DOUBLE-HEADED COINS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20405, 6 November 1929, Page 14

DOUBLE-HEADED COINS.

AN UNUSUAL PROSECUTION.

" TOOLS WERE NOT SUITABLE."

VERDICT OF NOT GUILTY.

[FY TELEGRAPH.—FREBS ASSOCIATION.] NAPIER. Tuesday.

A charge of having in his possession an instrument adapted for and intondod for counterfeiting copper coins was preferred against Philip Pholan Darragh in tho Suprento Court to-day. A detoctivo stated in evidence that ho had occasion to interview accused in Hastings, and in the course of tho interview Damigh produced a set of soldering tools, stating that they were for making doubleheaded pennies, which, he said, were worth live shillings each. Questioned by Mr. Justice Ostler, witness stated that the set was complete with the exception of certain solder. There was somo very fino wiro solder found in accused's bag, but this was not produced in tho lowor Court.

Accused at this stage pointed out that tho split pennies found in his possession had lings upon them, pointing to tho fact that they had been turnod on a lathe. He asked His Honor to examine tho pennies. His Honor did so, remarking that three certainly bore tho mark of having been turned on a lathe, but tho fourth looked to him to have been cut by a hacksaw. Accused (to witness): How could you make a job of soldering two split pennies together?—l am not a plumber; neither am I versed in counterfeiting. His Honor, after an examination of the hacksaw, said it appeared tho blado was too thick for sawing down the centre of pennies. It certainly appeared to him as though it was more adapted for woodwork.

Statement by Accused. Accused in evidenco stated that on tho day in question ho was arrested and took his bag round to the police station. He showed the polico his outfit and said he was going to experiment with these pennies to try to join them together. The tails wore ground off on a lathe in an engineering shop.

The Crown Prosecutor: Where were they ground down ?—I will not divulge that.

Counsel: What were you going to do?— I was going to make double-headed pennies, but I had not made any at that time.

Counsel: What was the blow lamp for ?—lt is part of the soldering outfit. Accused went back into the dock and addressed the jury, pointing out that the tools he had were totally unsuitable for making " double-headers." " There is a way of making them, and I could demonstrate it there," ho said, pointing to the solicitor's table, " but it is not that way."

Comment by the Judge. Summing up, His Honor said the case was a simple one. First of all prisoner said ho was intending to make doubleheaded pennies, and then said the tools that ho had were not suitable. It looked to him as though accused was right, and the saw was merely a fret saw for cutting wood. That, however, did not finish tho matter, for accused had in his possession a complete soldering outfit, with solder, and ho had told them he intended to attempt to make double-headed pennies. There was, then, the question as to whether the making of double-headed pennies constituted counterfeit, and a Court of three Judges in New South Wales had decided that 1 it did, continued His Honor. Tho whole question for the jury to decide was whether or not the instruments found in accused's possession were suitable for the work, for which it was alleged they were intended. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty, and the prisoner was accordingly discharged.