SOLICITING ALMS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 248, 13 October 1908, Page 2

SOLICITING ALMS.

A NURSE CONVICTED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Dunedin, Last Night. At the Police Court to-day, a middleaged woman, named Mary Agatha Plane]), pleaded guilty to a charge of being an idle and disorderly person and begging alms in South Dtineum en ootober B. Sub-Inspector Norwood said defendant had been in Dunedin on and oil' for about twelve months. "She first came as a nurse, but she went about canvassing for tiie sale of art union tickets, a nurse's costume being donned to assist in the sale of tickets, ostensibly for some charity. The police ■found she was acting as an agent for Sir. Chappie, of Wellington, 4 and sold .tickets on commission. The art union was drawn in February, but defendant sold tickets since, and the last few wecl-Ss she had liven going about soliciting alms. She had been dressed as a nurse. She was nut qualified to act as a nurse in Xew Zealand. For the defence it was claimed that the woman was a qualified nurse and had acted as such for many years. She had been ill in the hospital, nad on being discharged had no money, so solicited alms. She said she was registered in Wellington as aj midwife, but did not have a certificate. The accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called on on condition' that she [forthwith entered the Salvation Army Home and remained there for at least six months.