FORGERY OF BANK NOTES BY PHOTOGRAPHY.

West Coast Times, Issue 648, 22 October 1867, Page 3

FORGERY OF BANK NOTES BY PHOTOGRAPHY.

Intimation has been made by the Aberdeen police authorities to tho various bank agencies in that city that spurious onepound notes of tho Aberdeen Town and County Bank were in circulation, and should, therefore, be" guarded against. On inquiry wo learned that not more than five of these notes have yet been presented at the head office of the bank most interested. Three of thorn were taken at the North of Scotland Bank, but their appearanco caused almost instant suspicion, and the examination which at once followed led to the discovery of their true character. A year or two ago, the Town and County Bank began to issue LI notes from new " die" or plate— tho engraving being more carefully executed and elaborate that on the notes previously in circulation. Most ot the noto'is printed with black mk,nndthc «iga»t»roi are also writtsn in that color ;

but for tho/sake of better security there is also a second printing, which imparts a light and delicate blue tint to a portion of the center of the note. This second coloring is fully an inch in depth, and is enclosed' so to speak, within five concentric rings extending from the "right hand side of the note to the finely engraved border — an inch wide— at the other extremity. Over the blue tint, and within the rings, is the word " ONE," also in blue. The spurious notes are badly executed photographic copies of tho new note described. The blue coloring, which the camera is as yet unable to produce, has apparently been laid" on by means of a brush, either directly by hand, or over a " springplatc" — that is a slip of metal in which the letters to be printed have been cut out, so as lo allow the brush reaclu'ng the paper, and forming them on. The whole appearance of the false notes should instantly secure their detection. The concentric rings mentioned are scarcely discernible on some of them, and in others appear wanting altogether; and the blue tint within those rings is also absent, except so far as is required for the letters forming the word " ONE," while these letters themselves are clumsily formed, and want tho sharp and distinct outlines of those seen on the genuine notes. It may be mentioned, too, that the same number appears on more than one of the false notes ; but the fact of their presenting more than one number shows that the forgers have been wary enough not to take their photograph simply off one genuine note- Altogether, the photographed notes have a blurred and indistinct look ; and their color, instead of being a good black, like the real article, approaches a light mauve or purplish shade, not to be secji on any bank note we know of. To avert suspicion from these characteristics, it would seem that the notes have been steeped in water or oil, as if to suggest the idea that their hazy expression — if we may go phrase it — was due to an accidental cause. They have been printed on ordinary wove writing paper, not of particularly good quality, and the wire marks may be seen on holding tho note up to the light. There is thus little reason to fear that these spurious notes can obtain any wide circulation. — " Dundee Advertiser."

A very sharp bit of practice (says the " Otigo Witness") was made known recently in connection with a business transaction between an employee of a Melbourne House and a partner in a Dunedin firm. It appears i that Mr Strelitz, lafco of the firm of Strelifcz, Stoinhofl" and Hart, tobacconists, had given air acceptance on account of tho firm to the traveller of Messi-3. Kronlieimcr and Co., of Melbourne, in settlement of a claim of the latter over which there had bten some legal dispute. However, the acceptance was received and the matter considered settled, when the traveller demands of Strelitz £5 as payment for the legal expenßC3 which he had incurred. This sum Strelitz declined to pay, aud dismissed tho applicant somewhat summarily. On the next day, Strelitz, who had disposed of his share in the firm, was about taking his departure for Europe and was already on board the river steamer bound for the port. Meanwhile, however, the traveller, not to be defeated, had applied to the Judgo for an order of arrest, and just as Sfcretlitz was bidding his numerous friends and acquaintances a long farewell, 10, a bailiff taps him on the shoulder, and to the surprise of everyone and tho consternation of himself in particular, he was forced to forego his journey and accompany the officer back to town, and all for the paltry £5. Subsequently, in Chambers, an order was applied for to set aside that writ of arrest on the ground that it had been issued against good faith, and the Judge upon hearing tho facts of tho oaso immediately granted the - application, and now once more the ex-tobacconist is safely on his way to fields and pastures new. "As an instance of opossum shooting extraordinary," remarks the "Geelong Advertiser," "we are informed two young gentlomen, recently from the old country for the benefit of their health, lately took up their quarters near the Kardinia Nursery, and soon got upon the most intimate terms with the proprietor, who is well kuown as a keen fisher and crack shot, particularly to his enemy tho opossum, that frequently makes sad havoc with Ills young nursery stock. In return for their kind attention lie has made sad havoc with them, for it is seldom now an opossum is to be seen around tho neighborhood ; so his gun lay charged ready for execution whenever an opportunity occurred. Our two young new chums became aware of this, and so laid their plot for a ' sell.' The nurseryman was about retiring to his quiet; repose, when a, knock at the door calls him out. His two young friends con front him as if breathless with the haste they have niiific. They had discovered an opossum on the big gum tree and wanted his gun to kill it. Tho nurseryman quickly dresses, shoulders his gun (already charged for over three months), and in a few minutes they reach tho tree. The gun is on the nursery- , man's shoulder — he pauses,lowers his weapon. 1 Here, Harry, you shoot him ; I .know you would like to ; it's no novelty to me.' Harry with a smile receives the gun and take 3 aim ; he pauses. ' I say, Mr Nurseryman, how long has the gun been loaded ?' ' You young fool, speak low ; did'nt I tell you over three months.' 'Then I won't risk it. Here George (his companion), you bring him down.' 'No fear, if I know it, was the reply. ' You are a pair of d01t,3,' replies the nurseryman. ' Don't you see the brute is shifting his quarters, and wi-'U lose him. G-ivc me the gun.' So, suiting the action to the word, he seizes the piece ; quickly he aims — bang ! down falls the opossum. ' There, he would have been olf if I had not been in time.' Our friend the nurseryman picks up his gair.o. He hoars suppressed giggles from tho two young scamps. The opossum was stuffed, and placed on the tree for the occasion ! I am sold,' he exclaims, • G-ood night.' " (For remainder of News see Mh Page.)