THE WRONG CORPSE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8770, 23 March 1907, Page 1

THE WRONG CORPSE.

At Chapelizod, a village near ‘Dublin, a wake was held recently, . but it was the wrong corpse that was “ waked.” A man aged 80 died in a city institution, and the remains were taken home prior to interment. At the door of the residence of the deceased there were the customary pathetic scenes when the sad profession arrived, and a number of local men got ready to remove the coffin to the house. As soon as a few of them had the coffin on their arms they found it was an exceedingly heavy one, and could only be got in with the assistance of a couple of stalwarts. “It must be very thick wood,” said one of them, “ for he was not more than eight stone.” “I wonder if anyone could have put lead or stones in the coffin for a joke?” gasped another, as they struggled into the house with their burden. The coffin was eventually got into position, however, and the wake began. The lid was not lifted, and all through the night the necessary ceremonies were observed, and many kind things were said and recollections of the dead mon revived. One of the deceased’s relatives—a little girl— the following day expressed a desire to see the deceased man, and to appease her curiosity the coffin was opened. Then there arose a cry of surprise, for the people found they had been waking a comparatively young man, aged about 85 years, with a clean-shaven face, and, rich, ruddy locks, who weighed about 16 stone. The institution from which the remains came was telephoned to, and then it was found that the old man’s corpse was still in the mortuary. Before evening an exchange was effected, and a second *• wake ” was held.