“Truth Drug” Used On Man Who Assaulted Two Women At Night

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 June 1950, Page 6

“Truth Drug” Used On Man Who Assaulted Two Women At Night

WELLINGTON, Last Night (PA). A doctor’s report claimed to have been made on statements by a man charged with two assaults, Ronald Charles Bolton, while he was under the influence of a “truth drug,” was produced in the Magistrate’s Court today by Bolton’s counsel, Mr. G. I. Joseph. Bolton, who is a printer’s apprentice, aged 20 years, pleaded guilty to charges of assautling Marie Winnifred Jackson and Gladys Caroline Godden on June 3.

After the assaults, Bolton had been taken to a doctor who ’ ad injected him with a drug and questioned him, said Mr. Joseph. The statements were absolutely correct as the drug removed all restraints. The report was handed to the magistrate, Mr. Hanna, but was not read out.

Sub-Inspector Thomas said that late at night, Marie Jackson had been lying in bed with the light off when she became conscious that someone was in the room. She had switched on the light and seen Bolton at the foot of the bed. He had immediately sprung forward and grasped her by the throat. She screamed for help and Gladys Godden had rushed into her room. Bolton had also sprung at Godden and grabbed her by the throat. He had then left the room and crossed the road to his own house, leaving his scarf behind. The two women had visited Bolton after the assaults and questioned him. He had told them he did not remember the incident. Bolton had later told the police that he had been drinking. Mr. Joseph, for Bolton, said that both women knew him well and had followed him to his house to question him about the assaults of which he had no recollection. “Something strange happened in this man s mental makeup at the time of the assault,” said Mr. Joseph, who added it was a condition produced by liquor and not criminal desires. Bolton was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment hard labour on each charge, the sentences to be concurrent.