COUNTERFEIT NOTES

Hokitika Guardian, 28 April 1931, Page 3

COUNTERFEIT NOTES

THREE ARRESTS. (By Telegraph —Per Press Association) AUCKLAND. April 27. Two men were arrested in the city by detectives to-day in connection with the circulation of the counterfeit Bank of New South Wales one pound notes in the Auckland provincial towns on Friday. A third man, the son of one of the others, is being held as a suspect. The police state that five men were concerned in the passing ol the notes, and an active search for the remaining two is being conducted. Almost the entire detective force was assigned to the case as soon as advice was received that the notes were being passed. Valuable clues came to band dur’iig the week-end, and the police were in possession of a definite lead upon which to work. The first results appeared to-day when a motor ear,; which, it is alleged, was used by thei men in travelling to Hamilton and uttering the notes, was .recovered, and the mail who, it is stated, was the driver-, was arrested. Later in the day. two other men were arrested. Two of the men will appear in the Police Court in the morning oil charges of uttering counterfeit notes.

The men are aged 40 and 36 respectively. One, it is believed, arrived recently from Christchurch, and the other is not known to the police in Auckland. A charge of vagrancy has been preferred against the third man, who will appear with the other two. About forty of the -spurious notes have come into the hands of the police while others have been reported. It is considered that about 100 were put into circulation in the city and at towns as far south as Hamilton. At Hamilton the local police have recovered nine notes. A few of the notes came into the possession to-day of the Queen Street branch of the Bank ol New South Wales. An official at the hank said that the note's were a very fair imitation. and would probably pass a bank teller under ordinary conditions. THE NOTES REACH PALMERSTON NORTH. PALMERSTON N.. April 27. At least five counterfeit New South Wales one pound notes were issued in Palmerston North yesterday morning. A comparison with a genuine note suggests that the number “E. 931.586” is the safest way fo distinguish them.