The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-18
DYING MANPLANS
W|FE'S WEDDING
Insists That His Boss Take
Her as Bride
Quickly.
WOMAN FINALLY YIELDS
Couple Married Within Month Of
Matchmaker's Death, Newark
Mayor Officiating.
WOMAN FINALLY YELL

Newark, December 17.--William T.
Haas, superintendent of the tidewater
plant of the Pure OIL Company, in
East Newark, has left for the South
on honeymoon trip with bride
whom he won under circumstances
which seldom have had parallel. The
couple We're married. in the o}Alce of
Mayor Haussling, In tho City Hall,
and an attempt was made to keep
the romance from becoming public.
Mutual friends, however. have given
out tho strange story, and tho Mayor
has corroborated 1t.
Haas's bride, who is his second wife,
is tho widow OF James Rafferty,, who
died month ago In st Michaers Hos
pital, this city. She is twentyseven
years old, and has two children
Lizzie, seven years old. and James,
three. Rafferty, was head foreman
In the Pure Oil works, and he and
Haas were lifelong friends. They were
as brothers to each other, so the other
men at tho plant say. Haas's home is
in No. 412 Central Avenue, Harrison.
Rafferty, eight weeks ago was taken
i'll and was removed to the hospital.
After a week or so tho doctors told
him he was going to die soon. and
they advised him to settle his affairs,
Well for the sake OF my Wife and
two children I'm sorry" said Raj
ferty. las for my business affairs, I
think I can settle them satisfactorily
If you'll send for my friend, Superin-
tendent Haas"
This was done. Meanwhile Rafferty,
failed fast, and the wife and children
were summoned. They were crying
at the bedside when Haas got there.
Prop me up said Rafferty,, I've
only an hour or SO to live. l know 1t
by the way I feel. but l cannot die
without trying to help my poor FAM
lily.
VIII. I'm in hard luck said the
dying man. addressing Haas I'm 60
ing to the other side without leaving
my wife and my two babies much to-
live on after I'm gone There's no in
surance and little of anything else
and that's what worries ME about
going away. Now, you've been such a
good friend to me living. I'm going to
ask you to be an even better one af-
ter I'm dead. You're widower, VIII,
with two children. My wifes going TO
be widow, with two children"
Rafferty, reached out and took
Haas's hand in his. and continued:
within a week after I'm dead and
buried 1 want you to marry Sadie.
She'll be q good mother to your chill
dren and know you'll take good care
OF her ana OF my lllle ones. HeS
need a good-hearted man like you to
protect them"
Mrs. Rafferty, protested and swooned.
You out OF your mind. / Will not be
a party to any such arrangement" she said
TO her husband when she was restored to
consciousness.
The next day. which was his last, Rafferty,
sent for Haas and prevailed ION him TO
agree TO marry the widow If she would ac-
"If she'll have me, Jim" finally said the
superintendent, I'm be glad TO make her
my wife, and you needn't worry about her
or your children"
Then after Haas had gone Mrs. Rafferty,
went to the bedside, and the dying man
told her It would be wrong for her to cross
his lasr wish She cried and protested, and
in the end she agreed.
I'm happy" were Rafertys last words,
when he had Joined his boss's hand TO that
OF the hystercal young wife. Then he died
with n smile.
Three days after the funeral Haas called
on the widow and proposed She at tirst
ever 10 marry him. he renewed the
proposal the next day and she agreed to
think It over. After that the courtship pro-
ceedcd to q point where she agreed 10 be-
come his WIFE She put off the marriage
from week 20 week, but at last consented to
accompany Haas 10 the Mayors office
There they were welded quickly.
Her friends say she has learned to love
Haas IN their brief courtship.