Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-06-09
TRIPLE FUNERAL Of
HARDY FAMILY HELD
RAYMOND HARDY TAKEN UNDER
sHERIFFs GUARD TO At
TEND SERVICE.
YOUTH BIDS FEARFUL
FAREWELL TO THE DEAD
Boy Weeps Bitterly, But Makes no
Demonstration Other Than One Of
Emotional Weepins-Immens Crowd
of Country People Attracted to tho
Home by Curiosity.

rlofne ny SdTiOS'sy'
Guarded by the sheriff's officers,
Raymond Hardy. who is suspected by
them of being the murderer of his
family, was taken Wednesday after
noon to the scene of the murder to at
tend the triple funeral. For the first
time since the bloody tragedy, the boy
returned TO the little white farm house
on the day which he had planned
life by his marriage to his sweetheart.
Miss Mabel Starnes.
Circumstances have never before
combined 10 make more pathetic
setting for such SAD service as did
those. of Wednesday, when the farmer
boy was taken to Look for the last
time into the faces OF those who must
have loved him. Even nature added
her touch of mourning 10 the scene.
A leaden sky spread overhead. from
which rain burst forth as the service
began.
Weeps Bitterly; Says Nothing.
Altho he wept bitterly. and altho his
face and frame convulsed with sobs
that seemed to come from the Very
depths of his heart Raymond Hardy
said nothing a. his eyes rested on the
three white, cold. but familiar figures
which lay peaceful in death. He
made no other demonstration. Aside
from his burst of emotion, his demean-
or on the way back home. for the first
time since he had left there q prisoner,
was of The same calm. collected. and
quite type that it has been from the
first hour Of his imprisonment.
Hundreds Were There.
There was so much Of pathos and
human interest in the setting and the
circurn stances of the funeral, to say
nothing of the murder mystery itself
that it drew the country people from
miles around. No such u rural funeral
has been held before in Logan town
ship There was 500 or more present.
The lane leading from the road the
highway outside, the barnyard and the
grove by the house were packed with
vehicles. The big congregation crowd
cd the ward. and when given chance
10 see the nurderer's victims they
packed the dark interior of the small,
house to suffocation. When the SER
vice began the parlor in which the
bodies lay was cleared of all except the
relatives. officers, and q. few others.
1t was not until this was done that
Sheriff Nicholson. Deputy Sheriff C. G,
Brat, and the boy Raymond could
gain admission to the house.
All Eyes on eBardess Youth
The hundreds who We're drawn by
morbid curiosity, friendship, or gen
uine sympathy were already there
when the touring car which brought
the prisoner and the officers drew into
the lane leading to the house.
AS Raymond, walking between the
officers, passed up the barnyard to the
gate of the yard, the multitude turned
from the house, advanced 70 the fence,
and lined up at the fence while all
eyes rurned upon the boy.
With lowered head. he entered the
home that had once sheltered him. and
which had been turned by the murderer
into a charnel house
"How does 1t seem to get back home
again. Ray" was asked him as he
walled,by the officers side.
Not like it used to be-" he answered,
in a scarcely audible voice.
His face was drawn with sadness
as he said It, and the faint whisper
of his voice bore recollections of those
happy days when. on Sundays, he
went free and lighthesrted to be by
his sweethear's side and came and
went over the same ground in helping
to do the work on the farm.
Have Trouble Getting In.
Going to the side door. just inside
of which Mrs. Hardys body was found.
Sheriff Nicholson sought admission for
himself and the lad. It was SO jammed
with .peoplestl1at he could not even get
upon khe porch.
When it was learned that the near
est relative of the dead and the Off
GERS were there. the parIor was cleared,
and the little party passed around the
house and into the front door and the
best room" where lay the dead. The
door was closed.
When Raymond's eyes rested for the
first time on the bodies. as they lay in
the caskets, the lines Of sorrow on his
face deepened his lips quvered. and
tears welded to his eyes.
Aunt Consoles Him.
The boys aunt. and Mrs. Hardy's
only sister Mrs. Mile Trotter. Of Des
Moines was the first TO advance to
meet the youth when ne stepped across
the threshold She stepped quickly to
his side and with him advanced to near
the body of Earl Hardy, which was
nearest the door. A moment later Mrs.
Trotter's daughter. Mrs. Maude Glib
son. also Of Des Moines, Joined her
mother and cousin.
Encircling their arms about, while
they wept as he wept. they attempted
to console him in broken, tear-choked
sentences.
''Trnst in Cod Ray" they said.
1--WE believe in you, Ray they as
sured him
BE brave. dear boy. we have faith
in YOU" they consoled him. With these
and similar assurances of love and
sympathy. they tried to strengthen and
uphold him during the terrible ordeal.
Views Bodies One by One.
And while they spoke to him. and
while their arms encircied him. the boy
wept sobs that filled his throat, ant
shook his frame Part of the time his
face was hidden on his aunt's shoulder
Part of the time his eyes We're SC