THE COINING CASE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13453, 1 June 1907, Page 6

THE COINING CASE.

WHAT THE DETECTIVES

FOUND.

PRISONER-COMMITTED FOR TRIAL.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWS CORRESPONDENT.]

' \ Wellington; Friday. Henry Peacock, engraver by trade, appeared on remand at the Magistrate's Court to-day to answer two charges' of having on May .21, at 62, Cuba-street, in his possession one mould intended to make a resemblance to both sides of a -sovereign, and another of both sides of a halfcrown. Chief Detective McGrath prosecuted, and Mr. Weston defended.

Ladle Catherwood Ludwig, accountant, deposed that prisoner had rented the premises, No. 62, Cuba-street, from him since September, 1906.

Detective Broberg stated that on May 21 he saw accused, when he was in custody on another charge, and received from him a key which, he said, was one of his two workroom kevs at No. 62, Cuba-street. Next day Detective Williams end witness went to the premises in question. In one room they found on a table two plaster of Paris moulds, each of which was in halves, and bore two .sides of a halfcrown. The impression on one was 1896, and the impression on the j other 1906. They also found a plaster of Paris mould in two halves, each half bearing a side of a half-sovereign. There was another similar ' mould, but it was incomplete also, half a mould of a half-crown, and half a mould of a half-sovereign. On the same table they found 24 imitation half-crowns, made of some sort of white metal. Twen-ty-three were dated 1896,, the others 1906. They also found four half-sovereigns, made of similar white metal. In the back room they found three blocks of plaster of Paris ajid four iron bands similar in shape to the plaster of Paris moulds in the front room. The insides of the bands were smeared with plaster of Paris, and had been evidently used for shaping the moulds. Adjoining the back room was a lavatory. There was a gas fitting in it. Screwed on to the fitting was a large spray jet. There.'■ were also two bricks ' and a small crucible containing a small quantity of white metal. The bricks were evidently used to support the crucible over the gas. In the same lavatory there was a large bottle of liquid, the cork of which was marked " gold." They also found an electric battery in the lavatory. Witness saw Mr. Ludwig, and indicated the two rooms' in which he. had found the articles. The same afternoon of the find witness and Williams saw accused at the Terra.ee gaol, and told him what they had discovered, and accused replied, "I admit I knew they were there." Witness told him he would be charged with having the moulds and coins in his possession on May 23. Witness took the coins and fluid to Mr. Alexander an eleCtroplater. He connected a battery.; with the fluid, and tested it oil some half-crowns and copper. 'On May 29 witness took the moulds to Mr. Giddall, moulder at Dutche's foundry.. '' Otto Giddall, brassmoulder, deposed that the plaster of Paris moulds produced were in perfect order for moulding. The coins, produced, he . said,-were moulded from the moulds he had examined.

Wm. Alexander deposed that the liquid (found •by the detectives) was need for gilding purposes. He explained the process adopted in gilding, and said the batteryproduced. would be sufficient to gild coins with. ', ~ . '

.'..•; Accused reserved his . defence, and was committed for trial.. [ '