Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-06-18
Angel of Charity Paaons
Jewels Entrusted to Her

content TO go on modestly her chari-
ties would probably have been rum
ming today and she would stiu be an
honored member Of the Partisan CONF
munity.
When her creditors became pressing
she resorted to decidedly irregular
methods TO satisfy them For time
She was able 10 stave of the crisis.
but few days ago her arrest was
caused by firm Of jewellers from
whom she had obtained articles
worth about $4,000. She repres cnted
to this firm that she would be able
to sell the Jewels to wealthy patrons
Of her charities and she arranged to
obtain from the firm a liberal COM
mission for her charitable work Ap-
parently she made no attempt to ind
customers for them. Instead she
paw ned the Jewels, under false name,
In London for about half their value.
and then i'm her anxiety to raise more
m pney she sold the pawn tickets. Tho
jewelers. pressed for payment and fail
Ing 10 obtain that asked for the names
OF her customers. Then they learned
that she had pawned their property
and her arrest followed. on the eve
ming Of her arrest Or Petit hanged
himself in his consulting room leav-
ing letter I'm which he said that he
could not live to face the inevitable
exposure OF sister Candides methods.
NOT REALLY a NUN.
Since her arrest It has been discoy-
cred that she was not really a nun
Many years ago she belonged to a
teaching order whose members made
only annual vows and which has been
disbanded long ago on taking up her
charitable work she continued to wear
the religious dress. no doubt because
she found IL a valuable assistance in
raising money for her schemes In
spite OF the apparently fraudulent ma
ture OF her operations, however, there
Is no evidence that she profitcd per
sonally by them. As far as is known
she led the most abstemious life and
devoted her whole time and energy IL
the work she had undertaken There
are many Parisians who believe that
she was driven into her Illegal courses
by gang OF sharpers who Induced her
In the first place to make some slight
slip and then held over her the threat
OF exposure.
1t is estimated that at least Sc. OOO.-
600 passed through the hands OF
sister candidc. She received ono
gift OF si6OO,0OO from Nine. LIE
baudy and she was cons family
dealing with sums OF $4,000 and $50. GOO
Her business methods may be Imagined
when IL is stated that she often car
ried about as much as 5000 In notes
and made payments of large amounts
without taking receipts. Her books OF
account were quite unlntelligibo and
when she was questioned on them hs'
the examining magistrate she replied
quite simply that she had always hoped
for miracle TO enable her to balance
her books.
Il had no intention 20 cheat anyone"
she said. Everyone OF my creditors
would have been paid II they had been
patient, The good God would not
allow anyone 10 suffer for having help
ed my good work for his poor NV
conscience is quite clear"
In the meantime sister Candide is a
prisoner I'm the st. Llzare jail for WON
sr. DIR. Petit. her associate, Is a sui
eide and the institutions which she
established are in danger Of ruin. Al
the home for children the other night
there was nothing To eat but bread and
only half a days supply OF that Be
fore IL rnn out. however, one of Sister
Candies supporters came forward and
supplied funds 20 keep II going for a
few days longer This home contains
about 800 children who have benefited
Immensely by their stay in n and who
Will probably lapse into disease and
poverty again n the home il closed
Sister Candide still believes that the
miracle Will happen and that all will
be we'll but tho French authorities are
trying 10 trace the relatives OF the
children with a view to sending them
home again. CHARLES DUBOIS.