ETHER USED IN ROBBERY

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27794, 20 October 1955, Page 16

ETHER USED IN ROBBERY

WOMAN ATTACKED IN LIFT TWO MEN COMMITTED FOR SENTENCE (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 19. James William Lock, aged 19. and Lawrence Gilbert Russell, aged 21, both watersiders. were committed to the Supreme Court for sentence when they pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court today to a charge that, with intent to commit robbery, they attempted to cause Molly Pamela Wright to be affected by ether. Miss Wright, a clerk, said that on September 1 she drew £22 10s from the bank for wages. About 10.30 a.m. she returned to her employment. In the building at 15 Courtenay place she got into the lift, in which were two young men. She pressed the button to go to the fifth floor. One of

the men was standing behind her, and the other opposite. One of the men put a pad over her face. “I struggled to get my mouth free, and smelt ether or chloroform,” she said. “By the time the lift stopped at the fifth floor I managed to get my mouth free and called out.” The witness said that she was then (Struck on the side of the face. One of the men pressed the lift button, and I the lift started to return. When they got to the bottom floor the two men made off. She returned to the fifth floor, and found she was clutching the pad. The witness said she told the firm’s manager what had occured, and that the bag containing the money was missing.

Detective William John Ross said that on September 29 he interviewed Lock, who admitted the offence. Lock said he put a pad over the girl’s face and took the money, which he later shared with Russell.