COPPER FOR GOLD.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8867, 18 July 1907, Page 1

COPPER FOR GOLD.

A remarkable story of halfpennies being substituted for half-sovereigns was told at the Manchester City Police Court, when Henry Douglas Anderson, who had been employed at the Manchester branch of the Bank of England, and after absconding had been arrested in Canada, was charged with stealing £lOBl. In stating tho case for the prosecution, Mr F. E. Smith, M.P., said that tho prisoner’s duty was that of separating lightweight gold coins from those of full weight, and lie had to put the full weight coins into bags which the had to label and sign. On July 31 ho absented himself and on August 2 tho bank issued twenty-five bags of half sovereigns to Messrs Williams, Deacon's Bank, and fourteen of them, which had been made np by tho prisoner, were found to have been tampered with, half-sovereigns having been replaced by the necessary number of halfpennies to make up tho correct weight. Two other bags _in the bank’s treasury which boro his signature were also found to have been tampered with in the same way, and the total sum missing was £lOBl. On September IB the bank received a letter from tho prisoner in Winnipeg, in which he practically admitted his guilt, and made reference to the mad act he had committed. Evidence was given by a number of bank clerksaud others, Including the retired detec-tive-inspector, Woolvou John, who, describing the search for Anderson, said he went down to Whitestable-ou-Sea and found the prisoner’s wife and family living there. In a drawer he found £647. The case was further adjourned.