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A COSTLY PRACTICAL JOKE .
In Wellington-parade, at 7 a,m. yesterday, a man
ran and met Constable Edwards with the exciting
information that a man whom he had just left had
been attacked and fired on by three armed men.
Edwards was joined by Constable Peverill, and the
two, following advice given by their informant,
walked along the parade, and presently noticed
three men approaching,' one of whom was seen to
pass a revolver to another, who, however, refused
to accept it. On meeting the constables one of
them gave up the weapon, a revolver with five
chambers, one of .which seemed to have been dis
charged a few minutes previously. An adjourn
ment was made to the Little Boorkc-strect police
station, where the "victim" also attended. He
was a man named Thomas Lec, in the employ of
Messrs. J. Sharp and Sons, timber merchants, of
Flinders-street. The complaint which he made was
that he was returning to his home in Richmond
when he met the three men then present, and one
of thtm discharged a revolver. Fearing that they
might be highwaymen about to attack him, he ran
and met the roan who gave the information to the
?olico. The three men stated that they were re-
urnlng to Melbourne from Richmond, when one
of tbem pointed a revolver, which he happened to
be carrying, in the air, and fired it off, meaning no
harm. After hearing the statements on both aides
the police decided to charge the three with illegally
carrying firearms. They were entered up as James
Corney, 25, blacksmith; Frank Hill, 31 bookmaker;
and Robert Webster, 27,' bookmaker's clerk. The
case will be hard at the City Court to-dsy.
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