FORGED BANK NOTES

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 200, 21 May 1931, Page 10

FORGED BANK NOTES

Arrest in Wellington

MANY COUNTERFEITS

Aucklander for Trial

PROCESS DESCRIBED

Pleading not guilty to two charges of having in his possession without lawful authority, certain forged £1 bank notes, knowing them to be forged, David Collinson, a salesman, aged 35, reserved his defence, and was committed by Mr. T B. McNeil to the Supreme Court at Wellington for trial. Bail was refused.

Sub-Inspector Ward conducted the prosecution, and Mr. Meltzer appeared for Percival Ramsay, teller at the Queen Street branch of the Bank of New South Wales at Auckland, produced a genuine Bank of New South Wales £1 note, No. E 931.885, which had been signed by’ witness and H. H Rocke at Auckland. On April 27, 1931, this note came into witness s possession. Witness'had examined 182 Bank of New South Wales £1 notes, all numbered E 931.885. The notes all purported to be signed by witness and H. T. Rockell. but were all forgeries. David James Bruce Howell, manager of the Kiwi Club, Lambton Quay, Wellington, said that on the evening of Saturday, April 25, accused came into the'club with his brother, and they were the only visitors to the club that night. Ail others present were members of the club.

Money for Hazards. Witness said that hazards were played in the club that night. About 2 a.m. be discovered ’what he regarded as a forged Bank ot New South Males £1 note. Witness looked round and discovered another similar note. Witness showed those present in the club the notes and told them the number of the notes. Witness saw eight, of these forged £1 notes that night. After witness had discovered that the notes were forged, the accused said he had three of the forged notes in his possession. He did not see any of the forged notes in the accused’s possession. There was a bet of £4 to £2 between the accused and another man, and there was a forged £1 note among this £6, but he could not say whether it had been put in by the accused or by the other man. Witness subsequently handed one of these forged £1 notes to Detective McLennan.

Bundle of Notes in Hotel.

William James Alexander Ward, storeman and cellarman at the Masonic Hotel, said that on the night of April 24 accused booked into a room about midnight. On April 29 witness was in charge of the hotel, and about 1 p.m. a housemaid handed witness a brown paper parcel containing a number of banknotes. Witness rung up the detective office, and Detectives McLennan and Tricklebank came up to the hotel, and witness handed over to them the parcel of notes.

Elsie Chiggey. housemaid at t.he Masonic Hofei, M’ellington. detailed the finding of the bundle of notes under the linoleum in a wardrobe. Mr. Meltzer contended that this evidence was inadmissible, as it was not evidence that the accused ever had the notes in his possession. Margaret Mary McGrath, a clerk at the Masonic' Hotel, said she returned from a holiday qn April 27. The last time witness saw the accused was at about mid-day on April 28, and he left the hotel that day. Detective ML McLennan stated that, in company with Detective Tricklebank, lie had searched the accused and his brother at the New Zealander Hotel and had also searched the accused’s room at tile Masonic hotel, but found no banknotes. The accused accompanied him to the detective office. and witness told him that a quantity of forged banknotes had been passed to small shopkeepers in M’ellington. In each case the persons issuing the £1 notes had purchased chocolates, and the accused had had similar chocolates in his possession. Witness then informed accused that it was believed that he and his brother had issued forged £1 banknotes in the Kiwi Club at M’ellington on the night of April 25. Accused made a statement, said Detective McLennan, in which he described his movements since leaving Auckland. He stated that he had come by motorcar to M’ellington in order to float a company. He denied having issued any forged banknotes. Asked why he had left Auckland for M’ellington at 11 p.m., the accused said that lie had been in a hurry to get to M’ellington. On .April 29 witness went to the Masonic Hole! about 1.30 p.m., and was there handed a parcel containing 182 Bank of New South M’ales £1 notes. Nine of these notes had the word “one” on the back in tlie proper position, and the remainder had I lie word “one” back to front.

Process of Forgery

George Campbell Clark, in charge of the process engraving department of the “Evening Post,” said that in bis opinion a genuine note had been photographed, and a line block made. A pull had been taken of the line block, nnd this hnd been photographed again, and a block made and printed on either aluminium or stone. Practically any camera would be suitable for making a line block. M’itness hud seen an auto portrait process machine in Mr. Stark’s shop in the city, nnd this would be suitable for taking a photograph. He had examined the forged notes, and did not consider them a good job. A Jot of the detail had been lost, through the etching not having been deep enough. William John Slark. photographer. Wellington. said tiiat be bad obtained a portrait process machine from an Auckland company in October lust. The accused at that lime was manager of t.he firm from which lie had obtained the machine. ■Witness had bud dinner with tlie accused nt tlie Masonic Hotel on the night of April 24. and the accused on parting arranged to sec witness at 10.30 o’clock the next morning.

Eily Cunliffe stated that during the last Wellington Winter Show she had been employed by the accused, who had a stull at the show. Among the exhibits was a portrait, process machine, which the accused showed her how to work. This was the same machine as (hat Mr. Stark now had in his shop. Frederick Reuben, a pawnbroker at Courtenay Place. Wellington, stated that a Cook lens had been left with him by accused and later reclaimed.

Arrest at Auckland.

Detective T. Sneddon. of Auckland, said he arrested the accused at Auckland on April 30. The accused invited them info the sitting-room of his residence, ami witness informed him that a warrant had been issued fur his arrest for having issued forged bank notes at Auckland, and also fold him that a number of these notes had been traced to his possession The accused said, “They must think I am a magician.” Witness searched the accused’s house, but did not find any forged bank notes. The accused sent for his solicitor. Mr. McLeod, and when the latter arrived th" accused said, “Hello. Mac; what I pre dieted has happened.” The accused was taken to the police station and charged 'rhe accused said that he had made ns much as £SO and £9O at hazards, and on one evening bad made as much as £l9O. There were as many as 120 forged £1 bank notes in circulation in Auckland. Th" accused pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence, and was committed to the Supreme t'onrt for trial at the next ses sion. . , ‘ . . Mr. Mollzrr applied l'»r hail, pmuling ( nt iii.n Hip accused was a married man. with a business in Auckland. Sub-In>pe. lor Ward opposed the application, which was refused.