PREMATURELY COFFINED.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 136, 31 May 1876, Page 4

PREMATURELY COFFINED.

Patrick; Rafferty, a laborer in the 'stoneyard near the Point bridge, Providence, fell in a fit in the yard one morning. A recently licensed undertaker was sent for, and he felt Mr jßafferty's hands and face, and -finding . tbem cold and clammy, supposed him ito be dead. He was taken to the undertaker's establishment, and after ja few minutes was placed in a casket iand.thelid screwed down. The undertaker and two laborers lifted the coffin land were bearing it to the waggon, when a kick on the lid of the coffin was heard. The undertaker asked the men if they wanted to spoil the coffin by kicking it, and they replied tbey had not kicked it. Just as tbey spoke ja tremendous kick was heard, and the, men holding the rear of the coffin' [dropped it, and, scaling the fence, | were soon out of sight. The end held by the undertaker soon became too heavy, ' and he dropped it, the coffin falling on its face, when from the wood a man crept out, puzzling the undertaker more than any trick he bad ever witnessed. It was some time before he could realise b6w a live man ! could come from a coffin containing a dead man, but he was soon notified and : helped the now resurrected man to his : home.. This was the second case the '•■ undertaker had ever had, and two

queries are uppermost in hie mind, to : wit :• *Is it ' right* to send a bill for a coffin to a live man?. Second, do many ! people desire second-hand coffins? The j victim was confined to his bed for a day from fright, but will probably be 1 all right in a day 'or, two.