“AMAZING AFFAIR”

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27039, 25 March 1949, Page 7

“AMAZING AFFAIR”

MAGISTRATE OUTSPOKEN NURSE BORROWS GOODS “ Speaking not only from the Bench, but as a taxpayer, I find that this case reveals a most amazing state of affairs,” said Mr J. D. Willis, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, when dismissing charges against a 19-year-old nurse of stealing linen and crockery belonging to the Otago Hospital Board. A charge against a young student of receiving the articles was also dismissed. That people should have the consummate impudence to take the goods and then return them for laundering was almost unbelievable, Mr Willis said. It was hoped that the organisation concerned would take immediate steps to see that the practice did not continue.

“I am asked to decide whether the defendant intended to deprive the Otago Hospital Board of the goods permanently, or whether she intended to return them,” the magistrate said. All reasonable doubt had not been removed from his mind in view of the practice that existed in the hospital, he added, and he had to dismiss the charges. Chief Detective Hall, outlining the case said that the defendant had taken nine towels, three serviettes, four pillow cases, five sheets, two cups and saucers, and 10 plates of a total value of £8 14s Id. from the Otago Hospital Board, for whom she worked as a nurse. Norman' McDonald Sutherland, controller of stores for the board, James Thomson, superintendent of the Dunedin Public Hospital, and Frances Josephine Irvine, sister-in-charge, at the Talboys Hospital, identified the articles, which were displayed in court, and said that no one had authority to take them from the hospital. Alan Stanley Bell, a detective said that he had interviewed the defendant after recovering the articles, and she had admitted taking them. She had explained that it was a practice for nurses to take such articles when living out. for they were always returned. In evidence, the defendant said she knew it to be a practice for nurses to take linen away from the hospitals for their private use. She had borrowed linen in November, December, and January, and the first two lots had been returned for washing. She had gone to her home for three weeks afer receiving the last supply of linen, and had not meant to keep it. She had not attempted to remove any markings from it.