SENSATIONAL ARREST.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12750, 23 March 1910, Page 4

SENSATIONAL ARREST.

The arrest of the Duke of Benedicto a grandee of Spain and ex-member of the Cortes, on suspicion of bein" implicated in a plot for the manufacture <>r counterfeit money, was the result ■ i a T ?" rK » ls accident. Bailiffs visited the Duke s villa in the country for tho purpose of distraining on his goods to satisfy the costs of a lawsuit. They inspected a number of rooms, and found thorn utterly devoid of articles of value. Tho bailiffs were about to depart empty handed when one of them noticed a 'small door that -was heavily barred. This door was forced open, and to the amazement of the searchers it was found to lead to an apartment fitted up as a miniature mint. Bars of silver lay on the floor, and in ono corner of the room was a largo box filled with two and -five pesta pieces, which were waiting to be stamped with tho heads of Alfonso XII. and Alfonso XIII. before being put into circulation. All the necesi ;;nry .machinery for making coins-of , various denomination was found in tho room, as. well as spurious coins of the fa eft value of £3,000. Guards wero placed in tho house and measures taken to prevent the Duke learning I <ii tho discovery of the counterfeit I plant until his arrest, which was effected soon afterwards: A number of prominent men are said to be implicated in the scandal.- Two years ago tho Minister of Finance withdrew fro'n circulation "several million counterfeit coins. The Government .Has spent a large sum in trying to trace tho guilty persons.