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Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1929, Page 7

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AN UNWANTED ADMIRERYOUNG WIFE’S EVIDENCE. BIRMINGHAM, Dec. 4. An alleged attempt to drug a man while asleep was described during the hearing of charges here to-day against Sidney Percy King, aged 24, a dealer of Greemvood-avenue, Acocks Green, Birmingham. King was charged with breaking into a house in South Yard ley and with administering a stupefying drug with intent to commit an indictable offence. Mr Pugh, for the prosecution, said that King became friendly with a Mr and Mrs Stevens,• of Debenhnm-road, South Yardley. Mrs Stevens was yong and attractive. After a time both husband and wife asked King to keep away from the house as his attentions to Mrs Stevens were resented. She had been out riding pillion on King’s motor-cycle. Later King spoke to Mrs Stevens in a cafe and she told him she did not wish to have anything to do with him. VANISHED KEY. One day two months ago the key of the Steven's front door disappeared. -.Early last Wednesday evening neighbours heard someone enter the house but thought it wan Mr Slovens. The latter and his wife returned aC Rjidnight and went to bed.' Two hours later Mr Stevens felt something cold and damp touch his face. He smelt something strong which turned our to be ether. Air Stevens threw up his arms and shouted “Who’s that?” Then lie roused his" wife and said, “Go to the door There is someone in the room. Mrs Stevens switched on the light, and they saw King standing at the foot of the hod. Mr. Stevens went towards him and he said, “Don’t it’s Sid King.” Mr Stevens accused him of tryng to drug him. King said that he had been in the clothes closet, the door of which was open. Mr Pugh suggested that King had stolen the key to break in with. King bad no jacket, waistcoat, or shoes. King he alleged, became infatuated with Mrs Stevens, who spurned him. He broke into the house and used ether to stupefy her husband. A bottle containing one or two spots of ether was found at the but where King worked, and at the police station his hands were found to be covered with ether. At the very least, said Mr Pugh, it could be deduced that King intended to assault Mrs Stevens. AIRS STEVENS IN THE BOX. Airs IStevcns said that she had not spoken to King since she told him three months ago that she did not wish to see him again. When she was awaken iby her husband, their bedroom smelt like a hospital. AVhen she switched on the light King was in a crouching position in his shirt-sleeves and with gloves in his hand. Air. Stevens shut King in a room and went for the police, hut later a window was found open and King had disappeared. Mrs Stevens, cross-examined, said that she had not asked King to go to her house since they had lived in De-benham-road. Appointments recorded in her diary all referred to an earlier period. She admitted ending her letter “Love,” but said she ended all her letters in that way. King was committed to the assizes for trial 'bail being allowed. He pleaded not guilty and reserved his defence.