"A DEN OF MURDER."

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 179, 29 July 1913, Page 5

"A DEN OF MURDER."

NORSES' BOGUS TXNDEE BdATEEKITY ACTCHttDEEN ALLOWED TO STARVE. (Received 9.45 a.m.) MELBOURNE, this day. The trial of two nurses named Hannah Janet flurrel and Claire Donaldson, together with Dr. Edward George Erson, for cons jiring to defraud the Commonwealth ay fictitious claims under the Maternity Allowance Act, has concluded. Mr Justice Hood, in summing up, siiid the birth certificates signed by the nurses overflowed with false names. They signed themselves over aud over again as mothers. One witness had said that an illegitimate child had been disposed of to Donaldson for £30. If the statements regarding such transactions were anything like true, this hospital was simply "a den of murder. If the children were not absolutely done to death they were probably allowed to starve away. Dr. Erson was in an unfortunate position. He had signed over forty certificates, but had attended only 26 eases, the explanation bring that he signed the certificates in blank through carelessness. The nurses were found guilty, and were each sentenced to twelve mouths' imprisonment and fined £100. Dr Erson was acquitted.