UNIQUE FORGERY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 1 September 1924, Page 5

UNIQUE FORGERY.

Greatest in modern times.

' DETAILS REVEALED

bx cable muss assooiatiujn—coerauiui. . LONDON, Aug. 30. Sir Basil Thompson, formerly chief at Scotland Yard, in an article in English Life reveals new details of the greatest .Treasury note forgery of times, which cost the State »00,000 before the forgers were traced. The counterfeit was so perfect that detection was almost impossible. It was discovered that an ex-convict was passing the notes, and the police decided to help and not to hinder him. A Scotland Yard agent became friendly and agreed to go halves, cashing notes every Friday. The ex-convict paid the printer half-the face value, but the name of the printer could not be discovered. One evening the agent aijd. the ex-convict were playing cards, when a young man entered and nodded to the ex-convict. The agent offered to bet the latter ten shillings that the young man once worked in an office with him and was named Forsyth. “Done,” exclaimed the ex-convict. ‘ He’s a printer named Williams.” . The police then searched London and discovered Williams’ name half obliterated on a door. They . watched the premises for four' days from the opposite side of the street and eventually entered a stable. behind the shop and captured the ex-convict and the printer. The stable was filled with machinery; it was a forger’s den. of one’s dreams. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and Sir John Bradbury next morning forged one of their own notes on the forger’s machine.

The conviction saved the country from a crisis, following the refusal by tradesmen and wage-earners to accept notes in the early days of the note issue.