POSED AS AMERICAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24824, 22 February 1944, Page 7

POSED AS AMERICAN

A GIRL'S masquerade HOSPITALITY ACCEPTED "This young woman has been masquerading round Auckland as a United States nurse, and has gained hospitality from a number of sympathetic citizens," said Detective-Sergeant Trethewey, when a waitress, aged 18. appeared before Mr. W. C. Harley, S.M., yesterday, charged with being idle ana disorderly. She pleaded guilty. The girl came to Auckland _ from Christchurch five months ago, said Mr. Trethewey, and until a monthago had been employed in an essential industry. Some weeks ago, however, she left, and began to masquerade as a lieutenant-, nurse in the American forces. She had got a friend to type out an alleged pass with a false name, giving her permission to be on leave for a period without a uniform. She had forged the signature of an officer, and had told various citizens at whose homes she had stayed that she was resting after being wounded bv shrapnel in the South Pacific area. In one home she_ told the people that she was married to an American sergeant. "Apparently she is completely out of control ancl is too fond of Allied servicemen," Mr. Trethewey concluded. The magistrate remanded accused to the hospital for examination, and. if necessary, treatment. On the application of the probation officer, accused's name was suppressed in the meantime. TIIEFT FROM STORE A WOMAN CONVICTED A woman. Freda Waterhouse, aged 64 (Mr. Addison), pleaded guilty before' Mr. W. C. Harley, S.M., yesterday, to the theft from a. city store of three articles of underwear valued at 19s 6d. Detective-Sergeant Trethewey said accused was a first offender. Although her home was searched, no other stolen articles were found. She was m receipt of a social security benefit. _ Counsel said that circumstances lifted the case out of the ordinary category of shop-lifting offences. Accused was a very ill woman. A doctor's certificate produced gave a list of grave operations which had weakened her health. It was in this state that she had given way to an uncontrollable urge to take the articles. Counsel asked that a conviction should not be recorded and that accused's name should be suppressed. "I am afraid that is not possible, said the magistrate. "Whether a shoplifter is responsible for her actions or not. the public, and particularly shopkeepers, should be warned. An order for suppression will not be made." Accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months. NIGHT MEDICAL SERVICE Several calls were received at the St. John Ambulance headquarters on Sunday night, when the night medical_ service arranged by the Auckland division of the British Medical Association was resumed. Dr. F. H. Swan, of the Auckland Hospital staff, is on duty nightly from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. to receive all night calls for medical service.