New-York tribune., 1912-06-12
HOUSE HALTS TO TELL
WIFE OF HUSBANDS END
Mrs. WiCkIiffe Chats in Gallery,
Not Knowing Representative
Was MangIed by Train.
LED TO SPEAKERS OFFICE
Colleague, About to Announce
Death on Floor, Stops When
He Spies Widow-She
Swoons When Told.
fFrom The Trihun. Rnrean.

Washington, June 11.-Without knowIedg &c
that her husband Representative Robert c.
Wickliffe. of Louisiana. had been killed
by train on the outskirts Of Washington
this morning. Mrs. Wickliffe occupied a
when Mr. Estopinsl, of that state, arose
TO announce tho tragic death ~ his col
lea que.
Mrs. Wickllffe vas chatting with her sis
ter as Mr.. Estopinsl stood with resolution
IN his hand 10 move that the House ad
,ourn out Of respect TO the memory of the
dead member Mrs. Wickliffe was recog
nized simultaneously by several members
on the floor and by Jerry South, chief clerk
The gentleman will please suspend q
moment" said Speaker Clark, waving Mr..
Fstorinal 20 his seat. The Speaker dis
patched Mr South with 2 message asking
Mrs N1ckliffe 70 come 10 Mr. Clsrks Of
Ace Scores OF eyes. some dim With tears
were turned upon the members gallery az
the chief clerk entered IT and asked the
yonug widow 10 come outside. On the way
70 the Speakers cf'ce sh. turned and
asked
What ,s wrong. Everybody Is looking
q. ire"
We can't tell you yet" said Mr. South.
= no by this time had been tc,ned BY Req
resentatives Estop,nsl, Cullop, OF Indiana,
and Helm. OF Alabama, all Of whom fol-
loved Mrs VtckuN4 into the Speakers
Once
Has anything happened 10 Bob" IN
1uired Mrs Ttckl!Ne, susrscting thai
something vas wrong
Bob has been hurt-slightly" said Cen
sral Estopinal. helping Mrs Vtckiifs TO 2
chair
"u.s ~. aesr nrcWredi"
HAS he been droTnedT sh. inquired, re
memberine tina. her husband talked o. 2
sho-t Nshing trip on ths Potomac today.
He ts dead" Nr ueNin fnslly said
rhsn NJ. Wictn~e suspected That rad
happened
REPRESENTATIVE Fcs,er. rho IS = physician,
-as summoned, ard administered restore-
tive. Within half en- hour III, wife Of RI.
louisiana member ras taken home
While members Q. the House we're seek
,rg woman friend 20 TELL Ny. T!ckliHe
9. the fatal accident Mrs. Champ Clark.
Mrs. Culiop ard Others were ~ tsNcabs
searching tor her Mrs. Wickl,ts, however
Rad lst, her horne .erly 70 60 shopping, ant
v.nt Immediately - the Capitol. where she
awaited N. appearance ct her husband cn
the Aoor
7, ,hs rr.s.ncs 81 Mrs. Tfcs!iNs had rot
been discovered IN the gallery as NJ. Es-
top!nel arose 70 NOV. that the House ad-
'ourr, st!li more pathetic scene might
have .nsued .s III. clerk read tbs an
nouncernent Al proceedings IN m. House
were stopped tor fully Ave minutes while
the member. waited for Mrs. Wtckl!ke -
leave The gallery. Her seat was 50 situated
tha, she vas unable ~ see ths crepe BE-
decked dssk ~ her husband.
Mystery II WickliHs's DEATH
Mys.sry sill surrounds the manner y
which NJ Wicklltte Was killed by e south
bound train az the north snd Of the re!l-
read bridge across the Potomac. az the
entrance 70 Potomac Park. " Is supposed
r. was or z fishing t-to and vas knocked
from the track. The police are now in-
vestigat!ng the rssponsib ibl!ty for his death
and are seeking information from ths crew
ot II. train. The engineer said he saw
Ny Wictlire too late TO avoid the acci-
den.
Despite sign 81 the point 1hsrs hs
vas KILLED warning against trespassing or
the railroad property, Mr Wicklifre was seer
10 climb the elevation. apparently uncon-
scious OF an onconl!ns train. deep cash
was on his forehead and the body ia.
badly crushed Mr. Wickliffes watch had
stopped at e25 4 m. His body was laid
on the green near the track and later
carried 10 the morgue.
Mr.. Wickliffe wss alone when killed He
wss paired az the House Of Representa-
ttves yesterday with Representative pupr'
for to-day and tocularly explained 10 I'll,
pair clerk that he was going on "A hehins
trip"
Mr.. Wickliffe vas Democrat. thirty
eight wears old, and had served two terms
IN Congress- lie vas q son OF Robert {
Wicklffe. a. one time Governor Of Ken
tucky. HIS grandfather served az Post
master General IN tho Cabinet Of Presiden
Tyler
Mrs Wicklife was one OF the promoters
Of the recent Dolly Madison breakfast tr
this city and has been prominent smcns
the Democratic women OF the capital. Be-
fore her marriage she pas Miss Lydia W
Cooke. of Louisville.