A SILLY EPISODE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 January 1930, Page 5

A SILLY EPISODE

FAKING A DEAD MAN

[By Telegraph, Per Press Association

AUCKLAND, Jan. 10

The amazing story of a man, who at ms own request, was enclosed in a coffin and the- lid screwed down tightly and the coffin placed in a hearse and driven about the city for fifty minutes before being returned to the mortuary where he was released perspiring freely, and otherwise none the worse, is related by Capt Lionel Clews, formerly a Captain in the 17th. Light Indian Cavalry and a motion picture actor of varied experience, to get colour for a detective novel with the sensations of a detective who decides to take the place of a dead gangster, who is actually buried, and during the interment overhears the conversation ol gangsters sufficient to secure conviction.

The undertaker states that Clews was stripped, placed in a shroud, his arms crossed on lus breast and the lid placed on the coffin and driven in a hearse ten minutes.

Not getting the desired results. Clews asked to he screwed tightly down and left in the coffin till lie signalled. This was done and the journey was repeated with three men in the hearse, it being arranged that, when either tapped Clews was to tap back. After 50 minutes Ucws was released, perspiring and very hot. We h aven’t seen him since, said the undertaker, but lie was going to arrange to go under the sea in a diver’s suit.

Clows did the diving act on the waterfront, but was dissatisfied with the results and is arranging to be dropped in the deepest water of the harbour.