THE MATERNITY BONUS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1751, 16 May 1913, Page 5

THE MATERNITY BONUS.

CHARGES OF ALLEGED FRAUD. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Melbourne, May 15. Dr. Erson and Nurses Hurrell and Donaldson havo been committed for trial on a charg'o of conspiracy in connection with tho alleged maternity bonus frauds. A DETECTIVE'S EVIDENCE. During the early hearing of the case —tho defendants _ ni-a Ikhvard George Erson, of 137 Collins Street, medical practitioner; Hannah Janet Hurrell, of Fitzroy, and Clarice Donaldson, of Hawthorn, maternity nurses—Defective Burvett, in evidence, read a statement said to have been made by Erson. Witness, asked Erson what explanation he could give for so many wrong addrestss having bean placed on certificates issued by him. Erson replied that he had been too confiding in nurses with whom he had bc.311 professionally associated, and had given tiiem blank certificates bearing his signature. In reply to another question, Erson said that liis had sometimes given as many as six blank certificates at one time, but he had always attended thai: number of eases. ■Iu certain private cases Erson said that he had entirely filled up the certificates. When asked why ho had not filled up all tho certificates he had signed, Erson said that sometimes he attended cases at - a.m., and as he was then tiled and wanted to go home he gave the nurses blank certificates. Witness again asked Erson how he accounted for the inunbjr of wrong addresses on the certificates, and tho doctor said that in some instances the premises cf the nurses were unlicensed, and wrong addresses wero given in order to evade the local law. Subsequently witness interviewed Iliivrell, who still maintained that the births took place at tlw addresses given on the certificates. Witness said that he then took Hurrell into another room, where she met Erson. Briar, denied that he knew Ifurrell, and she- said that she had never seen the doctor before.

Detective Burvctt also read a statement alleged to have been made by Donaldson at tho Detective Office. After she had made this statement witness said to her, '"What is the ml:- of beating about the bush, Mrs. Donaldson. Dr. Erson has sa.id none of the births other than thow at Burgess Street, Hawthorne, and Bennett .Street, Richmond, occurrcd at the ■addresses given." Donaldson replied.

"Wtjll, as tho doctor has told you that I will tell you the truth." She then explained that the wrong addresses had been given because sh? had been unable to got a license for her This 'had bten done with full knowledge, anil on iihe suggestion of Erson. Witness .said, "Surely a medical man would not lend himself to that sart of thing?" and she replied "Oh, wouldn't he? Tlo told 1110 once that he would certify to a birth iu an aerovlanc so long as lie got his tee. tfo would do anything for money. I>wish I had never neen him." J/ater Mrs. Donaldson told witness that Dr. Erson telephoned her, faying that a woman named Lily Goe would not be able to get the bonus, because she was ;i halfcaste Chinese, but that if slv liked slio oould do so, and he would go "whacks" with her, and good luck to her. At Ihi.s stage of the interview witness- said he invited Donaldson to so into another room. Tli"ti he asked defendant _ (Hiivrell): "Why -did you come to do this?'* She replied: "Nurse Donaldson said Ihe mothers «i:-ro not going to claim, the bonus, am! that if I liked I iniehl just as well go and get the money." When asked who cashed the post office orders, Hun-ell replied: "Sometimes I did: sometimes Mrs, Donaldson. I would cash one order, and Mrs. Donaldson another: but Mrs. Donaldson told me that the doctor had always to get his 'whack.' "