PHOTOGRAPH OF BANK NOTE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16495, 4 August 1921, Page 5

PHOTOGRAPH OF BANK NOTE.

# ADVERTISING AGENT CHARGED. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 3. The Supreme Court was crowded/today when John Swinson, a well-known advertising agent, was charged in that lie did have in his possession a glass plate with a photograph negative containing figures and characters resembling a five-pound Bank of New Zealand note. Mr Macas.sey, Crown prosecutor, said there was no suggestion whatever of intent to commit a crime. The note was photographed merely for the purposes of a guessing competition of names of the New Zealand team to meet the Springboks in the first test match. Mr Martin Luckie, representing the accused, in applying for the ruling of the Court that there was no case to go to the jury, said that the lower Court, proceedings had been reported in the Press of the Dominion as a case of possessing means of counterfeiting, and that accused had admitted the offence. “ That sort of thing is likelv to injure my client’s business throughout the Dominion,” he said. His Honor: It is very unfortunate. After lengthy argument concerning the definition of “ without lawful excuse,” his Honor said that he would exercise the discretion allowed the Court by the Probation Act, 1920, and discharge the accused without sending the case to the jury. The discharge, added his Honor, would have the ful' force of acquittal.