FORGED £5 NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17408, 22 May 1928, Page 7

FORGED £5 NOTES

ACCUSED COMMITTED. WOMAN TURNS KING’S EVIDENCE CHARGES AGAINST HER DROPPED. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.); (Australian Press Association). (Received May 22, J 0.45 a.m.) MELBOURNE, May 22. • The four men charged with having conspired to forge £5 bank notes— Stefen Karasiewiez (Russian process engraver), John Howarth (contractor), Benjamin Thomas (tailor), and Ralph Miller (retired farmer) —have been committed for trial. The foreign woman, Senia Marchenko, who lived with Karasiewiez in a remote bush hut near the seaside, turned Crown witness, and all charges against- her were withdrawn.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 Karasiewiez some months ago. When Howarth and Miller took her to the latter’s hut she was unable to say a word of English, and was unaware of their occupation until Ihc day she saw a halfcompleted £5 note. Alterwards she saw Karasiewiez preparing paper, -and making .watermarks, and sometimes 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. Bank, said the counterfeit notes wen* a splendid imitaion. All the accused are on bail. _ ;