"IN LOVE WITH GIRL"

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23689, 22 December 1938, Page 9

"IN LOVE WITH GIRL"

ATTEMPT TO ADMINISTER CHLOROFORM YOUNG MAN CHARGED SEQUEL TO DANCE QUARREL (Per United Press Association i GISBORNE, Dec. 21. " I was in love with the girl, and I did not want to kill her," was a passage in a statement allegedly made to the police bv Frank Victor Michie, aged 21. who appeared before Mr Walton, S.M., in the Magistrate's Court this morning on a charge of attempting to administer chloroform to a 17-year-old girl, with intent to injure her. The girl gave evidence that she had known the accused for two years, and had been keeping company with him. They frequently visited each other's homes. A week ago she went to a dance with him, but they had a row and she went home with another boy. On Friday night she went to bed at 9.30, and was awakened at 1.30 by someone standing at the head of the bed of another girl who shared the room with her. She screamed and put on the light, the intruder running away. Later she found a handkerchief on which was chloroform.

The second girl gave evidence that she was awakened by the smell of chloroform and felt something on her face. A chemist's assistant gave evidence of having sold a bottle of chloroform to the accused, who said he wanted to operate on a cat. Detective C. P. Bolton produced a statement in which the accused admitted the facts, but said he had only put a couple of drops of chloroform on a handkerchief. He did not intend to harm her. but only put her to sleep. The accused pleaded guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court at Wellington for sentence.