The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-04
WAKING A sTRAYGER's BODY
The Sequel to the Mistaken Identification. by
Two Families.

The body OF John George WEIGH, which
was walked during three nights by the stapleton
family at 80 Monroe street, was taken to the
Morgue yesterday morning. Keeper White
said that whom the body was first taken to tho
Morguo on Wednesday evening he informed
julius Welch OF 274 RivinRton street that the
body resembled the description Of John George
Welch, his brother. drowned on Sunday
of East Seventyfrst street. julius accord
inRly went to the Morgue without an under
taker or q burial permit Soon afterward a
brother and two cousins Of John Stapleton Of
80 Monroe street. whose clothes were found be-
hind post at Market street and the East river
on Tuesday. and who had been missing since
Sunday went to the Morguc to SEQ II tho body
was not that OF John Staplcton. They were
fully prepared to believe that It was. The po-
lice officer at the foot Of Grand street. when tho
body was taken from the water, had said to
those rescuing it: Don't stick that ice pick
into the body. It's John Stapleton." Many form
er friends OF his had seen the body and taken
the news to his homo. Wclch weighed 100 pounds
less than Stapleton. but the body was bloated
The brother hesitated to say that the identinca-
ton was perfect but, seeing the scar on the
forehead and another on tho back OF the hoad
the closely cut hair. and considering the gen
eral contour OF tho face. decided that IL was
John Keeper White says that the iStapletons
were so sure OF their position that he let the
body 20. None OF the family saw the body that
night. 1t was in close ice-box while il was
being walked.
,Mcanwhlle. on Thursday morning, julius
Wclchs undertaken c. Naucrt. 101 Fifth street
went to the Coroner's office for burial permit
but was told that the Stapletons had claimcd the
body. Julius went to see the body ut 35 Monroe
street. but could not be certain that 1t was his
brothers. The Stapletons were. therefore, all
hG more e%SpSinesd that the body was that Of
appearance OF Stapleton The cook OF Il vessel.
TOO, had seen Stapleton when he first went
the body was walked as stapleton's again
and Julius Welch went home. Returning again
to Mooproe street on Friday, morning to make
sure TINT there was no mistake about the idon-
tlncaton, Julius found the stapetons not so
sanguine that the body was theirs, The face
and the German type Of features was recog-
nizable; They remembered that John Staple
had full set oi,teeth. The hair was a trine
longer than Stapleton's. but in general
appearance the fnce was strikingly like that
wagon ready to take away the body. but the
SStapetons objected. SAYING that the body
and nothing except Morgue order or one from
DR.. Miller, should take 1t away. Besides, there
ice for keeping the body. to b. met. and Michael
Stapleton, Jr.. who Is employed 10y W. II. Ken
nedy nndertaker. 40 Pearl street. wanted
WIS taken away. But Julius speaks English
imperfectly, and either coul d not or would not
German followed between the brothers. Julius
and Michael, Jr., but Julius refused to settle.
DR.. Miller. however, sent for the Morgue dead
wagon to take the body away. The wagon did
not arrive on Friday evening. and the Staple
tons kept candles burning all night over the
body. though convinced that twas that Ct n
Protestant.
The Stapeton brothers helped. yesterday to
take the body out Of their house, and. looking
estant body will get three such good wakngs
as that. And think OF the smalness q net even
that the family Will pay for the ice and have
nothing moro TO say. The body was taken from
the Norgue 70 Cndsrtaker Naucrts l0l Fifth
street. Nclch WAS the youngest Of three BROTH
ers who came from Germany q short time ago
Their parents live in the Old country John
Fifth street near Avenue y. who have. offared
To dciray tn expenses Of his burial: but they
have moi offered 10 pay for tho ice. Welch be-
from the undertaken to-day ana buried IN tho
Lutheran Cemetery in Newtown. L. l.. without
Alter the Stapletons had sent away the body
that they walked, two brothers went to staten
days before in the bay. near Stapleton and
picked up by tug boat; The Staplctons learned
on Friday that this body, answering to the de-
serirtiqn Of John. was at the county poor house.
f Pt m tSSu iF2% fha Weh bo 9E?'R Md: T H.
house and was almost sure that he
Was right in the second II MITIGATION.
| However. 10 be sure he took Michael.
| Jr.. with him yesterday. Had the family
| not learned that the body was there, it would
| have been hurled on the Same day Friday in
| the Potter's field. As the body wns advanced m
| decomposition. the brothers decided not to take
| It home. but that they would leave everything
rs IL WIS in the room al home and have a wake
with the empty ice-hON there and the candl les
lighted and the mirror and clock drnpel. The
friends should como in again and Of, r cunso la-
ton now that the lost was found. surely. they
said after waking a stranger lrotestants body
Tor three nights they ought to wake their own
got home the icc-hoX had been taken away. tn,
candles laid aside and the mirror and clock IN
| clothed. They were indignant. and could not
| be pacihed. Michael Staplcton. the father, how
ever, shook his head positively. and said hat he
and his daughters. Kate and Maggie. had sent
| back the things To the undertaker'- Should his
son. he asked. bc walked with the same appa-
ratus that strangers body had been walked
| with for three nights? 1t was lad enough 10
| have made the mistake. hu, II would be worse
| 10 have mock wake. Then the sons argued
| that mock wakes were not uncommon. but the
| father remained firm. and there was no mock
wake. The body il to be taken TO- day to Calvary
| ItaF 4faPN from TIT 1.lu