THE CHLOROFORMING CASES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17059, 11 August 1917, Page 3

THE CHLOROFORMING CASES.

PRISONERS BEFORE SUPREME COULx.

CHRISTCHUECH, August 10,

At tlie Supreme Court, William Kinuaird and Robert Erwjn Machlem, who were not represented, by counsel, were charged on various counts ttiat on.July 5, at Christchurch, with intent to commit, a crime they caused Andi'ew Rollo Guild and Erid Guild to be affected by chloroform. The Crown Prc6ecutor said the accused had taken a room at the Clarendou Hotel under falsa names, going out laic at night in a taxi-cab, and returning early in the morning. Mr and Mrs Guild, who slept in the rocm opposite the room of the accused, were awakened early in the morning, and found jn their pillow a handkerchief soaked in chloroform. The accused, on their arrest, were found to have, in their povsscssion certain papers that Guild had left in his clothes overnight. A pottle found elsewhere was identified as one in whic<i Kinnaird had purchased chloroform. The prosecutor read signed statements by the accused' that they had merely eoak'd the handkerchief in chloroform and thrown it into the room to tesj it. Kinnaird, on his arrest, said: "I suppose we will get seven years for this/ The case is proceeding. , Later. Accused were found x guilty and were sentenced to three years' imprisonment. Both men had bad lists of previous convictions, and the judge said they were dangeroas characers who went about with lethal weapons like Colt automatic revolvers.