Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1877-01-18
Mistaken Identity.

One OF the most sing liar eases of mis-
taken identity ever brought to light has
just taken place at ottawa. Canada.
On the afternoon OF the 10Th OF Septem-
Der last, Il dying man was found by a farm
er living al Edwardsburg, lying on the
roadslu., about seven miles from Prescott.
The farmer brought him to the latter place
where lie died, evidently from sheer >tary-
alton, having been lying around the COun-
try side without any visible means Of sup
port, Tor several days. An inquest having
been held, a verdict was recorded in ac-
cordanCc with The facts, and he was buried
at the public expense. Meanwhile, the
prevailing opinion was that the uufortun-
ate man had been l resident OF Ottawa.
aud many people there who had friend,
from nome, they knew not where located,
grew anxious, and compared the descrip-
tiun giNcn OF the deceased with that ct
htm on whose account they were 20 uu
easy.
Now Mrs. Hughes, who resides on y
olas street between Rideau and St. Tau.
in that city, had husband who lcIt the
city IN July, 1915, that is to say, fourteen
months before the date ol the sad event,
but She was morally certain, from the de-
scriptions given in the papers, that it was
her husband who had been buried IN Pres
colt. Acting on her apprehensions, she
started for that town on the fifth day after
the burial, and after very great difficulty.
succeeded IN having the grave opened, the
lid OF the coffin taken OIL and the body eX-
huhed. IL was "A dlsag greeable TASK, and
Mrs. Hughes was requested several times
to deslst and rest satisfied with the des
crlptlon which had been given in the Otta-
wa Times, but she persevered
At length everything was ready for in
spectiOn, and she found that so tar as the
state OF tine body would permit, every
mark corresponded. even TO the most hi
mute particular, with those she knew to
have been on her husband. The heig ht
and apparent age correspondent in mark
ed degree, and as Hughes had served in
the One Hundredth regiment OF Foot, Mrs.
Hughes brought his discharge with her,
ANA the description OF his person therein
gwen exactly csrresponded with the body
lying before them when in life. such was
tue opinion of all present at the examna-
ton. TO add 10 the proofs OF identity,
She mentioned before the coffin was open
ed ali these particulars, and in addition,
that her husband wore long black coat
which, on inspection, proved t" be the
case. Thoroughly satisfied that she was Il
widow, the relict of Mr.. Hughes had the
body re-interrcI. and came back to Otta-
wa, wht re, acting on the advice OF Major
Buckley, she had affidavts prepared for
her by Mr., J. J. kehoe, embodyug the
facts OF the case.
The DAYS aud weeks rolled on, and time
was beginning TO wear off the edge OF
Mrs. Hughes sorrow for her lost husband,
when to her astonishment and delight, he,
whom she thought had been buried under
the earth, walked into her presence one
morning. Hughes was in profound ignor-
ance of all that had happened. and had
himself undergone strange reverses OF tor
tune while away from Ottawa. He had
two very pretty little girls, and when the
eldest saw him enter she exclaimed, Ma.
has papa, come up out of the ground -
All the friends of james Hughes. except
one. agreed with his wife that it was the
body of her husband which was buried 10
Prescott, and that one was his hi other, who.
by some strange instinct. could never be
brought 10 believe it, though why she
could not very well explain. Hughes had
had very narrow escape from death dur
lag his sojOurn at the other side. He was
one OF the sutferers By the OIL train taking
fire in Pennsylvania, and causing the death
of seven aid the injury Of about fifty. He
was taken to the hospital in a very bad
state and remained there three months be.
tween lie aud. death. but ultimately recoy-
cred. he is by no means like dead man
at present, nor even like one who had
been dead. He sis as hale and hearty as
any man in the city Of Ottawa.