THE MATERNITY BONUS
MELBOURNE, July 29. The trial of Hannah Janet Hurrell and Clarice Donaldson (two nurses) and Dr Edward George Erson for conspiring to defraud the Commonwealth by means of fictitious claims under the Maternity Allowance Act has concluded. Mr Justice Hood, in the course of hia summing up, said that the birth certificates signed by these two nurses overflowed with false names. They had signed themselves over and over again as mothers. One witness had said that an illegitimate child was disposed of to Donaldson for £3O. If the statements regarding such transactions were anything like true then this particular hospital was a den of murder, for if tho children were not absolutely done to death they were probably allowed to starve. Dr Erson was in an unfortunate position. Ho had signed over 40 certificates, but had attended being that he had signed these certificates in blank through carelessness. The two nurses were found guilty, and sentenced to 12 montlis’ imprisonment each, besides being fined £IOO a-peic«. Dr Erson was acquitted.
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Otago Witness, Issue 3099, 6 August 1913, Page 25
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173THE MATERNITY BONUS Otago Witness, Issue 3099, 6 August 1913, Page 25
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