t is a
God knows.
Leaving the shadow of doubt and
giving him full benefit of the doubt.
This man must have been mentally de-
ficient when he committed the act.
When we stand before our God, which
we all must do, God will Judge us, and
he will Judge us Alright. am not the
Judge. know not the facts in the case.
You can't Judge. Become resigned;
place the matter In Gods hands,"
An opportunity was given the family
and relatives to view the remains. The
,asket. covered with black broadcloth,
rested in the front parlor OF the resi-
1ence. A plate upon which was In
scribed the word Father" and a sin