VISITORS HOAXED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 74, 18 November 1931, Page 5

VISITORS HOAXED

(Press Assn.-

CRUEL DECEPTldN AMERICAN DOCTOR AND WIFE YICTIMS OF MALICIOUS TELEPHONE CALLS BOGUS SUMMONS TO HOSPITAL

— By Telegraph — Copyrlght).

CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Through being made vietims of a series of malicious hoaxes, two distinguished American visitors to Christchurch-, Dr. L. D. Coffman, president of the University of Minnesota, and Mrs Coffman, had an unenviable day yesterday. All arrangements for their entertainment were eancelled by bogus telephone ealls, and in addition Mrs Coffman was sent hurrying to Lewisham Hospital, where she was led to believe her hushand was seriously ill. This was another hoax. As soon as Mrs Coffman left the hotel for the hospital an urgent call came for Dr. Coffman, who was at the time playing golf. He was informed of the call, and at once came to town, fearing that it might mean bad news from America. Again the call proved malicious. The position became so had and the calls so frequent that Dr. and Mrs Coffman appealed to the superintendent of the telephone exchange, and a special staff was stationed at the switchboard So as to be able to trace any calls.