RED TAPE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 815, 17 March 1910, Page 4

RED TAPE.

AN EXTRAORDINARY STORY.

When a man is found hanging, the natural course is to take a knife and cut the rope from which he is suspended. But this simple and practical process is not invariably adopted, and the following story, which comes from Cainbrai, France, shows the absurd lengths to which scruples can be carried, there being a rooted idea in some parts of the country that nothing can be done unless an official of that particular commune happens to be present. Recently a young farm servant, after an altercation with his employer, hanged himself from a tree overlooking a railway. A passer-by saw him thus suspended, and walked off to report his discovery to the local guard, who, when he arrived on the spot, found quite a crowd assembled. He felt the body, perceived that it was warm, but would not interfere, as the tree happened to be standing on the ground of a neighbouring parish. He therefore proceeded to inform its special guard. After the lapse of half an hour, this worthy returned with his comrade, and then ensued a long discussion as to whether the tree was situated in one parish or the other, so away they went to consult the ordnance maps. Hours rolled by, and when they at last met again on the scene of the tragedy they came to the agreement that the tree was located in a third parish. Then they walked off together to inform that particular guard, who, having visited the spot and confirmed the opinion that the tree was in his special domain, started off to report the suicide to the gendarmes, who finally cut the rope. Need it be added that long before this hour the unhappy young man was dead?—Press Hank.