The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-02
PRISONERS IN NUNS DRESS.
UOuEN ARRESTED AS IMPOSTORS
MAN TAKEN WITH THEM.
cathedral Clergyman Wrote 70 Naples
About Them and Informed the Au.
,horIties That They Are Not sisters
NJ the Perpetual Alteration Order.


OF the Perpetual Alteration Order
Two women, one young and the other
middle aged dressed in tho garb OF nuns
were arrested yesterday afternoon by Chief
Nsndicancy Officer James Forbes Of the
Charity Organization Society, charged
Win violating section 5e7 Of the pena! Code,
wh;cb makes it a felony to collect money
On the false pretense that 1t is collected
for a charitable or benevolent purpose.
Enrbes alleges that the women. posing as
sistors of the Order of Perpetual Alteration
src not connected with any order.
TIE arrests were made on warrants is
sued Yesterday by Magistrate McAvoy
in the Nlorrisania police court. The prison
ore describe themselves as Mary Adele, 2s
wears old and Mary Agnes, Sc years old.
Tbey were arrested at 400 East Twenty-ninth
street where also was living Hugo Germais,
"a wears old, who represented himself as the
hrother of Mary Adele. The man was
arrested too, charged with being an ac-
complice of the women. Mr.. Forbes de-
ol.res that tie -mais is not related to them
The three prisoners were locked up last
NIGHT in the East Thirty-f1fth street station.
They will be arraigned before Magistrate
McAvoy this morning
Nearly year ago the actions OF the two
women we're brought to the attention Of
the Rev. Or. Gherardo Ferrante OF st.
patricAs Cathedral, who looks after many
Italian cases. 7 women at the tins
we're representing that they were men,
hers of the Order of Perpetual Alteration,
and that they had been expelled from Italy
on account of religious troubles there.
DR.. Ferrante wrote to the Cardinal Arch
hisbop Of Naples. The Cardinal caus ed
an investigation to be made and later re-
ported to Dr.. Ferrante that the women
we're undoubtedly impostors.
DR.. Fcrrante sent for the women. They
admitted TO him their wrongdoing. He
gave them week to get out of the country
or As an alternative to be arrested. They
decided to get out.
That was the last heard OF the women
until about month ago. The Charity
Organization society had been informed
Of the case by DR.. Fcrrante and had kept
an eve out for the women Nearly month
ago the Society learned that the women
we're again collecting money. Agent Van
Zand was detailed to investigate.
NanZand mas been lollOWlng tne women
for several DAYS. 1t was their practise.
he reported. to go into a store or saloon
dressed as nuns and hold out their hands
for aims If any one asked for informa-
ton before contribution one of the women
would shake her head and say:
NO understan' ltaliano.'
II by chance the women we're addressed
in Italian they declared that they were
French or Of some other nationality. Yes
terday VanZand followed them about The
Bronx When he decided that he had suf-
fcient evidence he sent for Mr.. Forbes and
the warrant was secured.
we had to go very slowly In the case,
said Mr. Forbes last night In such a
matter it would never do to make mis-
take. We have an excellent case"
Anna Cemenalo. who keeps the house
in which the prisoners lived, said last night
that the three have lived on the top floor
for about a year. Marie Agnes posed
as the aunt of the young man and the
young woman All went out together, she
said, about 10 o'clock every morning and
returned about S. The two women were
always dressed like sisters Of charity.
They said that they were collecting money
for an Italian church. They paid their
rent regularly in advance. Every time
they paid they said they were going to
move, but they didn't move.