One could argue that the death of Mr. and Mrs. White's son, Herbert, and the company's subsequent payment of two hundred pounds is a coincidence. The day after Mr. White makes his first wish, for two hundred pounds, a messenger from Herbert's place of work visits the family with terrible news. He proceeds to inform the Whites that Herbert died in a tragic work accident and that they will receive two hundred pounds as compensation for Herbert's death. The company's payment could simply be explained as a coincidence and does not necessarily prove that the monkey's paw is magic.

However, Mr. White's second wish, for his son to return from the grave, comes true and is not a coincidence. Hours after Mr. White makes his second wish, he hears a mysterious knocking at their door and realizes that Herbert has returned to their home as a living corpse. Given the fact that the White residence is far removed from society, there is very little possibility that a wandering traveler would knock on their door in the middle of the night and then simply vanish after Mr. White makes his third wish. If a random traveler did knock on their door multiple times, why would they leave just before the door opens? Also, Mr. White would surely witness the random traveler walking away after he opens the door. Therefore, it is no coincidence that the knocking stops and there is no one on the opposite side of the door after Mr. White makes his third wish, for Herbert to return the grave.