KING'S EVIDENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1928, Page 7

KING'S EVIDENCE.

PORGERY TRIAL.

Foreign Woman Speaks Against

Alleged Accomplices.

MAKING £5 BANK NOTES. (Received 12.30 p.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. The four men who were charged with having conspired to forge £5 bank notes, at a house at Ocean Grove, near Geelong, Stefan Karasi<v wiez, a Russian, process engraver, John Howarth, contractor, Benjamin Thomas, tailor, and Ralph Miller, a retired farmer, have been committed for trial.

The foreign woman, Senia Marchenkn, who lived with Karasiewiez in a remote bush hut near the seaside, turned Crown witness and all the charges against her were withdrawn.

She has recently been cared for by convent nuns. She gave evidence that she first made acquaintance with Karasiewiez some months ago, when Howarth and Miller took her to the latter's hut. She was unable to speak a word of English and was unaware of Karasiewiez's occupation, until one day she saw a half completed £5 note. Afterwards she saw Karasiewiez pre •

paring the paper, making watermarks and sometimes note printing was done in her presence by Howarth and Miller.

Witness made paper flowers at Howarth's suggestion as a "blind.'' When, however, she discovered the note printing she announced her intention of clearing out, upon which she was given a pair of shoes and stockings. Ronald Harrison, engraver and technical adviser to the Commonwealth Bank, said that the counterfeit notes were a splendid imitation. All the accused are on bail. One of the greatest and most sensational coups made for years was effected by the Melbourne police on April 29, when they raided a suspected house at Ocean Grove, near Geelong, and discovered a complete engraving plant, and 10,000 counterfeit £5 notes. The raid was the outcome of police investigations into the circulation of forged £10 bank notes at recent Melbourne and Sydney race meetings. Stefan Karasiekwiez and a girl named Senia Marclienko were arrested. When the police broke into the house Karasiekwiez was working at a printing machine. He had a loaded gun beside him, but did not attempt to use it. The house is situated in a remote part of a thick area of scrub, and the police had to force an entry. They completely surprised the inmates.