THE LATE CAPTAIN BAILEY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9152, 6 September 1888, Page 5

THE LATE CAPTAIN BAILEY.

STATEMENT OF THE UNDERTAKER. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] Wellington, Wednesday. People here are in a paroxysm of excitement at the news that the late unfortunate Captain Bailey, master of the Colonist, wrecked on Friday at the Heads, after being five days dead and coffined was observed to opan and shut his eyes. Doctors, undertakers, jurymen, and all sorts of people have been interviewed to get an explanation of the affair. The undertaker sets the whole difficulty at rest by the following statement, showing that rigor mortis had set in : —The body was as cold and rigid as marble when placed in the coffin, and when it was being stripped, and the body turned over, about a pint of thick blood, with a little water, came from the mouth. After the jury viewed the body the eyes were open. Mr. Edwards washed the face, and closed the eyelids down. It is quite possible in the circumstances under which the eyelids were closed that when the outer coffin was taken off and the air admitted the eyelids opened ; but it is not possible that they should have again closed and again opened. One thing is suggested by this occurrence — namely, that in every case of sudden or violent death a medical certificate as to the fact of life being extinct should be required. No such testimony appears to have been given or sought in respect of Captain Bailey's death.