Forgery Act 1861

As to forging Exchequer Bills, &c.:—

8 Forging Exchequer Bills, Bonds, and Debentures, &c.

Whosoever shall forge or alter, or shall offer, utter, dispose of, or put off, knowing the same to be forged or altered, any Exchequer Bill or Exchequer Bond or Exchequer Debenture, or any Indorsement on or Assignment of any Exchequer Bill or Exchequer Bond or Exchequer Debenture, or any Receipt or Certificate for Interest accruing thereon, with Intent to defraud, shall be guilty of Felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for Life or for any Term not less than Three Years,—or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years with or without Hard Labour, and with or without Solitary Confinement.

9 Making Plates, &c. in imitation of those used for Exchequer Bills, &c.

Whosoever, without lawful Authority or Excuse (the Proof whereof shall lie on the Party accused), shall make or cause or procure to be made, or shall aid or assist in making, or shall knowingly have in his Custody or Possession, any Frame, Mould, or Instrument having therein any Words, Letters, Figures,' Marks, Lines, or Devices peculiar to and appearing in the Substance of any Paper provided or to be provided or used for Exchequer Bills or Exchequer Bonds or Exchequer Debentures, or any Machinery for working any Threads into the Substance of any Paper, or any such Thread, and intended to imitate such Words, Letters, Figures, Marks, Lines, Threads, or Devices, or any Plate peculiarly employed for printing such Exchequer Bills, Bonds, or Debentures, or any Die or Seal peculiarly used for preparing any such Plate, or for sealing such Exchequer Bills, Bonds, or Debentures, or any Plate, Die, or Seal intended to imitate any such Plate, Die, or Seal as aforesaid, shall be guilty of Felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for any Term not exceeding Seven Years and not less than Three Years,—or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years, with or without Hard Labour, and with or without Solitary Confinement.

10 Making Paper in imitation of that used for Exchequer Bills, &c.

Whosoever, without lawful Authority or Excuse (the Proof whereof shall lie on the Party accused), shall make, or cause or procure to be made, or aid or assist in making, any Paper in the Substance of which shall appear any Words, Letters, Figures, Marks, Lines, Threads, or other Devices peculiar to and appearing in the Substance of any Paper provided or to be provided or used for such Exchequer Bills, Bonds, or Debentures, or any Part of such Words, Letters, Figures, Marks, Lines, Threads, or other Devices, and intended to imitate the same, or shall knowingly have in his Custody or Possession any Paper whatsoever, in the Substance whereof shall appear any such Words, Letters, Figures, Marks, Lines, Threads, or Devices as aforesaid, or any Parts of such Words, Letters, Figures, Marks, Lines, Threads, or other Devices, and intended to imitate the same, or shall cause or assist in causing any such Words, Letters, Figures, Marks, Lines, Threads, or Devices as aforesaid, or any Part of such Words, Letters, Figures, Marks, Lines, Threads, or other Devices, and intended to imitate the same, to appear in the Substance of any Paper whatever, or shall take or assist in taking any Impression of any such Plate, Die, or Seal as in the last preceding Section mentioned, shall be guilty of Felony, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the" Court, to be kept in Penal Servitude for any Term not exceeding Seven Years and not less than Three Years,—or to be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Two Years, with or without Hard Labour, and with or without Solitary Confinement.

11 Having in possession, Paper, Plates, or Dies to be used for Exchequer Bills, &c.

Whosoever, without lawful Authority or Excuse (the Proof whereof shall lie on the Party accused), shall purchase or receive, or knowingly have in his Custody or Possession, any Paper manufactured and provided by or under the Directions of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue or Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury for the Purpose of being used as Exchequer Bills or Exchequer Bonds or Exchequer Debentures, before such Paper shall have been duly stamped, signed, and issued for Public Use, or any such Plate, Die, or Seal as in the last Two preceding Sections mentioned, shall be guilty of a Misdemeanor, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the Discretion of the Court, to = be imprisoned for any Term not exceeding Three Years, with or without Hard Labour.