“CORPSE” COMES TO LIFE

Grey River Argus, 9 November 1931, Page 8

“CORPSE” COMES TO LIFE

AND GETS DRUNK. Not every corpse achieves, the distinction of being run in for being drunk and disorderly on the eve of its funeral, but one has done it in Strasburg. A policeman on his beat at midnight found a man. lying in the gutter hopelessly intoxicated. When partially sobered at the station,‘the man gave his name as Richen, and his address, but when an officer went to verify the statement he found the house shut up. The neighbours told him that R then’ bad died two days before, and that the funeral would take place, that morning. It was only when Richen had got over his hectic nighjt that the mystery was cleared up. He had been ill, and had fallen into a deep sleep the doctor mistook for death. The night before the funeral the widow and family left the house to pass the night with relatives, and then the corpse came round. He climbed out of the coffin, dressed, enjoyed the food and drink (especially the drink) that was ready for his funeral feast, and finally daggered off merry and bright in search of his relatives. He collapsed in the street, only dead drunk this time, leaving the police the delicate duty of breaking [the news gently. When the mourners arrived, they were greeted by the corpse in person, and told their presence was only needed to celebrate the return of 4he “dead.” The nia n and his family are suing the doctor who signed the death certificate, alleging incompetence and claiming damages, in addition to the cost of all the outlay for family mourning a nd the elaborate funeral.