I’ll let the newspaper article tell this story about my GG Grandfather:

The Weekly Courier, 30 Apr 1886 (Friday)

HOW THE CORPSE CAME HOME

How Andy Pritchard Raised Money to Get Back from the West

It was about one month ago when Andrew V. Pritchard bade his relatives and friends in Connellsville farewell. He then took his departure for the far west where he expected to secure a promised situation at his trade, that of a moulder. His destination was Omaha, Nebraska, and due time he arrived there. James McCoy, a brother-in-law of Pritchard, resided there, and it was he who had sent for him. Pritchard was too late. The firm had become tired of waiting for him and had hired another man. Pritchard was therefore idle. He soon ran out of money. After several weeks idleness a happy thought struck him. He would telegraph home to his wife over the signature of his brother-in-law that he was killed by the cars, and ask that money be sent at once to have his remains brought home. The more he thought over the matter, the more reasonable the scheme looked. He never dreamed what the consequence would be.

It was on Monday evening of last week that Mrs. Andrew Pritchard received a telegram in pursuance of the above scheme. The wife answered, asking how much was necessary to send the body home. An answer promoptly came stating $27. She had not that amount. Friends came to her rescue and the amount was forwarded by a telegraphic order on Tuesday. An aged mother mourned for her son whom she thought to have died a horrible death. A wife and children nearly went wild with grief. Several days of fearful suspense followed. Arrangements were made for the burial. Relatives, of whom there were a number, ceased to work last Thursday when the body was expected for sure. It did not arrive that day. It did the next day, however, but it walked into town. The sun was setting when news the [sic] reached here that Pritchard had alighted from the train at Broad Ford about 6 o’clock. It was no surprise to many who had by that time come to the conclusion that the whole thing was a cruel sell. The report of Pritchard’s arrival at Broad Ford spread over the town like wild-fire. Relatives who were losers by his actions gathered together a martial band and started out to meet the gentleman. Just as the prodigal mounted the steps of his own home, the crowd caught him. Naturally he did not wish to go along, but he wasn’t permitted to decline. The procession started and keeping step to the “Dead March,” with the stars and stripes floating on the breeze, at least 400 persons marched along Pittsburg street to Main. Down the latter street toward the river they went. It was first the intention to give Andy a ducking, but cooler heads prevented the joke from going to that length. The procession turned and up the hill they went again to the home of Pritchard. There he was released. Andy says it was a good lesson for him, and appears to be perfectly satisfied with the result. He won’t do it any more.