UNKNOWN

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIII, Issue 207, 6 September 1901, Page 3

UNKNOWN

jv;:i t -;' vi -• r„i ow. iNVKiJCA'.-fiiti,, Voptuulrr 4. In the {Supreme Court, at the conclusion of the honing of » charge of coining agn'ms- f ,ur youths, llis Honor said it wns elwir f:<mi tie i>virtGr;ce, and was admitted, that tlio accused had made coin from a mould made by hnlr-a-crown, but in wds a cues*ion o? ionsiderab'e difficulty whether the mere making of coin to resemble current coin without an intent to pas* it was a crime or Eot. It seemed difficult to believe that the mere making of coin in that way w. s penal, espechl'y ss the penalty might be lite imprisonment. His Honor, therefore, submitted two issues to the jury, did the accused or any of them make counterfeit coin (1) with intent to make it referable current silver coir, and (2) with intent to make it pass lor current silver coin ? The jury answered the first in the affirmative and the latter in the negative. His Honor entered a conviction and stated that be would submit the point he hid me itioned to the Appeal Court. If it was held that the acere making was no oflence the conviction ivould he expunged ; in any case no punishment will follow the jury's decision. Two of the youths have to be tried for uttering counterfeit halfcrowns. This, one of them to-day s lid, was the xesult of a change of clothe.-', and that when he found bad money had be-n given to a shopkeep'r tk u y were afraid to rectify the mistake.