A Story of Human Villainy.

Manawatu Herald, 24 August 1893, Page 3

A Story of Human Villainy.

Here is a quaint story of twisted human ullainy that comes from the London Hospital. It is the custom in that hospital, when it is necessary to take the clothes off a patient, to give them to the nearest relative to take home. A bad case was being brought in the other day— an old woman struck down with some terrible disease. As they were carrying her into the hospital, a young woman came rushing up with the cry, " 01), my aunt, my aunt!"' As the old lady was unconscious, there was no j obvious mode of verifying this, but it was not unnaturally taken on trust, especially as the young woman seemed to be suffering under genuine stress of emotion. After sitting for a time by the bedside of her alleged relative, the young woman suddenly said. " Oh, I cannot wait ! lam the only person to loo'? after her home. Give me the clothes and I will go." Without more ado they gave her the clothes, and she disappeared. Shortly afterwards the old lady came to her senses. The first thing she did was to look wildly round her, and call for her clothes. " Your clothes ? Oh, we have given them to your niece. It is all right," said the nurse. " Niece ! but 1 havn't got a niece," answered the old woman. "I have never had such a thing." And then—lamentation, mourning, and woe. The clothes had been stolen.