CRIMINAL OR INSANE?

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1214, 28 February 1914, Page 4

CRIMINAL OR INSANE?

A DAKLINGHURST PEST. An imti' citizen is at present. I<for a foul kind of person who is in for a bad time if ho should over bo discovered (says tho Sydney Sun). During ibo past, few days a resident of Victoria street. Darlinghurst, has been tho victim of ome joker who has gone so far as to cause the injured one to invoke the aid of the, police. A few days ago tho representative of an uiuleruker turned up at tho house and asked for the wife of the, owner, lie explained that he had received her teiephoi.:> message stating that her husband was dead and lie iird caiied us requested to measure him for a coffin. With due decorum ho walked inside, but tho lady was so astounded at the object of tin; visit that for a time she could not utter a word of protest.

Presently, however, she recovered her composure sufficiently to enquire: “Did you say that yon received a telephone message stating "that my husband was dead and that you have come to take his measurements V'

“Yes, madam,” was tho reply. “Why,” said the wife, “my husband is inside now. lie’s in tho best of health, and has only just come in for his lunch. He was never better iu his life, and lie’s not likely to uio a natural death in tho next 40 years. Go and have a good look at him.”

The undertaker's man did as requested, and he was surprised to find a very strong and healthy individual in the act of demol idling a good dinner. Apology was tendered, and tho astonished representative from the undertaker went away. The first shock over, the resident dismissed (he matter from his mind, but another surprise was in store for him. Shortly after 7 o’clock in the evening of the same day, a dozen taxicabs arrived at his ho me, and ho was an extremely busy person answering the doorbell and (oiling drivers Unit he did no!' order (hem. There were sharp words in some instances, but tin* men in charge of (lie vehicles Itad to go away with only the satisfaction that they Imd bei n n.-eil to perpetrate a joke. They were consequently a very disgusted lot when they left the house. The taxi-cab drivers finished when a young girl iroiu a city florist’s shop arrived, with a beautiful bouquet which had to be paid for on delivery. The householder found himself compelled to make further explanations, and he did so to the young woman apoitieiy as possible. She left with tho flowt l;-. hut other “business” calls were made- before ten o'clock that night. The joker had evidently determined to have some further fun at. tie; expense 0 f the Victoria street resident, and he sent him not only the undertaker's men, taxi-cab drivers, and a florists’ messenger, but several other business people, all of whom were deceived, and the householder considerably annoyed. A few months ago. similar jokes were played on a -liopkeepcr in George street West, and only recently a woman living ih (-‘athednil street, Wordloomooloo. was told by telephone that a friend of hers had died in a private hospital. .She was in great grief over the event, bin on going to the hospital later on she found that she had been hoaxed.