American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-07-01
A Remarkable Case of Mistaken
Identity.

A Remarkable Case of Mistaken
Identity.
The Chicago EUenissg Telegraph says
A very remarkable case of mistaken
identity came to light this morning
around the County building. A rail
road accident, funeral, and the subse
quent appearance of the supposititious
s'stiff" are the leading features of the
extraordinary affair, and happy house
hold its grand climax. On last Sunday
morning man was run over by an in.
coming train, at Evanston, and instant
ly killed. The corpse was at once iden-
titled by the people of the town as that
of Josiah Hill, who had formerly work
ed there for some time, but recently
had transferred the scene of his labors
to Winnetka. Word was at once sent to
his family, who live at No. "a Grant
Place, in this city, and they went out
and recognized the body. On the next
mornig Coroner's Jury was empanel-
ed, and a number of parties who had
amined, and swore to his identity. The
jury rendered verdict according to
the testimony, and the body was turned
over to the distracted family for burial.
They at once set to work to clothe it in
the habiliments of death. secured a fine
coffin, and fixed the day of the funeral
for Tuesday morning. A large number
of the friends of the family gathered on
the day to pay their last tribute of re-
spect to the deceased and condole with
the bereaved in their loss. Mr.. Hill
had been a resident of Chicago for 20
years; had lived in Evanston for some
time, and was widely known and re-
spected. The remains were taken to
Rose Hill Cemetery and laid away in a
lot belonging to brother of the de-
ceased.
But the sequel is stranger than fic-
lion. Yesterday, Deputy-Sheriff Kear-
ney had occasion to visit Winnetka on
official business, and while there was
surprised to see man re-
sembling Mr.. Hill, whom he had sworn
1T the Coroner's inquest to be the ver-
table Hill himself, and whom he had
seen lowered into the grave. He hailed
.he man, who was working in q garden
1t the time, and, on confronting him,
calculated: "Good God, is that you,
Mr.. HillP" An explanation followed,
md then it dawned upon Kearney's
mind and the man before him that here
was the most singular case of mistaken
IDENTIFY on record. Mr.. Hill demon
'trated his reality, and jumping into
me Deputy-Sheriff's buggy, fastened
INTO the city to relieve the sorrows of
his family, and prove that he still was
n the land of the living and not in the
cold embrace of death. Arriving home,
he entered the house, and SO great was
he surprise and reaction of grief that
Mrs. Hill tainted. At first she could
hardly believe her senses. She had full
y recognized the deceased man as her
and could not be mistaken, for
t was hardly week since he was at
lome. On being fully assured
If her mistake, she related to Mr.. Hill
low she had carefully examined the
corpse, found the right leg to be shorter
han the other, just like Hills right
eg, noted the similarity of size, looks
md features, how her friends had care
ully washed the corpse and fixed it
eady for the grave, and how she and
Ter daughter, a girl II years of age, had
,rieved over his death and given him as
rood funeral as their means would al
ow. Mr.. Hill was SO oppressed over
he situation that he could scarcely ex-
press himself, and his family so over
Dyed at the curious turn in the tragical
flair that tears of joy took the place of
orrow.
This morning Mr.. Hill set about to
ecure the removal of the remains of
he man, who occupied the place he ex-
'ects to occupy in death, and to this
md called upon County Attorney
sountree. Mr.. Rountree sent word to
he county undertaken to assist in the
and also sent word to the sec
etary of the Rose Hill Cemetery Com
,any to allow its transfer. The corpse
will be taken up tomorrow and de-
posted for few days for recognition
It the Morgue.