A ROAD “MYSTERY.”

Hokitika Guardian, 18 May 1923, Page 4

A ROAD “MYSTERY.”

PRACTICAL JOKE REBOUNDS. SYDNEY, -May 11. An absurd practical joke Jed to a momentary sensation in .Melbourne a few days ago, the police, as the resultof a statement bv two Indies, starting to investigate a supposed attempt to conceal a body by four men in a motorear. When the public had just become prepared for some gruesome revelation a young man named Charles George Hildebrand, came forward and informed the police that the supposed eonemlment of the body of a man at a. point on the road between Moo and Darnum was just a prank on the part of four men in joyous spirits. He said he drove a ear containing the four men from Yailourn to Richmond. On the road the ear stopped. A man alighted, and throwing himself on the ground, covered himself with a blanket. His comrades, desiring to humour hint, commenced to cover bis body with stray leaves, and one of them placed a piece of wood near his head, facetiously remarking, “This will do for your tombstone.” The joke was in full swing when the Misses Flint appeared on the scene in a jinker. Becoming alarmed when they saw a human foot protruding from beneath the rubbish, they said, “What have you there?’’ One of the men said solemnly, “This man that you’ r.ee here died from heart failure; we want you two ladies ns witnesses to it.” The Misses Flint failed to see the humour in the situation, and feeling that they were being made unwilling accomplices .ill a tragedy, said. “You had better take tho body to Warmgul.” Mr Hildebrand was somewhat alarmed, however, when he read that the police were seriously investigating the affair.