WEDDING PRESENT TRAGEDY.

Mataura Ensign, 11 July 1906, Page 1

WEDDING PRESENT TRAGEDY.

o— DEATHIiKD MAKMAGE.

A deathbed marriage service was colobratod in the accident ward of the Presbyterian Hospital, Philadelphia, on May 19, in peculiarly affecting circumstances.' The young bride, whose dying gasps spoke the marriage vow, was Bessie Kegent, and the young man to whom she consecrated the last hours of her life was David J. C'oldren, by whoso hand fate had cut the young life short.

Saturday was the appointed .weddingday, and the voting couple with reln».i"es were preparing a room for the ceremony ami unpacking some wedding presents which had arrived lato. Among them was a revolver from one of the bridegroom's friends.

"Here, Bessie," said tho bridegroom, "put this thing away somewheio safe." He took it froni the box and sho roached out her hand for it. There was an cxplosiou, and the girl fell screaming. She was hurried to the hospital, where the wound was pronounced mortal. When told of the seriousness of her condition sho said, "Send for Dave; I want to bo married before 1 die."

The priest telephoned for a policeman, who, guarding tho sobbing '.n-iddgioora pending the enquiry, officiated as best man. Tho coremony was hurriedly rerformed.

"Ho did not mean it. It was nn incident. Don't let them arrest him," the gill managed to say before sho fell back unconscious.

Nevertheless at the conclusion of the ceremony tho young husband was taken to prison.