THE HALL CASE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1353, 28 September 1886, Page 2

THE HALL CASE.

EXaUMATION OF THE BODY OF THE LATE CAPTAIN CAIN.

Th's morning's Timaru Httald says that the opening of the grave of the late Captain Gain (who was interred in the Timaru Cemtery on the 28 h January last) took place on Monday even'ng, the work being commenced at 4.30 pm. amidst a driving rain, the coffin being reach’d after two hard work. The weather beirg so unfavorable, caused the clay to Boon get in a very sodden state, and on reaching the coffin torn) eight feet below the ground level, the gravedigcer found It nearly submerged la water. The sides of the grave h'-ving been trimmed round so that the coffin would lift easily Constable Kt nay remained in charge until nine o’clock, when, in the presence of Professor Ogs ouu, Dra Hogg, Maclntyre, ard Loregfoce, Inspector B - oham, Detective Kirhy, Messrs Perry, White, K nreraer, and the reprose.’ ta ives of the Lyttelton Times -nd Timaru Herald, the coffin wis brought t) the surface The coffin lid was nmshed in the process of lifting and >t was most plainly evident that the reman s of the deceased captain were in a very advanced stage of decomposition. The scene at the g'ave whilst operations were in full progress was a ghastly and horrible one. The weather was kern and old, the night a ’e ribly dark one, and the sky was enveloped iu heavy, threatening looking black clouds The scene, laid as it was in the cemetery, was enough to fi’l the spectato;s with horror, which was heightened by the bullseya and other lactams now and then flashing their rays on tombstones and grave”, and the sight of the ghast’y coffi i, c -vered in mud an I dripping with water, caused an involuntary shudder to pats through the assembled crowd. As soon as the dny had moved iff with its awful load, the crowd began to disperse, only the medical gentlemen, the police, and one or two other?, following it ta iho dead house at the hospital. Arrived there the coffi i was cirried in and opened by Mr Webb, the undertaker. Professor Ogaton and Dr Hogg then held a post mortem exami mtion, wh'ch was watched t y Dra Lovegrove, Maclntyre, and Stewait. The kidneys, liver, lungs, recfc Jtn, braic, and other portions of the late captain’s bod_, were removed ; in foot, very little but skin and bane wore Ufs; and were plac d in a vessel and sealed by the professor and the doctor. The por ions taken will be con -’ey ed to Dun’din to-lay, along with a portion of clay taken from the lid of the c< ftin at the head just before it wa» lifted out of the grave. The result of the analyst, which is most anxiously looked for, will be kmw.i In two or three days. Toe operat ; on took about half an hour, and the lid of the orffiu being again put on, It was taken back to the cemetery, and or oe mo e put iu the grave. At the midnight hour all was again quiet in the cemetery, and only the newly turned earth marked t e spot where the b:dy of the late Captain Cain had been exhumed.