CANCELLED BANK NOTES.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2484, 24 April 1909, Page 5

CANCELLED BANK NOTES.

IN CIRCULATION IN CHRISTCHURCH. [Per Press Association.] CHRISTCHURCH, April 23. During the last few days a number of cancelled Bank of Now Zealand notes have been put into circulation in Christchurch. The notes formed part of a bundle stolen in Wellington in the early part of the year. Cancellation was effected by means of punching out a circular section of the note about the size of a shilling, but in order to restore to the note* an appearance of genuineness, tho opening has been filled up by a patch of paper resembling that of tlio note and on which proper tracing, drawn by handwork, has been carried out most skilfully. It is a difficult matter to detect the imposition by a survey of the face of the note. "W hen held up to the light, however, the dark rim or the double thickness® of paper where the. forged and genuine parts overlap can be distinctly seen, and the double thickness can also be felt if the note is properly tested in that way. In most cases the sham notes were changed at various e-tores where goods were purchased. . . The .police received many complaints, an t the members of the local force set vilvOrously to work to find the man responsible for the forgery and u-tenng. Ho was stated to be tall, tlun, and o pale complexion. Clues were obtained, and the man suspected was traced to a private hotel in Christchurch. THE FORGER ALMOST CAUGHT. A detective set out to arrest him, but found on reaching the hotel that the man who seemed to have received warning in some way had leit in a violent hurrv just a minute or two before, and had in fact not even waited to get his» hat. Further trace of the man could not then be picked up, and the detective proceeded to search the room he occupied. The search was most friutfulf for there was discovered m the man’s portmanteau not only a bundle of cancelled notes, as before treatment, but also the whole outfit for gumming on the paper uisc at the back of the note to cover the punch hoi© and tor shading and filling up the blank section Elaborate means were then adopted to find the man, but so far without result. It- is presumed he managed to get out of the- city. Ihe police in other districts have, however, been notified, and a sharp look-out will bo kept on all trains and steamers.