FORGERY INVESTIGATION.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 22 May 1928, Page 5

FORGERY INVESTIGATION.

FOUR MEN ON TRIAL. CLEVER WORK BY RUSSIAN ENGRAVER. (By Telegraph-Press Assn. -Copyright.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, This Day. Four men were charged with having conspired to forge £5 bank-notes. Stefan Karasiewiez (a Russian process engraver), John Haworth .(contractor), Benjamin Thomas (tailor), and Ralph Miller (retired farmer) have been committed for trial. A foreign woman named Senia Marchenko, who lived with Karasiewiez in a remote bush hut near the sea-side, turned Crown witness, and all the charges against her were withdiawn. She has recently been cared for by convent nuns. She gave evidence that she first made acquaintance with Karasiewiez some months ago, Avhen Howard 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 when she saw a half-completed £5 note. Afterwards she saw Karasiewiez preparing paper-making watermarks, and sometimes note-printing was done in the presence of Haworth and JHil l€T. Witness made paper flowers, at Haworth’s suggestion, as a “blind.” WhCn, however, she discovered the note-printing, she announced her intention of clearing out, whereupon 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.

A cable from Melbourne on April £9th stated that the police effected the biggest and most sensational coup for years when they ' raided a sus-

pected house at Ocean Grove', near Geelong, and discovered a complete engraving plant and XO,OOO counterfeit £5 notes. Stefan Karasiewiez, process engraver, and a young woman named Senia Marchenke were arrested.