Arrest of a Gang of Coiners.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 786, 31 March 1905, Page 4

Arrest of a Gang of Coiners.

MELBOURNE, March' 21. It has been well known to the police- for some time past that a gang of coiners was located in Melbourne turning out spurious coin in large quantities. Suspicion rested on a man released from Pentridgv at the beginning: of December. Associated with him were another man. a boy, and a woman.; Last night the police l-a'ided the house occupied by them at Fitzroy, and apparently conducted as a greengrocer's. When the police attempted to enter the room where the coining plant was afterwards found, the recently-releas-ed man fought lik6 a madman till a blow from a handcoff cut open his bead, and effectually quietened liim. In the room was arranged a complete coming outfit, plaster of Paris for making moulds, broken moulds, packets of sulphate of copper, and an alloy, composed mainly of lead, and a li'itle electroplating apparatus, J1 half-sovereigns fresh from the mould, 31 shillings, and 16 half-crowns were found. In the kitchen were two moulds containing good half-crowns, which were being baked dry, and in another room a notebook containing minute instructions for preparing the ■battery, -Aid all requisite chemical formulae for the different bachH needed. Accused were brought before tie Police Court and remanded. The police stateid in court, that the plant was in fu,ll working order 1 , and th?

gas was on. The accused had evidently teen at work only a short time previously.;