DEATH IN TINY PENCIL

Waikato Times, Volume 114, Issue 19125, 9 December 1933, Page 12 (Supplement)

DEATH IN TINY PENCIL

Solenoe has evolved a deadly weapon, all the more dangerous for its resemblahce to an ordinary propelling penoil—and now the police of Britain and France are combining m taking steps to ban it. The weapon, which has -only recently made its appearance in France and England, is capable of inflicting death or permanent Injury upon the victim.

Yet practically tho only point of difference to. the casual observer between this device and an innocent pencil Is the presence of a small trigger in the barrel.

To load the weapon a cap—corresponding to the part of a pencil used to carry spare leads —is removed and a small cartridge, about half an inch Jong, is inserted. The cartridge contains poison gas

Deadly Weapon Which Has a Poison Gas Ejector.

It may be tear-gas or it may be one of several lethal gases. When the cap, which has a perforated top, is replaced, the weapon is ready for use. There is a powerful spring in the barrel of the pencil which Is released by the trigger.

The weapon has an effective range bf ten to twelve yards.. Yet, carried in a waistcoat pocket, it could not be recognised as a dangerous weapon. It is undersotod that many prominent people on the Continent, who live in fear of assassination for political reasons, have armed themselves with these miniature weapons. Both the English and French authorities have held exhaustive examinations of the contents of the cartridges and have definitely decided to ban the sale and the carrying of the weapon.