A HOAXED UNDERTAKER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1753, 21 June 1888, Page 3

A HOAXED UNDERTAKER.

A cruel hoax has just been perpetrated at the little riparian town of Staines, which, though ludicrous, has been the cause of much howling. It appears that the other morning a well-known firm of London undertakers received a letter written upon mourning note-paper, stating that a gentleman who shall be nameless was dead, and requesting .that a coffin for a man 6ft in height should be sent down at once. The deceased gentleman was a great city magnate, and the undertaker, considering that he had a lucrative job in hand, ordered the coffin to be made at once, and the same night he himself set forth by train from Waterloo, with the corpsecase safely stowed away in the guard’s van. On arrival at Staines he caused it to be.conveyed to the address given, iaud rapped softly-at the-door. The

servant answered the knock, and he informed her, in that sad tone and with an elongation of the face peculiar to gentlemen who dispose of bodies, that the coffin had come. Not comprehending this announcement the domestic entered the dining room, and, before the guests at the festive board, proclaimed in a loud tone “ that a man was waiting outside with the master’s coffin.” As may be imagined, the guests were awe-struck by such a piece of information, and the “corpse” rushed out to see the man who desired to bury him. The interview proved a stormy one, words were followed by blows, and opprobrious epithets were bestowed on both sides. This interesting little farce was concluded by the coffin being flung into the road, and the undertaker being compelled to depart empty away. We understand that proceedings are to be taken by both parties for assault. Meanwhile the eye of the undertaker is of an unhealthy hue, and the .nose of the "corpse” is disfigured by stickingplaster.—Gossip.