WOMAN TURNS KING'S EVIDENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18469, 22 May 1928, Page 1

WOMAN TURNS KING'S EVIDENCE.

TELLS OF ALLEGED FORGERY OF NOTES. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received Mav 22, 11.30 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 22. The four men charged with having conspired to forge £5 bank notes — Stefan Karasiewiez, a Russian process engraver; John Howarth, a contractor; Benjafriin Thomas, a tailor; and Ralph Miller, a retired farmer —have been committed for trial. The foreign woman, Sonia Marchenko, a Moscow tailoress, who lived with Katasiewiez in the remote bush, but near the seaside, turned Crown witness. ,AU the charges against her were withdrawn. She has recently been cared for by convent nuns. She gave evidence that she first made acquaintance with Karasiewiez some months ago, when Howarth and Miller took her to Karasiewiez’s hut. She was unable to speak a word of English and was unaware of Karasiewiez’s occupation until one day she saw a half-com-pleted £5 note. Afterwards she saw Karasiewiez preparing the paper, makink watermarks.. Sometimes the noteprinting- was done in the presence of Howarth and Miller. Witness rgade paper flowers at Howarth’s suggestion as a “blind.” When, however, she discovered the note-print-ing she announced her intention of clearing out, whereupon she was given a pair of shoes and stockings. Ronald Harrison, engraver and technical adviser to the Commonwealth. Bank, said that the counterfeit notes were a splendid imitation. Alt the acused are on bail.—Australian Press Association. Notes passed on racecourses in both Sydney and Melbourne, where bookmakers lost heavily, led to the arrest of accused.