The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-05-19

FIRST DOueLE FUNERAL IN CITY
IN MANY YEARS ATTENDED ~
THRoN0 THAT WAS FORCED
BACK INTO STREET.

hrs while human lane of morbid Gu
Fiosity seekers gazed on, ever encroacn-
ing on the space, Mrs. Rose Meek, wild
Ow Of Alexander Meek and mother OF
Raymond Meek, victims Of the murder
GUS fire Of Joel Railsback, Monday, en-
tered the Fifth Street M. q. church
this afternoon. She was followed
closely by her eighteen-year-old daugll-
ter, the only other member of the fam
lily. Mrs. Meek was completely pros
trated and unable to walk. She en-
tered the church in the arms of the
Two men to hear the funeral sermon
preached by the Rev. j. Cook Graham,
her pastor.
capacity by friends of the deceased and
the curious ones from the country and
city. Autos, street cars. vehicles OF
oil descriptions were massed at the
Fifth Street entrance and as the cor
tege approached It was necessary for
police o9ficeGD TO clear the sidewalks.
It was the first double funeral held In
the city Ia recent years, and 40 It was
the result of . murder the crowd was
unusually large Hundreds OF persons
stood about outside the edifice unable
to gain admittance to the church. Ush-
ers had been notified In advance to re-
serve seats for the mourners and those
who accompanied them. Six rows were
kept and these were more than filled
by those who had participated in the
cortege.
The two black hearses arrived
shortly after 2:30 O'Clock. The cloth
covered caskets were mantled with
beautiful floral offerings.
Signs Of sympathy.
There was the sign OF sympathy and
compassion visible everywhere among
the spectators. The same six men
served as pail bearers in each in
stance. Three of them were elderly
men, friends OF the father. The three
others were young men friends OF the
0on. The last sad service was per-
formed by Daniel Gard. william
Grove. r. P. Lankert, Lyman Lybolt,
Gaar Eliason and Pierre Helms, the
latter three friends of the deceased
young student.
Sermon Brief.
The sermon BY the Rev. Mr.. Ora
ham was brief. He called attention
10 the uncertainty of life and the GER
tainty OF death imploring all OF his
bearers to be ready when the time
zones for them to answer the call.
The minister seemed to appreciate the
character Of the gathering and did not
enter upon protracted discourse
His words were filled with sentiment
and the expression of good cheer to
the surviving widow and daughter
Throughout the sermon there were
heard the subdued sobs of the mourn
ers. Following the sermon the cor
tege proceeded to Earlham cemetery
where the burial was held The cas-
ket was not opened at the church.
Grand Jury June I.
Judge Fox of the circuit court said
today he will call the grand Jury to re-
port June l. This delay is longer
than had been anticipated. It is
brought about by the delay In the COR
oner's verdict and the fact the court
will be out Of the city the first three
days Of next week At first the court
was going to call the jury May 81, but
that date will be legal holiday.
Prosecutor Ladd is busily engaged
with the case. He IS trying to inves-
tigate every clue. The state will be
greatly handicapped as its only Wit
nesses are dead. Other than the mem
bsrs OF the Railsback families. no one
eaw the shooting except the two dead
men. What evidence has been col
lected does not tend to strengthen the
prosecution The states attorney has
found that the Meeks had threatened
trouble for the Railsbacks number
OF times.
Trouble Predicted.
There IS evidence that the same Is
true Of the Railsback family that the
prosecutor might find. Flossie Rails
hack. the younger sister Of the man
Who did the shooting Is said to have
told . friend in her class at the high
nchOua that trouble was Ia store '.If
they don't quit fussing and talking
about us. my brother will kill the
nfeels some or these days. the girl II
(Ceutinusd @ PaSs ssvsa-)
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