ABSENCE OF PROOF

Southland Times, Issue 21263, 9 December 1930, Page 5

ABSENCE OF PROOF

CASE AGAINST LEVINE ALLEGED COUNTERFEITING AFFAIR INTENTIONS MISUNDERSTOOD (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Vienna, December 7. The Public Prosecutor has suspended proceedings against Charles Levine, the American millionaire aviator, owing to there being an absence of proof. He is leaving immediately by air. Levine for the first time told a representative of the Daily Telegraph the full story of the counterfeiting affair. He explained that he was planning a solo flight round the world from New York, hoping to complete the journey in 15 days. He ordered machines and equipment in Britain and elsewhere in Europe. He conceived the idea of striking medallions which he intended to distribute to celebrate the flight. He went to Vienna and saw a sculptor named Mazura, explaining in bad German that he wanted his own bust on one side and an aeroplane encircling the globe on the other. Levine showed him French half, one and two franc pieces as samples cf the size. The sculptor the following day informed the police. "I was arrested and treated the affair for three days as a mere jest,” said Levine, “but the police declined to see the absurdity of anyone wanting to counterfeit twopenny pieces.” Levine's lawyers are now proposing to sue for compensation. Levine was arrested on suspicion of being connected with a counterfeiting plant. The charge was an offence under a clause of the criminal code dealing with the procurement of an apparatus for counterfeiting money. Counsel was optimistic that he would be able to convince the authorities that Levine was only making inquiries as to the possibility of supplying medallions for distribution in America similar to the medal struck for Colonel Lindbergh. It was stated that the tokens which lovine proposed to distribute among his friends as presents were to bear his portrait on one side and the other was to be inscribed with any anniversary the friend wished to remember.