SIMPLE CEREMONY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 578, 8 July 1933, Page 3

SIMPLE CEREMONY

JUDGE'S F14NERAL . BODY TAKEN TO CEMETERY IN SHROUDED HEARSE. MR. JUSTICE McCARDIE. Mr. Justice McCardie, who committed suicide while in a state -of depression, follewing dllness, was buried in the family vault at Witton cemetery, Birmingham, with the xitmost simplicity, on May 4. The time and pla.cei of the funeral had been kept secret, and only members of the family and & few friends were present. The eoffin, brought from London by road on May 3, had lain during the night in the Edgbaston garage, formerly a clubroom of the Bath Gymnastic Assoeiation, of which Sir Henry MeGardie was once h'onorary secratary. it was taken to the cemetery in the morning in a horsedrawn hearse with drawn blinds, followed by one funeral carriage earrying the bearers. On top of the hearse were about a dozen wreaths. As the simple cortege passed along the three miles of streets to the cemetery many people stopped and raised their bats, but not one knew that the hidden coffin contained the body of one of England's best-known judges. The press of traffic halted the hearse for a few moments outside the law courts. The gates were closed behind the hearse, to be opened a few minutes later to admit the few mourners, who arrived by car. A short private service in the Nonconformist chapel was conducted by the Rev. W. S. Houghton, a former minister of Francis Road Congregational Ghurch, Edgbaston, which Sir Henry attended as a boy. Sixteen people — five of them women — were present, including Miss Elsie ; McCardie (sister), Dr J. W. McCardie (brother), Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Bindley (sister and brother-in-law), and Mr. P. H. McCann, Sir Henry's personal clerk. So far as could be ascertained there was nobody present from Hunstanton, whence Mr. Justice McCardie was a frequent visitor. After a brief service at the graveside the cofiin was lowered into the vault where lay the bodies of Sir Henry's father and mother. The vault j was last opened 30 years ago. | The few floral tributes included a bunch of sweet peas, their stems wrap- ; ped in silver paper, with the inscripI tion: "In rememberance of the kind- , ness and courtesy shown to all who served him/' and an anchor of blue forget-me-knots, addressed: "To our beloved judge, from Nellie," and the words. — There is no fireside, howso-er defended But has one vacant chair. A wreath from the Birmingham and Edgbaston Debating Society bore the words: "In honoured memory of u most distinguished member," and a bunch of tuLips and iris was inscribed: "With ever loving thought for Uncle Harry, from Ruth and Ronald."