THE "YOUTH" IN GREEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 215, 7 September 1912, Page 17

THE "YOUTH" IN GREEN.

A GIBJi'9 MASQTJEBAEE. STEALS £30 AND "HAS A "GOOD TIME." The romantic adventure at 3£iss Alice ■Wheat, a seventeen-year-old girl, who ran away from Baslow in male attire, was brought to an abrupt termination, after she had enjoyed eleven days' freedom.

iA smart Liverpool detective, noticing Q "youth," -well attired in a suit of greenish hue, whose general gait scarcely conformed ■with the mannish garb, had Ms suspicion aroused and proceeded to ply this individual with questions which were parried in a j manner ■which led him. to believe that at : last the "missing Alice" was found.

Taken to the police station, it was there found that the description of Alice Wheat corresponded ■with that of the "youth." The girl 'was thereupon detained, and handed over to the cuftody of Sergeant Hall, of Stoney-Middleton, by whom ehe was conveyed to Bakeweri Police Station, to be brought before the magistrates.

The girl had been employed as an assistant in the drapery and general stores of Mt. Coates, of Baslow, >w!ho is also the postmaster, and it was after her disappearance that an investigation by Mr. Coates revealed the fact that £30 was nrieslng from his postal accounts and a youth's suit from the shop.

Considerable sensation waa created. 1n Baslow, and a hue and cry was raised. The girl, who is a capable cyclist, had ridden towards Chesterfield, twit she could not be traced beyond the Kobin Hood' Hotel, just on the outskirts of Baslow. In the course of a systematic search of the neighbouring woods, a bundle of Miss Wheat's clothing tos found , . It ivas assumed that she had donned the missing suit whilst In the woods.

This was made more probable by the discovery of a quantity of girl's hair, which bad been clipped off. It was evident that the girl had parted with her Ion?, dark tresses with great reluctance, for she appears to have wandered) about some time in the wood endeavouring to fix her hair under the boy's cap and keep it in place with a number of hairpins.

Later 12ie same afternoon the neatlydTessed "young man with a girlish voice" took train from Chesterfield to Sheffield, and that evening attended, unaccompanied, the Blectra Picture Palace. After this diversion a room -was engaged at a. Sheffield cafe, and the next morning the gay "youth" was waiting In the refreshment room at the Midland Railway Station when "his" selfpossession -was put to a severe trial. A benevolent-looking old gentleman, wearIng side whiskers and of altogether irreproachable demeanouT, who had been busily engaged writing letters at one of the tables, approached the pleasant-looking "youth" with the disconcerting introduction, "I have [ read ,-ibout your case in the papers this morning. Now, I can help you." lie explained that he was a local preacher and interested in foreign mission work, and on his suggestion his newly-found young companion took tickets to London for two —the tild gentleman absent-mindedly neglecting to refund his share of the outlay. On the way to London he produced a pair of scissors and cut the young "man's" hair with less amateurish effect than had resutted from the hasty toilet performed in the woods.

The old gentleman also explained that he wss cxpeethig a "foreigner" to meet him in London, and suggested that he would direct him (the foreigner) to follow them. Exactly what were the intentions of this strange companion Miss Wheat was never able to divine, but during their companionship his conduct towards her was discreet and decorous to a degree.

Apparently, however. the expected "foreigner' , failed to keep the appointment. At any rate. Miss Wheat did not make his

acquaintance. Arriving .in London, her elderly escort went to an address in Gray's Inn Koad, and there engaged two rooms. Here, suddenly discovering that he -was temporarily "short of change," he allowed himself the indignity of becoming her debtor to the extent of *]. He left to make a purchase and Miss Wheat never saw him again.

The "youth" songlit f--esh fields for conquest at Yarmouth, whence "he" journeyed from London early Inst -week. A bedroom and sitting-room were engaged in a fashionable board-ing*ouse on Marine Parade, and here the week quickly passed 1 In the enjoyment of the many and varied diversions that this popular report affords to the visitor provided with a well-lined purse. On the parade and the beach it may be safely surmised that the well-dressed "youth" with the graceful gait, gaily swing- ! Ins a stick, and indulging in a fragrant rlgsrrttc, attracted no snail 1 attention on the pan c-f the young lady promenaders. After a week of this enjoyment, Miss Wheat journeyed from Yarmouth to Leicester l>y the Great Northern, and thence Jby Midland to Liverpool, where she put up •nt a high-class hotel. One day she devoted to a river trip, ana on reacliinjf her hotel in the evening was not a little surprised Ito find awaiting her a detective armed i with a warrant.

Later sue appeared at Bakewell To'.icc Court, charged with stealing £.T0 from the post office at Raslow. She wore woman's gar!., consisting of a large blue sun-bonnet, which completely covered her head from which sue had crot her hair, a long cloak, and rattier heavy Iwots., which appeared to have been supplied her liv the police. Her former employer, Arthur Coates, stated that the prisoner' on July ,-, went ; for her dinner as usual, hut she did not I return, and. making inquiries at her lodgjings, found fin at she had suddenly left the ; village. His suspicions being aroused he examined the postal accounts, and found that money and postal orders to the valno of £30 were missing. Superintendent Lakin asked for a remand of eight days for inquiries, and this was granted, the prisoner, who appeared to be rather bored by the proceedings, being removed to Derby Gaol.