EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2961, 12 November 1925, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY CASE.

“DEAD” MAN FOUND TO BE STILL ALIVE. Auckland, November 11. An extraordinary cast of mistaken identity has been revealed. The body of a man found in the harbour last Saturday was identified as that of John Gallagher, also called Hobartown Jack aged 70. He was identified by a man who said that he was a friend of 15 years’ standing and was buried on Monday, it being stated that members of his family attended the funeral. It was found to-day that Gallagher was alive in Ness Valley, Papakura, this fact being vouched for by his son.

Questioned regarding the position, Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., the Coroner who presided at the inquest, said he considered that there should be no great difficulty. He emphasised that the inquest had not been concluded and no verdict had been given. A written notification that he was alive would probably be required from Gallagher or else, what would l)e more conclusive, he could attend with the witness who identified him as deceased. Probably it would be necessary also to exhume the body of deceased for further identification. Mr. Hunt thought it would be in his power as Coroner to make the order for exhumation, but that could be decided by reference to the Statutes.