A Bogus Wake

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 126, 1 June 1904, Page 4

A Bogus Wake

An amusing case was heard in the Dublin Police Court, when a middleaged woman, named .Mary O'Neill, ol .'if) Cook Street, was charged with having obtained thy sum of £8 by means of false pretences from tiie British Legal Life Assurance and Loan Company. Mr James Brady, for the company, said a woman named Bridget Council was insured in the company on May 6, 181J5, for £.B, payable at death. On March 16 O'Neill put Mrs Connell in l)ed and placed lighted candles at her head and feet, preliminary to "waking " her. She told the "corpse" that if anybody came into the room while she was absent she was not to say a word, and to keep her eyes shut. (Laughter). Then Mrs O'Neill proceeded to Dr. Newell ami made a declaration that Mrs Connell his patient, was dead. She obtained a death certificate, and armed with this document she called on, the manager of the insurance company ami received JCB, the amount of the policy. 'l'he "corpse" eventually revived, and she went to the insurance company's oflice, where she said to the manager, " 1 am IJridget Connell. 1 am not dead at all. Why did you pay tlie amount of my policy ?" (Laughter.) Bridget Connell said she paid the premiums on the policy. • Mr Brady—Do you remember being laid out. Witness—Yes. I had been in bed ill for a good many months pasl. And candles were lit ?—I remember one candle being lit by Mary O'Neill who is my neice. She told me she was "trimlin" in every hone in her body. She expected ihe baiiills, and went out leaving me in bed. And did you pretend to be dead ? (Laughter).—N'o, 1 did not. What happened V—Slie told me not to be frightened, that she was going out to get money, and that f was not to be annoyed. (Laughter.) And if anybody came in you were to keep your eyes shut ?—Yes. (Laughter.) Did they put a shroud around vou > -No.

You did all ,vou \rcrp asked In tfo ■> —Yes; 'but nobody came in. In tinevening J was told by a little girl that -llary O'Xeil, was in a cal) driving about. High Street in company with some other people. (Laughter.) Having a high time of it 7—Yes, w-ith a soldier and coal porter. And then you revived ?—Yes. (Laughter.; You didn't get any of the money 7 —No , liol a penny. f l here was a real live wake and a real Jive corpse anil there was plenty of porter 7—Yes ; they got in porter, and they got in another candle and put it in a bottle. They were all (lancing and "lopping'' ü bout the ■boards. (Laughter.) lint you get any of the porter ? Yon, 1 got a sup. (Laughter.) Tiie Accused—When we went to lay her out she came to life and we nil rushed out. (Loud laughter.)