Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-24
VICTIM OF HIRED
ASSASSIN BURIED
Detective Eppley, Murdered
by Gunman in Political
Orgy, Laid at Rest
HoNoRED AS A HERO
By M,LIss

Thrbngs to the nunlOer OF thousands
snrged into the little house OF j1l6 Merton
avenue, where lay the body Of the mar
tyred detective who gave up his life in the
performance of his duties when the
"Bloody Fifth" helped along by imported
gunner, saw redder than r. It's usual wont.
These same throngs. which had been
forming outside the home since o'clock
this morning. doubled as the time for the
requiem at ST Gregory's Catholic Church.
Fifty-second street and Lancaster avenue,
approached.
And when the door opened and the body
of the young detective. followed by the
white-haired grier-stricllen mother whose
sole support he was, carried through
the long blue-coated lane formed by 120
policemen, members Of Eppleys former dis
trict the Twenty and more than one
hundred detectives Of the vice squad, the
crowds FASTENED TO the church: There they
filled the pews, the aisies the doors leading
into the sacristy and rectory. the choir and
the vestibues They blocked the steps and
the adjacent streets
Theirs were not the faces of the idly
cur ious Many. particularly those who sat
IN the pews nearest the altar, wore the
stamp of genuine GRIEF at the departure Of
one for whom they had a great affection;
but the sterH grim looks of tho majority
was a silent criticism of the state of things
that could permit such u tragedy as this to
happen.
It is doubtful. judging from the temper
of that crowd, if his Honor the Mayor, or
Lieutenant Bennett. or Mr.. Ike" Deutsch
would have been permitted to pay their
: respects on this "deplorable' occasion,
"BE THOU ALSO READY"
BE thou, also ready for at what hour
vnf pf ,tf1
come"
When the Rev Father Nicholas A. Travo.
the ardent young priest who celebrated the
mass, announced that text as the subject of
his stirring euiogy Of the young man. the
brave mothers control gave way. Ever
since the killing, which took place at the
primary election on september 10 Mrs,
Theresa Eppley has been III. Sobs shook
the frail. slender body. and the lined face
behind her transparent black veil worked
convusively. Her head bowed in her
hands and She could no longer keep her
grief inaudbe, Relatives and friends who
thought they had themselves well in hand
were affected by their sorrow and the
vision of the mothers plight. The wave
of emotion that swept the assemblage
threatened TO drown out the words Of the
priest.
Father Travo confined his sermon to gen.
eralites. No harsh recriminations or bald
accusations were necessary to intensity the
bitterness in the heart of every thinking
person present
MET DEATH AS A HERO
",rhe great war Of nations going on
abroad" the priest said has dyed the
helds of Europe crimson with the blood or
heroes but there are other heroes. George
Eppley fought war tor his immortal soul
He saw his duty and he did not fail. Death
had no terrors for Eppley. He carried with
him a belief in the spiritual value of tem-
perance and sense of duty that led him
to his sudden death. His death came when
he was looking forward to long and happy
future, when he was in the full vigor OF
his manhood
Many of the congregation believe
Father Travo's reference TO "a long aud
happy future to have had an especial
Significance Miss Jennie Finnegan a
pretty bueleyed woman who. all in black,
sat with the family, is said to have been the
young detectives sweetheart. No date for
their marriage had been chosen, it was said,
but she was waiting until he could take
care of her and his mother, too This girl.
according 10 member of the Eppley
family. has been the bereaved mothers
chief consolation since the untmely death.
1t was she who sent the floral tribute which
stood pre-eminent among the hundreds that
came to the home II was a heart fash
toned of blood-red roses and bore the
words, From your dear driend, Jennie"
BEAUTIFUL FLORAL TRIBUTES
A great wreath of lilies and white dahlias
was sent by the family OF Mercantile
Appraiser James a. Carey, who lies danger
ousy beaten up at his home, injured in the
same fracas that caused Eppley's death.
Also among the floral gifts were one
from the Twenty-ninth Police District, one
from the Forty-fourth Ward Republican
executive committee. one from the Police
Benevolent Protective Association and one
from the Pennsylvania Railroad detectives.
The bGdy reposed in a couch casket in
the parlor of the home, which was unable
to accommodate the great banks of flowers.
Over the body a beautiful canopy of
nie' lace, interviewer with flowers.
At the head and foot OF the casSet burned
tho caudelabra in accord with the religious
faith of the murdered detective, His head
ressed near pillow of roses, bearing the
Inscription, MY Son" It was the mothers
offerlng on the bier Of her hero-boy.
Pennsylvania Railroad police sent huge
spray of lilies. A broken column was
the offering OF the police OF the Twenty
ninth District Flowers were also sent by
Joseph s.. MRcL lughltn, Director. of Sup
plies.
"A Ciasped in the hands Of the detective
was a spray Of white roses bearing the
name Jennie" II told mutely Of the lit
tie tragedy wrought in the life Of girl
BY the useless murder of the young detec-
tice.
In the throng outside the house as the
body was borne TO the hearse were Judge
Eugene c. Bonniwen of the Municipal
Court. and Mrs Bonniwell, Superintendent
OF Police Robinson and former Director OF
Public Safety George ID. Porter, who had
also been at the house the night before.
Director Of Public Safety Wilson was not
seen Mayor Smith was not there.
EVERY INCH A MAN"
Il had TO come out" said Mr. Porter.
II knew Eppley. He was not big man,
bat he was every inch man. When he
was told to do thing he did il II he could
and II he couldn't he didn't come back with
excuses. He was a real man"
The pallbearers we're Frank Hart. act
ing house sergeant william Whalen act
Ing street sergeant; Dennis Martin acting
detective. and Thomas Kerns, patrolman all
Of the Twenty-ninth District; Oden Eisl-
mann. william Palmer, Philip Pachellio
and John Burns, all OF the vice squad
The deacon OF the mass was Father
Francis j. Conway the subdeacon. Father
Maurice Walsh. In the sanctuary also
we're Father Lamb Of st. Joseph's and
Fafher Strumia, OF Holy Angels
Miss Margaret McMullen. daughter OF
lIughie slcAIullen, OF the Twenty-ninth Dis
fricl who commanded Eppley when he was