Man in Unlawful Possession of £12,000 in Notes Before Alderman Sir W. Phone Neal at the Mansion House Justice Room on July 9, William Chalmers, 42, described as an architect, who gave an address at the Savoy Hotel, Strand, was charged with being in the unlawful possession of 12 £1,000 Bank of England notes; and, further, With having the possession of the note, well knowing them to have been stolen or unlawfully obtained outside the United Kingdom—namely, Antwerp, Belgium—contrary to the Larceny Act, 1916.
The accused was arrested at the Bank of England.
Detective-inspector Ernest Glasspool, City Police, said the prosecutor wished his name to be withheld from the Press.
Mr. C. Peyton (Clerk of the Court).—It is not suggested, inspector, is it, that this money was obtained by means of threats?
Inspector Glasspool—No, Sir, The allegation is that the money was Obtained in an hotel in Antwerp by means of the confidence trick; that is the reason why the gentleman wants his name withheld.
The Alderman.—Very well, At this stage of the case I will allow him to be referred to as "Mr, X." In the meantime I will consider whether it is in the interest of public policy to allow his name to be suppressed at ihe subsequent hearing. I really do not see why the name should not be made public.
Inspector Glasspool then went on to give evidence of arrest. He stated that he went with Detective-inspector Arthur Fuller to the Bank of England in Threadneedle Street, where he saw Chalmers detained in an office on the fourth floor. He told him that they were police officers, and cautioned him.
"I then said." continued the witness, "that I had been handed 12 £1,000 Bank of England notes (produced), and that I understood that he had that morning presented them to be changed into notes of smaller
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.