OPIUM IN A BOOK

Evening Star, Issue 21845, 8 October 1934, Page 6

OPIUM IN A BOOK

ADDICTED TO DRUGS RESULT OF WAR WOUNDS The drug dealings of a brilliant French flying officer of war-time days formed the subject of a singular story told in a London Police Court a few weeks ago. The defendant was Henri Jacques Lacloche, aged thirty-nine, independent, a French citizen. He was charged with being in possession of pipes and utensils used in connection with opium .smoking. Ho was further accused of being in possession of prepared opium without being authorised. There was also a summons for being concerned in importing into the United Kingdom nine-tenths of an ounce of opium dross at Croydon Aerodrome. Prosecuting counsel stated that a package addressed to Lacloehc at the Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, arrived by air at Croydon, bearing the Paris postmark and stamps. Jt was sent to the head post office, and was passed over to a Customs officer for examination.

When opened the package was found to contain a hook, the interior of which had been cut out. In it was a small quantity of black powder 'wrapped in tissue paper. This was sent to the Government analyst and was found to he opium dross, which was scraped out of the opium pipe and used again for smoking. Lacloche at first pretended hc_ know nothing about the package. His flat at the Grosvenoi- Hotel was searched, and ho. admitted the hook and powder had been sent to him from Paris. His explanation was that as a result of war wounds ho had taken to drugs, and this was for his own use. Opium utensils were found at the flats. A detective stated that Lacloche was married with two children, and he had good connections in France. Ho joined the French Army as a private in )91-t. was wounded in that year, and received the Croix do Guerre. He then joined the French Air Force, and was shot down in a flying battle. In 1916 he was awarded the Legion of Honour. Ho was wounded fourteen times, and was in receipt of a 100 per cent, disability pension.

Dr P. L. Aherne. who had treated Lacloche. expressed the view that the man could he cured of drug taking in three months. Ho pointed ont_ there were not the same drug restrictions in France as in this country. Lacloche, a brilliant soldier and a man of remarkable personality, went to England on May 1.1 with the idea of making preparations for the air race to Australia. He was not a drug addict. The magistrate expressed sorrow for Lacloehe, and fined him Clo. with Co OS costs, for importing opium On the other two charges he was remanded for three months to go to a home