Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-22
ATROCITY STORY
IS HOAX BY GIRL
Confesses Inventing Letters
Telling of the Brutal Mutila-
ton of Sister "a Nurse
GERMANS ARE ACCUSED
Tale Published Widely and British
Government Takes the Case
Into Courts

The prize "atrocity" story OF the
war mas been exploded.
10 was told in a letter supposed TO be
from a brave English nurse who had
suffered brutal mutilation at the hands
OF German soldiers in Belgium. and a
second letter from another nurse, who
told OF the victims death.
The letters were given out for pub
LEGATION by the sister OF the supposed
victim They created a profound sen
sation OF horror and wave OF sympa-
thy for the bereaved sister. First Civ
en- publicity in England, they we're re
published all over the United States.
The sister IS Kate Hume, 17-year-
old clerk OF Dumfries. Scotland. Her
grief over the loss OF her kinswoman
could not have been more intense had
20 been genuine
Government Takes a Hand.
Public feeling rose TO fever heat and
the situation became so grave that
I the government took a hand.
D The first discovery made was that
I the "martyred~ nurse was alive and
well. had suffered from no atrocities
and had never heard Of the nurse
whose name was signed 20 the letter
telling OF her death.
Then the sister confessed that she
had written the letter 20 herself and
she was placed on trial in the British
courts
According to the accounts OF the
trial published iu the London Times,
copies Of which have reached here. no
definite reason for the girls actions
were determined. though mental de
rauEemeut due 10 loss OF brother in
the Titanic. differences with her step
mother and. as the girl suggested. hor-
-or caused by overmuch reading OF
war news. were considered.
Romaneer Found Guilty.
The jury found the youthful roman
Ger guilty OF writing the letters, alb
solving her from Intentionally commit
ting q crime and asked for judicial len
ieucy. As the girl already had been
in prison three months, the court gave
her freedom on parole.
Miss Hume decided in August. 1914.
90 leave the home OF her father, An
drew Hume. a music teacher. and
lodge elsewhere. apparently because
OF differences as TO her personal lib b
erty with her stepmother. The IA
ther stated that Kate had been very .
fond of her mother. who was an in
valid for eight years before her death 4
and subject 10 fits Of depression, and 1
rad taken her death much 10 heart.
Brother a Titanic Victim.
Two years ago another shock came
to the girl when her brother John,
then u OF whom she was very fond.
went down 18th the Titanic. He was
the much-talked-of leader Of the band
that played Nearer Ny God to Thee"
as the gigantic liner sank. Kate had
not been the same girl since that oc-
curreuce. the father testified.
Meanwhile. an elder sister. Grace
Hume. aged %. became a nurse at
and consequently saw
but little OF her family.
In September OF last year MT Hume
heard OF the supposed death of his old
est daughter by the publication Of two
letters. The first was supposedly
from Grace TO Kate and read as fol
ows:
Dear Kate: This is TO say goodby.
Have not long 20 live Hospital has
been set on fire. Germans cruel. \
nan here has had head cut on. My
,reast taken away. Give my love 10
-. Goodby. Grace"
Sends Second Letter.
The second letter. purported 10 be =
written at Nilvorde. Belgium. Sept. :. A
nd told OF the death OF Grace. the n
arrator being an alleged nurse signing :,
erself J. VI. Mullard. This letter
cad.
Ito Miss Hume: ] have been asked y
y your sister. Nurse Grace Hume. TO u u
and the inclosed letter 70 you. My =
ame Is Nurse Mullard. and 1 was .
18th your sister when she died. Our -
amp hospital at Viivorde was burned -
, the ground. and out OF I.5iz men y
nd % nurses only 10 nursese were N'
aved. but i49 men managed TO get
way. ei
Grace requested me TO tell you that n
or last thoughts were OF - and h
ou. and that you were not 10 worry &C
Ter her. as she would be going to te
Get her Jock. These were her last pa
ords ar
she endured great agony In her n
- hours. One Of the soldiers four
en) caught two German soldiers in ST
% act OF cutting OF her left breast. Isl
r right one having already been cut or
T. They were killed instantly by our or
ldiers. Grace managed 10 scrawl IN
Is Enclosed note before found her. HI
u we all say your sister was a hero TIC
. Gle
"She was out on the fields looking tel
r wounded soldiers. and on one oc- oW
sion when bringing in a wounded
ldier a German attacked her She
rev the soldiers gun at him and sh,
OF him with her rife. OF course, all au
rses here are armed. pIe
y have just received word this mo- fro
mt TO pack TO Scotland. VIII try Hu
d get this handed 10 you. as there the
no post from here and we are max tbs
, the best OF n broken-down wagon pre
lex for shelter. VIII give you full. an,
details when / see you. We are rea