SNAKE SENT BY POST

Taihape Daily Times, 18 February 1919, Page 3

SNAKE SENT BY POST

HONGKONG, Fb. 12. A dastardly attempt to bring about the death of a prominent European resident in the colony by means of one of the deadliest snakes found in the tropics is engaging the attention of the police authorities. It appears that a parcel, neatly wrapped in brown cartridge paper, was posted at the General Post Office by a Chinese coolie, who, in reply to a question, stated that the parcel contained flower bulbs, valued at several shillings, adding that the sender was a European lady. The parcel was duly accepted and delivered to its destination, the office of the European to which it was addressed. The man, being busily occupied at the moment, told his office boy to open the parcel. When the wrapper was removed a fairly large box came into view. The boy preceeded to open the lid, and a large snake thrust out its head and made a dart for the boy’s hand. Fortunately, however, the hoy had the presence ol mind to shut down the lid immediately. The snake, says the Daily Press, is of, the Asiatic species, Trimereurus Eurythurus, and known to the Chinese as Kwo Shu She, The reptile’s bite is said to cause instantaneous death. The man to wffiom the parcel was consigned went to the post office immediately and lodged a complaint with the Postmaster-General, who, in turn, communicated with the police, with the result that detectives are making a searching investigation of the whole affair.

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