STRANGE STORY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 156, 3 July 1937, Page 14

STRANGE STORY.

GIRLS " MARRIED." TEARS IN COURT. « BBTPEGBOOH » CS&XGED. The "marriage" of two girls at a church was described at Harrogate. The "bridegroom" was Miss Joan Coning, aged 20, a former probationer nurse, who wis accused of making a false statement ia regard to a marriage. Miss Coning, a tall brunette with an Eton crop, sat sobbing while an astonishing story was related. She was bound over for three years, ordered to pay the costs of the prosecution, and placed under the care of a woman probation officer. Mr. R. C. Linney, prosecuting, said Miss Ruth Barker, whom Miss Coning "married," was 25 years old. "Both girls were interested in music, and soon after the acquaintance started they began to -visit each other's homes," he said. "The normal friendly association between the girls had not subsisted for very long when Miss Coning told Miss Barker that she was a man. •Son of a Doctor." "The sudden change of sex seems to have been accepted by Miss Barker. "Miss Coning told her that "his' nam* was John Lionelle Dhinji. and that 'he' was a foreign correspondent at a bank in Harrogate. 'He' aUo raid that "he' was going to Leeds University to study medicine and that 'bis' father bad at one time been a doctor."

In January last Miss Barker's family were told for the first time that Miss Coning was not a girl, but a man. On that occasion Miss Coning wore a man's clothes and told the Barkers that she was a B.Sc. of Leeds University and had obtained a post as doctor at a mental hospital at Huddersfield.

This led to the consent of Mr. and Mrs. Barker to an engagement between the pair. Shortly afterwards Mr. Barker was told by Miss Coning that she had obtained a position as a doctor at a London hospital and was given permission to marry Miss Barker.

The marriage took place on May 1, at Christ Charch, Harrogate. Such particulars as were necessary to be given at the church were given by Miss Barker at the request of Miss Coning.

Her Confession. Before the ceremony Miss Coning was shown particulars entered in the register. She said they were correct and signed her name as bridegroom. She gave her father's name as '"John Dhinji. M.D." The couple "went away on their honeymoon in the usual way," and It was only when Miss C'oning-'s parents got into touch with Miss Barkers parents that the matter came to light. At this time the couple were at Whiston, near Rotherham. When Mr. Barker saw Miss Coning there she admitted the truth. She refused to leave Miss Barker, and Mr. Barker took Miss Coning to Rotherham police station, where she admitted everything. Addressing the magistrates on behalf of Miss Coning. Mr. Herbert Atkinson asked them to treat the case as "six cf one and half a dozen of the other."