OK... this is a silly problem but as of yet I haven't found an answer:

I have a MagLite flashlight. 4-cell. The innermost battery leaked a bit and is
stuck hard in the metal tube.

Any idea how to get the doggone thing OUT without tearing apart the flashlight
tube?

I have tried tapping with a hammer, sticking in a coat hanger and
screwdriver.... nothing is helping. I even thought to put a screw into the end
of the battery for something to pull on but that proved more difficult than I
thought, being so far up in there.

Argh!