The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-03
MISTAKEN TDnNrIFIc.ITIOx
What was Walked as Stapieton's b dy Proves
TO be shat Of John @. WEIGH.


The body Of drowned man was fround in
the East Ri' r III Grand street on Wednesday,
Tho sandy hair was cut close. there was a scar
over the right eye, AMI the face was smooth
The body. which was naked. was 1--WE
feet four inches in height. and must
have weighed about 1870 pounds. It was
sent 10 thr Morguc and that evening was iicn-
tincl as the body Of John Staplcton aged &c. of
50 Monroe street. S,aplcton was drowned at
Market street on Sunday. He had on an under
shirt. Tho keeper of the Morgue. having no
reason to doubt this Identification, delivered
tho body to an undertaken. who took il to IS Mon
roe street. There was wake the rest ofthe night
No suspicion seems to have been entertained
tnat there could be any mistake in the identitl,
cation. although John Stnplcton weighed $50
pounds, whereas tho body supposed to be his
was at least 100 pounds lighter. Tho leo box
that contained the body WAS kept closed. 50 that
no one saw the body after its Ident hcntiOn by
the dead mans brother in tho Morgue.
When DR.. Miller went to the house the following
Gny to perform an autopsy, the Saplaton~ were
full ot proofs Of Identification. Michael Stapla-
ton, the father. testified g having identified mis-
sons clothes In the Madison street Police
station. II was also said that watrhman had
seen Stapeton about To jump In the water at
Market street TO take swim. and had sgid to
him, Good night Fatty. I'm going TO bed"
While DIR. Miller was getting these supposed
proofs that the body was that OF staplaton the
friends Of John George WEIGH. n Protestant
Srventy-second street on sunday, entered the
house. They had been to the Morgue. and from
the description Of the body supposed to be- that
Of Stapleton. they thought il was TINT Of Wclrh.
But they could L!t positively identity the body.
Accordingly the body continued to be cOn-id-
cred that 81 Siaple,on. and there was another
wake on Thursday night.
.,Welch's brother julius wont again % 35
Monroe street yesterday. and he said that he
was sure that the body was that of his brother
and not Siapl"ton; The face was less hlonted
than when the body was first taken out Of the
r.. If "A
Staplcion. Staplcton's friends for the first time
said, That not Johnny" hut would not
permit the body 10 be removed until the eX-
pense OF putting il on Ice. and the other charges
Of the undertake.. had been met. They were
strenuous on that point because brother Of
SStnpIet4n was IN the employ Of the undertaken,
W. j. Kennedy 81 40 Pearl street. who had
charge ,lnlg OF the body Julius ,Wclch. who
was that Of. his brother, ' was as about bout
TO take It to his home. but his effort was resisted
and he was told To- appeal 10 the Coroner. He
therefore sought DR.. Miller. and told him that
his brother went Ia bathing at East seventy
jumping into the, water, although he
notwithstanding the efforts Of a cousin
VINO was also bathing. g save him. was
drowned. H. heard on Wednesday evening
ihat the body, Of drowned man. HAD been
found at Grand street. and taken othe Morgue.
H. wont 10 the Mprgue Thursday. and found
ihat me b3dy bad been remoy,d under the
He went TO the house, bqi could not
identity the body until he hal nude a
second visit. when he recognized il BY scar on
the right forehead. the short hair. as well as
the expression ~ face.
DR.. Miller telcgraphed for the drad wagon to
take the body IN dispute To- the Morgur. where
the irients o. 10th men Will m'ot this morning.
While the Wrlchc- were trying - prove that
the body supposed 20 Dee that OF Stipeton was
that % John q. Wc!ch. the body of John staple
ton was found. by somewhat singular oo.nei-
dence of singleton ). |. Il was identified 10y
the same brother who hid made the mi stakc in
regard 10 Wclch's body. but who this time is
sure be Is right. A nernt is TO Ice eotto-day to
rcnuvc the body 10 IS Monroe street.
The dead wagon which was TO remove
WEIGH body. had moi. arrived up 10 a late hour
last evening. Al midnight the body was still
laying In the paror. Candles burned at the
head Of the coihn. although il WAS known that
Nelch had not been a Catholic The neighhor-
fiorked to the house in such throngs that police
officers had g be calledto keep them away. The
Supetons think that Welch's friends should
pay Tor the Ice used. ana that tn charge Tor tho
candles - Legitimate, Tn" Stapleions have
paid out sij. Wc.ch's friends refuse 10 nay
even the cost u tho ire