AN AMAZING STORY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3957, 14 January 1930, Page 65

AN AMAZING STORY.

MAN ENCLOSED IN COFFIN. AUCKLAND, January ](). An amazing story of a man w ho, at his own request, w as enclosed in a coffin, with the lid screwed down tightly, the coffin placed in a hearse and driven about the city for 50 minutes before being returned to the mortuary—where he was released perspiring freely, but otherwise no worse —is related of Captain Lionel Clews, formerly a captain in the 17th Light Indian Cavalry, and now a motion picture actor of varied experience. The feat was undertaken to get “ colour ” for a detective novel —namely, the sensations of the detective who decides to take the place of a dead gangster, is actually buried, and during interment overhears conversation of the gangsters sufficient to secure a conviction.

The undertaker states that Clews was stripped, and placed in a shroud with his arms crossed on his breast. The lid was placed on. and the coffin driven in a hearse for 10 minutes. Not getting the desired results, Clews asked to be screwed lightly down ami left in the coffin till be signalled. This was done, and the journey was repeated with three meu in the hearse, it being arranged that when anyone tapped Clews was to tap back. After 50 minutes Clews was released, perspiring and very hot. “ We haven't seen him since,” said the undertaker. “ but he was going to arrange to go under the sea in a divers suit later. “ Clews did a diving act on the waterfront. but was dissatisfied with the result, and is arranging to be dropped into tiie deepest water of the harbour.”