EXTRAORDINARY AFFAIR AT RAINHILL ASYLUM

PACKING OFF THE WRONG BODY, AN INTERRUPTED "WAKE."

Some time ago a poor fellow, of Irish origin, resident in Everton, Liverpool, developed symptoms of insanity, and was in due course transferred to Rainhill Lunatic Asylum, where he was put through the usual treatment for mental diseases. Very little was heard of him, except what was picked up in the periodic visits friends were allowed to make to the institutions. There was not, however, apparently any great ground for uneasiness, and the family, which consisted of five daughters, was rather startled on Sunday week on receiving an intimation that the man had died. The relatives proceeded to the asylum, and in due course got possession of the body, which has taken to Liverpool, where it was mourned over as that of a beloved and unfortunate parent. Meanwhile a considerable amount of insurance money had been drawn on the strength of the man's death, and a "wake" was held on Wednesday evening over the corpse. The party was making merry in the old-fashioned style when a rousing knock came to the door. On being answered, it was found that a messenger from Rainhill, who was said to be a doctor, had arrived in hot haste. The "wake" party was rather astonished to hear, when he recovered his breath, the startling information, "You have got the wrong corpse." The "wake" was stopped, and the funeral, which should have taken place the following day, postponed. Further enquiries show that a request was made to the family that the body should be removed as early as possible. Upon the relatives proceeding to the institution they were unable to identify the body, some of them remarking that he was very much altered, but they were dissuaded to the contrary. The body was removed, the death certificate was obtained in the ordinary course, and the relatives having had the deceased insured, procured the amount and proceeded duly to hold a wake upon the body. It appears from what can be gathered that there were two people of the same name confined in the institution, and hence the blunder.

PRESCOT REPORTER 17th March 1894