The Washington times., 1910-03-13
Depth of Sorrow Manifest
When President Attends
Funeral in PittSburg.
MEMORY LINGERS
OF LAST VISIT
Streets Through Which Procession
Passes Lined With Police.
Returns Tonight.

PITTSBURG. March 13-For the sec
ond time since his Inauguration, a little
more than year, President TAFT today
attended funeral survives for a relative
and fried
/ There was peculiar tinGe OF sad
ness 20 the services today over the body
OF Thomas X. LaughIin, husband Of a
sister of Mrs. Taft. The fact that II
has been decided definitely by Coroner
Jamison that Mr.. Laughlin committed
suicide cast gloom over the Presidents
patty.
J. was only few months ago that the
President was a guest at the Laughlin
home in Woodland road. Mr.. Taft to.
day. evidently had not forgotten that
VISIT. He looked somewhat haggard and
tired when he stepped from his private
car, Olympia" at the East Liberty
station this morning.
The funeral of Mrs. H D. Taft, wife OF
the Presidents brother, at watertown,
Conn. in December affected the Presi-
dent deeply. But evidently The memory
OF last summer and the shock that came
with the news that Mr.. Laughlln had
ended his life made a marked impress
sion on Mr.. Taft.
Funeral Private.
The funeral itself was private. The
Presidents car reached the city at S:49
ana he. with Mrs. Louise More, OF Gin
cinnati, sister OF Mrs. Taft. and Capt.
A w. Butt. hurried 70 a waiting auto
mobile and were VhirIed away to the
LsaUghlin home.
There were fifty picked policemen IN
der charge Of Assistant Superintendent
Of Police Kennedy al the station when
the train came in, but there wasn't
much OF the waiting and the police
mad little do.
The President didn't leave the Laugh
lin home after he entered, until the
funeral procession began. late IN the
afternoon The services were conducted
at the residence and the attendance
was limited to q very few.
The Rev. DR.. Maitland Alexander,
pastor Of the First Presbyterian Church,
conducted the services and preached a
brief sermon. There was special music
by E. E. Giles, of the First Church.
The honorary pall-bearers were:
A. ~. Schwartz, J. 5. Speer. Douglas
Stewart, Herman Griffin. Frank Sproul.
+. c Perkins. John Ricketson. Carroll
IltzhUgh. Fritz Byers, w. c. Moreland,
j.. 7. Jones. jr., and William L. Jones.
Following the services at the house
the procession started for Allegheny
Cemetery. Along the route, which was
short. the police had made careful prep
arations.
Returns to Laughlin Home.
The President returned to the Laugh
lin home Immediately after the inter
ment, where it was his intention to re-
main until tonight He expected TO
board the train for the Capital shortly
before 10 o'clock at East Liberty. He
should reach Washington early tomor-
row.
It became known today that Coroner
Jamison was sorry that he could not
comply with the wish of the Laughlin
family and delay the publication Of the
true story OF Mr. IAughlD's death The
coroner, however. declared that il was
his duty to take the statements of wit
neses and record the cause Of death.
just as he would do in any other case.
The coroner. II was made known to-
day, investigated for fOrty-eiyht hours
before he permitted an undertaken to
assume charge OF the body. The record
on file says that Mr.. Laughlin commit
ted suicide.
A formal inquest viii be held at the
Mr.. Laughlin had been i'll for more than
a year. He tried many methods OF re-
storing health, but all seTDed TO fail. He
became a victim of melancholia.
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