The family of Joseph Crane discovered his coffin empty.

Panic spread quickly.

Cryer examined the grave and found no sign of disturbance.

He studied the burial records and discovered that the wrong coffin had been lowered.

Crane's body had been placed in a neighbouring grave by mistake.

The gravedigger had concealed the error rather than admit it.

The missing corpse was found exactly where Cryer expected.

The scandal ended quietly.

The gravedigger did not.