THE DANYGRAIG FORGERY AFFAIR

Sensational Swansea Raid, Courtroom Revelations, and Committal for Trial

(As reported across the South Wales Daily Post, June 1923)

A Dramatic Police Raid on the East Side

South Wales Daily Post

South Wales Daily Post

Early June brought scenes of remarkable excitement to Swansea when detectives executed a carefully planned raid at No. 37 Danygraig‑road, St Thomas, uncovering what was described as one of the most complete counterfeit Treasury‑note factories ever discovered in South Wales. The operation followed the arrest in Cardiff of Harry Edward Woodward, a 29‑year‑old blacksmith, and his sister Rose Margaret Heal, aged 27, who were detained after more than fifty forged £1 notes were found in their possession. Their apprehension immediately directed police attention to Woodward’s locked bedroom in the Danygraig house, where the astonishing discovery was made.

A Fully Equipped Counterfeiting Plant

Inside the room detectives found a meticulously arranged workshop containing printing presses, photographic cameras, zinc plates, dies, engraving tools, chemicals, and a large quantity of completed and partly completed notes. Among the most striking items were negatives of the Houses of Parliament for the reverse of the note, seven negatives of the front, and dies bearing serial numbers such as M.41–284967 and W.11–032046. Another die reproduced the signature of Mr Fisher, Secretary to the Treasury, while a further plate carried the distinctive scrollwork across the face of the wartime‑issue £1 note. A wooden receptacle the size of a Treasury note contained eighteen partly printed impressions, and sixty‑one sheets of Colne Valley watermark paper had been cut precisely to note size.

Police stated that the latest batch of Woodward’s “output” was so expertly produced that it was practically indistinguishable from genuine currency in colour, watermark, and paper quality. For weeks, tradesmen in Swansea and the surrounding district had been warned to examine Treasury notes carefully, as suspicious specimens had been circulating with increasing frequency.

Neighbours Astonished by the Revelation

Woodward, who had lived at Danygraig‑road for six years, was known locally as a skilled photographer and watch repairer, often spending long hours behind his locked door developing plates or working on intricate mechanical tasks. His neighbours expressed complete astonishment when detectives revealed the nature of his activities. One woman declared that they had “never had such a surprise in their lives,” insisting that none of the household had suspected anything beyond his usual photographic experiments.

The Case Moves to Swansea Police Court

The matter soon came before Swansea Police Court, where Woodward and Heal appeared before Mr J. W. Jones (chairman), sitting with Mrs Essie Harris, Mrs D. Williams, Major G. S. Harries, Dr Hubert Thomas, and Mr E. G. Protheroe. Woodward was charged with forging a £1 note, possessing fifty‑two forged notes, and holding plates and materials resembling those used in the production of currency. Heal faced charges of possessing papers suitable for making £1 notes and uttering forged notes on two occasions on June 2nd and once on May 23rd.

Evidence of the Forgery Process

For the prosecution, Mr Rupert Lewis described the method by which the spurious notes had been made. He stated that Woodward, an amateur photographer, claimed he had been experimenting in lithography “for Press purposes” and had no intention of circulating the notes. However, the discovery of identical paper at both Woodward’s and Heal’s residences was presented as the principal link between them.

Detective‑Inspector Gubb gave detailed evidence of the search, describing the bursting open of a locked box containing fifty‑two finished notes, 157 partly finished notes, and 155 spoiled impressions on which Woodward appeared to have been practising. The Bench inspected the forged notes, the negatives, the zinc blocks, the dies, and the various tools and materials. Several completed notes were listed by serial number, including Z81/523376, J41/239367, W60/032046, W65/784465, and W33/554383.

Woodward’s Brother Gives Evidence

William Henry Woodward, aged 37, testified that Harry had lived with him for three years and was known for his skill in watch‑repairing and photography. The back bedroom, he explained, was used for these pursuits, and he insisted he had never seen the contents of the box now produced in court until the police arrived.

Woodward’s Own Statement: “It Tempted Me”

When the Clerk read the charges, Woodward offered a brief but striking explanation. He declared: “It was all for experimental purposes until I was out of work. I was short of money and it tempted me. I gave a few away and a few to my sister. I went to Cardiff to look for work and asked my sister to send me some underclothes, and I was arrested. That’s all.” The admission, delivered calmly, suggested both technical curiosity and a lapse brought on by hardship, though the Bench received it with measured reserve.

Charges Against Mrs Heal: The Uttering of Notes

The court next turned to the allegations against Mrs Heal, who was accused of passing forged notes at several local shops. Annie May Jones, a shop assistant, testified that the defendant had tendered a suspicious £1 note when purchasing lemon‑squash tablets. The note, she said, bore a blurred King’s head and lacked a watermark. When challenged, Mrs Heal claimed she had received it from her husband and could not afford to lose a pound.

Further evidence came from Dr Williams, who identified the defendant as the woman who had used a questionable note when buying lamb. Both instances were presented as part of a pattern of circulation linked to the Danygraig operation.

Mrs Heal’s Explanation

When cautioned, Mrs Heal admitted passing the notes but insisted: “My brother gave them to me. I did not know they were bad.” She explained that she had been doing shopping on his behalf and believed the paper he left at her house to be ordinary writing paper. When a shop assistant refused one of the notes, she returned it to her brother, who told her he would “take it back where it came from.” She maintained she had no intention to defraud.

Both Defendants Committed for Trial

After reviewing the extensive evidence, the Bench committed both Woodward and Heal to stand trial at the Assizes. The Chairman remarked that the testimony of Inspector Gubb and Sergeant Francis had been “exceedingly clear and concise,” and expressed the Bench’s appreciation for the thoroughness of the police investigation.

A Case That Continues to Grip Swansea

With each hearing, the Danygraig forgery affair has deepened in complexity and public fascination. What began as a dramatic police raid has evolved into a detailed examination of family ties, financial hardship, and the fine line between technical experimentation and criminal intent. Swansea now awaits the Assizes with keen interest, as the full story of the counterfeit notes is yet to be told.