BIG PARCEL OF FORGED NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 119, 21 May 1931, Page 1

BIG PARCEL OF FORGED NOTES.

DISCOVERY LEADS TO CASE AGAINST SALESMAN (Special to the “ Star.”) WELLINGTON, May 21. Arrested in connection with the appearance of forged Bank of New South Wales notes in Auckland and Wellington last month, David Collinson, a salesman, aged thirty-five, appeared before Mr T. B. M’Neil, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday to answer two charges of having in his possession, without lawful authority, certain forged £1 notes, knowing them to be forged Collinson, who was represented by Mr J. Meltzer, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and was committed for trial at the next session of the Supreme Court in Wellington in July. “ We suggest that the accused is one of the principals in what appears to be a widespread conspiracy,” said SubInspector Ward, in opposing bail. The Magistrate said he had thought over the matter during the hearing of evidence, and had decided not to grant bail. If Mr Meltzer wanted to make further application he would have to go to a Judge. A Game of “ Hazards ”. David James Bruce Howe, manager of the Kiwi Club, Wellington, said that on Saturday, April 25, he opened the club at 7.30 p.m. and saw every member and visitor who was in the club that night. The accused and his brother came into the club, and were the only two visitors. While a game called “ hazards ” was in progress witness noticed a forged £1 Bank of New South Wales note on the table. Witness looked round to see if he could see any similar ones. When he discovered another and looked at the numbers, he stopped the game and told the players that there were forged notes on the table. Witness saw eight forged notes that night in the possession of different He did not see the accused in the possession of any notes until after they had been discovered. The accused then informed witness that he had three. Witness said that he handed one of the forged notes to Detective M’Lennan on Sunday, April 26. On the Sunday night witness had a conversation with the accused and told him that the police were making inquiries about some forged notes. The accused said the police had seen him, and that he had nothing to do with the notes. A Housemaid’s Discovery.

Elsie Chigey, housemaid, employed at the Masonic Hotel, said that the accused occupied room 16 on the top floor from the night of April 24 until lunch time on April 28. On April 28 witness cleaned out the room. The accused was not in the room, but his luggage was still’there. She did not see anything under the linoleum, but the following day, when she went to the room at 1 p.m. to scrub it out, she found the notes wrapped up in brown paper underneath the linoleum under the wardrobe. The notes were wrapped tightly like a book. When she found the parcel she opened it and took them down to Mr Ward, storeman at the hotel, who handed them to the detectives. Detective’s Evidence. Detective M’Lennan said that at 10 p.m. on April 26, in company with Detective-Sergeant Tricklebank, he saw the accused and his brother at the New Zealander Hotel. The accused and his brother were searched, but no notes were found on them. Witness then went to the accused’s room at the Masonic Hotel, but found no notes. Witness then requested the accused to accompany him to the Detective Office, lie told the accused that a number of forged £1 notes were issued to smail shopkeepers in Wellington on April 25, and that the parties who had given the notes had bought chocolates. When the accused and his brother were searched they had in their possession chocolates similar to those purchased by the persons issuing the forged notes. The accused denied that he had uttered any notes, and said that he usually bought chocolates and that he bought them at a shop in Courtenay Place on April 25. Witness told the accused that the police had reason to believe that he and his brother had issued a number of forged notes in the Kiwi Club on April 25, and asked for an explanation of the accused’s movements from the time he had left Auckland on April 25. Accused’s Statement. In his statement to the police, the accused said that he lived at 32, Bayfield Road, Auckland. He left Auckland at 11 p.m. on April 23, and drove to Ilawera. where he stopped to pick up a man who was going to Wanganui. They stopped at Hamilton, and again at New Plymouth, where they had tea. About twenty miles south of New Plymouth the car tipped up, and he got a lift back to New Plymouth, where he obtained the use of another car. He then drove on to Wellington, stopping at Wanganui and Palmerston North for petrol. The accused said that he came to Wellington with the idea of floating a company in connection with a special photography machine. Process Expert’s Opinion. George Campbell Clark, manager of the process department of the “ Evening Post,” said that he had examined the notes and he had also seen some “ Maoriland Bond ” paper. The paper on which the notes were printed bore the same watermark as the “ Maoriland Bond ” paper. In witness’s opinion the genuine note had been photographed and a line block made. The proofs of the line block had been re-photograph-ed and printed either on to aluminium or stone. They would be printed by the offset process, or lithography. Practically any camera would be suitable to take a line negative. Witness had seen j an auto portrait process machine, and it would be suitable for photographing the note. A lens produced in Court could be used in the machine, and would be suitable for line work. Mr Meltzer: Would the machine necessary for printing these notes be bulky?—No, it could be done from a hand press. Is it your opinion that the notes produced have necessitated a bulky machine for the printing?—No. Purchase of a Machine. William John Stark, a photographer, said that he used in his business an auto portrait machine which he had obtained oil October 12 from the accused. Ileen Cunliffe said she was employed at the Wellington Winter Show last year by the accused, who had two auto portrait machines installed there to

take photographs. The accused showed witness how to work the machine. Detective Snedden, of Auckland, said he arrested the accused at his home on April 30. The accused was informed that he was wanted in Wellington on a charge of having forged notes in his possession, and that notes had been traced to him. The accused replied: “ They must think I am a magician.” He called his brother into the room, and as he entered the door he said, “What about him?” Accused instructed his brother to ring up his solicitor at once. He said he had previously seen his solicitor that afternoon, and had discussed the matter with him. Witness searched the premises, but he did not find any forged banknotes. When the solicitor arrived at the house, the accused said, “ Hullo, Mac, what I predicted has happened.” The accused and his solicitor then had a private conversation. This closed the evidence.