COURT OF CASSATION. 13 DECEMBER 1913. MM. Bond (Pres.) : Muhammad Magdi Pasha, Ahmad Moussa Bey, Mina Ibrahim Bey, Soudan (JJ.) : Atieh Hosny Bey (State Rep.). STATE REPRESENTATIVE v. JOSEPH GEORGE RASKIN. I. Falsification of banknotes—Possibility of prejudice—II. Attempt—Relative impossibility. (I. P.C. Art. 174; II. P.C. Art. 293.) I.—The possibility of prejudice which is an element of the offence of falsification of banknotes, under Article 174 of the Penal Code, exists sufficiently in the injurious effect upon public confidence produced by tampering with such notes, even though there is no intention directly to defraud the issuing bank. Where, therefore, persons falsify by making alterations in the numbers of banknotes with the object of demonstrating their skill as forgers in order to defraud another by inducing him to confide banknotes to their custody, they may properly be convicted of the offence of falsification under Article 174 of the Penal Code. II.—An attempt to obtain by false pretences, under Article 293 of the Penal Code, may be sufficiently constituted even though the intended victim is aware of the fraudulent design on the part of the accused. The "impossibility" is "relative" in such a case, as it results from circumstances independent of the will of the accused. Therefore, where the accused had endeavoured to defraud a police officer who had disguised himself in order to trap them, it was held by the Court of Cassation that they might properly be convicted of the attempt to obtain by false pretences, under Article 293 of the Penal Code. See as to II Cass. 13 Dec. 1913 (O.B. XV, No. 18).