DARING ADVENTURESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20307, 15 July 1929, Page 12

DARING ADVENTURESS.

NUN AND PRIEST DECEIVED. COLLECTIONS "FOR A CHAPEL." An unusual affair has come to light at Angers, in France, the central figure being an adventuress who, during the past few years, has obtained more than 400.000 francs —about £34oo—by practising on tho credulity of o nun and a priest. The frauds cost the lifo of the nun's Mother-Superior, who died of grief when she heard of the mattor.

The adventuress, being short of money, adopted the simple expedient of having collections made for her. To ensure their success she enlisted tho aid of the mm, Sister Elisa, to whom she posed as a wealthy and pious woman, interested in works of charity. In particular she spoke of a chateau in a distant department, worth several million francs, which was legally hers, but to which thero wero several other claimants. Her suggestion was that Sister Elisa should help her to win tho impending legal action, when they would sell tlie chateau and build a chapel. Sister Elisa, persuaded by the woman's devotional manner, entered into the scheme and made a number of special collections. Thus in two years sho was able to hand to the expected benefactress a sum of 200,000 francs. J. he euro of a small parish near Angers was then drawn into the net. He was given a promiso that a school would be built, and ho collected 100,000 francs, which was also given to the adventuress. Last year the Mother-Superior of the community, hearing of the work in which Sister Elisa was engaged, decided to put an end to it. The matter affected her so much that sho died of grief several weeks after. Tho Bishop of Angers then intervened and relieved Sister Elisa of her vows. But though she ceased to be a nun the collections continued. The polico then took the matter in hand, and the adventuress fled. Sister Elisa, apparently frightened at the turn of affairs, also fled. Warrants for their arrests have been issued. ■