BANK NOTES.

Dunstan Times, Issue 856, 13 September 1878, Page 3

BANK NOTES.

The Parisians escaped the unfortunate position of Wing the recipients of a host of worthless “ banknotes,” through the recent discovery of a hand of men who made an attempt to produce counterfeits. Fortunately they were foiled in their efforts, and the Parisian tradesmen and hotel-keepers have reason to congratulate themselves upon the fact as much as we, as it is only reasonable to suppose that the .rogues intended to circulate the notes when it would bo a comparatively safe experiment, owing to the presence of a quantity of English money and paper in Paris. At this time it is well to consider what the law with respect to forgery really says concerning the imitation of n Bank-note, Bank Dill of Exchange, or Bank Post Bill of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England or of the Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland, or any other Body Corporate Company, or Person carrying on the Business of Bankers.” The Act (24 and 25 Vic. cap. xcviii. sec. 17) is very precise in the laying down of the law, and slates that “ whosoever, without lawful Authority or Excuse (the Proof whereof shall lie on the Party accused) shall engrave or in anywise make upon any plate whatsoever, or upon any wood, stone, or other Material, any Word, Number, Figure, Device, Character, or Ornament, the Impression taken from which shall resemble, or apparently be intended to resemble, any part of a bank note, &c., or shall use or knowingly have in his custody or possession, any such plate, &c., or shall knowingly offer, utter, dispose of, or put off, or have iu his Custody or Possession any Paper or other Material upon which there shall be an Impression of any such Matter as aforesaid, shall be guilty of felony, kc,.” ,Thc purport and intent of the law upon this

subject is clearly shown forth ih the above 'anil it therefore follows that the nonsensical Valentine notes upon the Bank of Don Cupid or Venus, or other improper deity, a-e made and sold in tiro face of thelaw. It is also naturally an offence against the law to photograph a note and produce a facsimile or even an imitation in miniature for use upon sleeve-links arid solitaires, which has been done recently.—City Press.