CANCELLED NOTES IN CIRCULATION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 75, 24 April 1909, Page 2

CANCELLED NOTES IN CIRCULATION.

THE AITIIOU JCVADKS AKKJSST. A HUMMED Dlil'AltTCKlS. liy Telegraph.—l'ress Association. Ciiristclum-li, k,ast Night. During the last few (lavs a nuiulier (if cancelled Jijuik ut New Zealaml nines have been p.it into circulation in Christchurch. The noil's formed purl of a bundle stolen in \\*i l!in,'_'[.'-n during Inearly i>:i rt of the year. Cancellation was ell'ected by means of puucliing *'lit # i circular section of the n»U' about tliu | size of a shilling, hut in oriler to restore to the note an appearance ol genuiuenens tile opening was filled hy a patch of paper resembling that of the. note, ami on which tile proper tracing had been drawn by hand. The work had been carried out most skilfully, and it is a dill'k-ult matter to detect tne imposition. I!v a survey of the face of the note when held up to the lig.u, wowever, the dark rim, or double thickness of the paper where the genuine and forged parts overlap. can be distinctly seen, and the double thickness can also be felt if tile note is properly tested in that wav. In most cases the sham notes were changed at various stores where goods were purchased. Tile police received many complaints, and the members of tilt: local detective force vigorously to work to nnd the man _ responsible for the forgery and uttering, lie was stated to be tail and tnh and of pale complexion. Clues were obtained, and a man suspected was traced to a private hotel in Christehurch. A detective set out to arrest him, but found 011 reaching the hotel thit the man. who seemed to have received warning in some way, left in a violent hurry just a minute or two before, and had. in fact, not even waited to get ms nut. Further trace of the man could not then be picked up, and the ik'tcctivc proceeded to search the room He hail occupied. 'Vlie search was most (milnil. for there was discovered in the nun's portmanteau, not only a bundle of cancelled notes as before treatment, but also a whole outfit for gumming on ! the paper disc at the back of tile note to cover the punch hole, and for shading • and tilling up the blank section, fcla- , borate means were then adopted to find the man, Iml. so far, without result. I It U presumed he managed to get out 1 of the city. The police ill oil'" <l |s ' tricts have, however, been notified, and a sharp lookout will he kept on all L trains and steamers.