FORGERY OF NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 13

FORGERY OF NOTES.

COPYING DONE BY HAND.

EXPERT WORKER SENTENCED.

LOYAL WOMAN ASSOCIATE.

Australian and N.Z. Press Association. LONDON, Nov. 22

Tho most expert forger known in London for 35 years was sentenced to-day to seven years' imprisonment for forging cur-

rency notes The accused, whose name is William Reynolds, is 56, of slight build and greyhaired. He looks like a student. It was revealed that a woman, who was recently sentenced to three years' imprisonment foi passing Reynolds' notes, was remarkably loyal to him, refusing to divulge his whereabouts or give any information regarding him.

A remarkable feature of tho case was that tho forged notes were all done by hand with a drawing pen, varying inks, and with Ihe aid of a magnifying glass. Each was so perfect that the banks had the utmost difficulty in detecting the forgery. It was stated that the accused first traced a genuine note with a pencil, and then inked a counterfeit with extraordin ary cleverness, simulating the watermarks by painting them with grease. Tho forgeries had been reaching the Bank of England every week. When arrested ho had nearly 100 half-finished notes in his possession.

Tho Judge, after a careful examination, confessed that tho forgery baffled him.