COUNTERFEITING ALLEGED

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 July 1934, Page 12

COUNTERFEITING ALLEGED

ADMISSION BY ACCUSED. [PER PEESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, July 12. Further evidence was heard this afternoon, in the case in which Gwendoline Bishop, 47, was charged with possessing and uttering spurious coins. Denneston L. Bishop, 19, with possessing them ,and William Leonard Bishop, 51, and his son with possessing moulds lor counterfeiting. The son was also charged with stealing a clock, to which he pleaded guilty. Detective Hunt produced a statement which he said, William Leonard Bishop, had made and signed, as follbws: —“Six months ago, on account of hard times and my health, I began to think of some other way to keep the family and home together. I considered 1 could do this by makingcounterfeit coins, an # d 1 started to collect material from then onwards, until a month, ago, when I started to make counterfeit half-crowns.” Accused said he purchased white metal in a Queen Street shop to make the coins, and also plaster to make moulds from other shops. “I taught my son the trade,” he said, “and he helped me to make the first lot. They were not made at my house, but in an empty house.” Bishop admitted changing bogus coins on June 22 in Parnell at various shops, and said he purchased small articles and received change. He changed about ten coins, and was accompanied by his son, but his son did not know what he was doing. Altogether, accused said he passed about £7 worth. He stated: Denneston carried the counterfeit coins for me, and handed them tome as I went into each shop. I gave my wife three during the evening, but she did not know they were counterfeit coins. I didn’t tell her until after she had changed them. 1 admit buying a portable, furnace paying £6 12/6 cash for it. No other persons arc concerned in the manufacture of counterfeit half-crowns and two shilling pieces, but my son and myself.”. .

Detective-Sergeant McHugh, who was in charge of the raid on accused’s house, said he searched the front bedroom, and found between the mattress of a bed 66 unfinished florins. An Alsatian dog was tied up cu (he back verandah, and guarded the room where (he moulds were found.

All three accused pleaded not guilty to the counterfeiting charges, and were committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Bail was refused to the two male accused, but Mrs Bishop was bailed on her own recognisance on condition that she remains in a Salvation Army Home in the meantime.