CHARITY AND FRAUDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14925, 24 February 1912, Page 7

CHARITY AND FRAUDS.

SISTER CANDIDE SENTENCED By Tolegraph.—rres* Association.—Copyright. Paris, February 22. Sentence has been passed on Sister Candide in connection with the frauds which she perpetrated on jewellers and others in order to provide funds for the charitable institutions which she founded in Paris. She will undergo 18 months' imprisonment, is fined 1000 francs, and is ordered to restore various sums of money.

CHARGES AGAINST SHEER CANDIDE.

Sister Candide was a well-known member of the Sisters of Charity, and foundress of several hospitals. She was prosecuted in 1910 upon an allegation that she obtained £80,000 worth of jewels from 15 jewellers on credit, and sold them to various patrons of charities. When she came before thn magistrate, she refused to tell where the money was. She denied that she had pawned the jewels, and said that the jewellers would be paid in due course. Dr. Pettit, head of the charitable institutions of the Sister, committed suicide when the charges were laid, and left papers charging her with embezzlement. She was apparently a most unbusinesslike woman, and paid away large sums without asking for receipts. The prosecutions caused a great sensation in Paris. More recent investigations show that Sister Candidc collected at least a million sterling between 1889 and 1910. Of this sum £800,000 was legitimately spent. Her present, liabilities are £680,000, arid her assets £120,000. She bought on credit, and sold immediately at greatly reduced prices, over £200,000 worth of jewels.