DRUGGED IN PARIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 263, 10 November 1906, Page 13

DRUGGED IN PARIS.

NARCOTICS AS AN AID TO BOBBER*.

Robbery hy the aid of narcotics Is for the moment rather in the fashion. Following the picturesque incident of the pseudoprince and the chloroformed bouquets come two more, which, however, are far less romantic in their surroundings. In the first instance a newsvendor was going hla rounds, when he met an elderly woman, accompanied by a pretty girl.' At the sight of the newsvendor the pretty girl exclaimed quite loudly, "Oh! what a nice-looking man." Then she blushed furiously, and appeared overwhelmed with confusion at her unmaidenly boldness. It was, perhaps, but natural that the susceptible newsvendor was flattered at the frank admiration of the young woman, and under the circumstances he felt the least he could do was to offer the attractive damsel and her companion some refreshment. The trio adjourned to a neighbouring cafe, where, shortly after, the newsvendor fell soundly asleep, for a powerful drug had been slipped into his last glass. When he came to his senses he found his guests had vanished, likewise his papers and catchel, containing nearly 400f. Nor was this all, for the pretty girl, who worked at a laundry, bad gone the rounds of the libraries and stalls where the newsvendor had some outstanding debts, and collected all the money, some 700f, that was owing to him. The two women have just been arrested, but none of the money has been discovered.

Drugs also played a prominent part (says the Paris correspondent of the "Daily Chronicle") in a little luncheon which a business man offered to a friend wbo had called at his office. Ttie insurance official was about to go round to his favourite restaurant when his friend stopped him, and both became of the opinion that the meal would be more comfortably enjoyed upstaire thaa outside. So a young man, who acted as a kind of secretary, was given some money, and he quickly returned with several appeting dishes, to which the two friends did ample justice. Then both sank into a profound stupor, from which they awakened some hours later. Their lunch had been drugged, tie safe was open, and gone was the secretary, with £60 and some title deeds. ,He succeeded in crossing the frontier without being caught, and the Correctional Tribunal of the Seine sentenced him by default to five years' imprisonment, and 10 years' police supervision.