FORGERY OF BANK OF ENGLAND NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 639, 29 January 1872, Page 3

FORGERY OF BANK OF ENGLAND NOTES.

A few months since some Yankee swindlers in New York forwarded circulars to many persons in England offering to supply them with counterfeit English sovereigns, alleged to be so skilfully made as to defy detection. The scheme was exposed in our columns, and signally failed. Yesterday several tradesmen in the metropolis and suburbs received a wellexecuted lithographed circular in blue ink, from a person signing himself Charles J. Whittington, of 35, John street, New York, offering to supply them with forged Bank of England notes for circulation in this country. The persons who have received these letters have handed them to tho Metropolitan and City police, who will inform the New York police of what has occurred. The following is a copy of the letter :—" New York, October 27, 1871. Dear Friend,—l take the liberty of submitting to you the subjoined proposition, at the suggestion of a friend whom you have had considerable transactions with, and who resides in London. He gave you a very high character as to honour, integrity, and secrecy. It is but natural that you should be astonished on its first perusal, but on calm reflection no doubt you will arrive at the same conclusion as I have done—namely, that the only loser in our trade will be the Government, and ot course it can survive the loss. I was engaged over 15 years in the engraving department of the Bank of England, aud am at present manufacturing facsimile's of Bank of England notes (£l, £5, and These notes are so admirably executed, both in the numbering and engraving, as to defy detection ; therefore you will run no more risk in passing them than if they were genuine, particularly when ruffled up and soiled. You can easily realize from £25,000 to £50,000 per year by cautious and judicious management. It is said that every man on an average gets one chance in a lifetime to make a fortune. This may be yours, don't let it slip. I will supply you with the above notes at the rate of £100 for every

£1,000 : but if you order a £5,000 package I will charge £100. You will perceive the advantage of ordering a large quantity at once ; then you caii employ some confidential friend to assist you in getting rid of it quickly. Bear in mind I will not send out samples for obvious reasons, and no account will I give credit; but for the first transaction I will deviate from my usual custom of all cash iv advance. On receipt of £3 in advance I will forward you a package containing £1000; for £5 iv advance I will send you £2,000 ; and for £10 in advance, I will send you £5,000, provided that you will agree to pay tho balance as soon as possible after its arrival. The goods will be securely packed in strong boxes and shipped <by express, marked as chemicals ; this is the mode I have adopted for the past year, and never had any mistake occur, although I have sent these goods to London, Liverpool, Manchester, &c, every other week. To illustrate how easy it is to circulate thpsc notes without any suspicion, I will j mention the following :— ' During my ( visit in London last summer I paid half !my expenses with my own notes by mixI ing them with genuine money, and on one ' occasion I changed a £10 note (counterfeit) in the Bank of England ; in fact, the cashier never looked at it twice.' In case you conclude to accept my proposal, remit at once, if not I must seek some more enterprising agent in your neighbourhood. Hoping to receive an order soon, I remain. yours, on the square, Chakles J. Whittington, 31, John street, New York City, U.S.A. P.S. —Let me know where you wish the package adressed, and the most convenient express office ; also whether you want the goods shipped in your own j name or not." — limes, Nov. 9, 1871. j