NOTE FORGERIES

Wairarapa Age, 23 May 1928, Page 5

NOTE FORGERIES

FOUR MEN TO STAND TRIAL IN AUSTRALIA. WOMAN TURNS CROWN WITNESS. CLEVER COUNTERFEITING. United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. MELBOURNE, May 22. Four men, charged with having conspired to forge £5 bank notes, Stefan Karasiclwiez, a Russian process engraver, John Howarth, a contractor, Benjamin Thoinas, a tailor, and Ralph Miller, a retired farmer, were committed for trial. A foreign woman, Senia Marchenko, whe lived with Karasiciwiez in a remote bush hut near the seaside at Geelong, turned Crown witness, and all charges against her were withdrawn. She has recently been cared for by convent nuns. She gave evidence that she first made acquaintance with Karasiciwiez some months ago, when Howarth and Miller took her to the latter’s hut. She was unable to speak a word of English. She was unaware of Karasieiwiez’s occupation until one day she saw a half-completed fiver. She afterwards saw Karasiciwiez preparing paper and making watermarks, and semetimes the note-printing was done in the presence of Howarth and Miller. Witness made paper flowers at Howarth’s suggestion as a “blind.” When, however, she discovered the note printing, 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 Bai*, said that the counterfeit notes were a splendid imitation. All the accused were released on bail.—(P.A.)