POSED AS MAN

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 139, 8 March 1929, Page 11

POSED AS MAN

.“CAPTAIN BARKER’S AMAZING HISTORY” MARRIED TO AUSTRALIAN MOTHER OF '■ BOY AND GIRL (United Press Association. —By Electric . Telegraph.—Copyright.) Australian Presr Association. London, March 6. Captain Ivor Barker is now revealedas Mrs. Valerie Smith. She married an Australian in war time, and is the mother of a nine-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl. She served as a V.A.D. in France, and was also a lorry-, driver. She started to masquerade as a man six years ago, when poultry farming in Sussex. While at the West End Hotel, where she was arrested, she shared a common dressing-room, drank beer, and changed her clothing among men. When her locker was opened, it contained dress clothes, an eyebrow pencil, and powder puff, which had obviously been used. Also safety pins. There was a safety razor, but there was no evidence of its having been used. Mrs. Smith appears to have carried on the masquerade in many towns of England, particularly at Andover, where she played cricket and tennis, and was often seen in the streets in flannels, with shirt open at the neck, and where she went shopping in plus fours. It is an astonishing fact that “Barker” went through the ordeal of trail ,at the Old Bailey-for being in unauthorised possession/ of an automatic pistol, and was acquitted without suspicion of her sex being aroused. Several women now say they were suspicious and tried to trap “Captain. Barker.” but there was always a plausible explanation. The fact that “he” had a wife and little boy contributed to immunity from suspicion. (Rec. March 7, 7.20 p.m.) London, March 7. With reference to “Barker’s” Australian husband, none of the papers give his full name. The “Daily Telegraph”. states that “Barker” during war time served as a V.A.D. in France, and was always noted for her masculineness. She married an Australian army officer named Smith, who subsequently returned to Australia. “MARRIED” TO ENGLISH GIRL' REMARKABLE DECEPTION (.Rec. March 7, 5.5 p.m.) London, 7. Inquiries reveal that “Captain Barker” is the daughter of a Jersey man. Her maiden name was Leslie Valerie Barker, but the most startling revelation is the fact that while masqerading as a man she was “married”- in November, 1923, at St. Peter’s Church, Brighton, to Alfreds Emma Haward, aged 27, the daughter of a chemist at Little Hampton. The parish, curate performed the ceremony, at which the girl’s parents were present. The entry in the register describes the bridegroom as “Victor Barker, aged 29, bachelor, independent son of WilliamBarker, deceased.” • - The Howards only learned to-day that the person who married their daughter was really a woman. The mother says that “Barker” courted her daughter as “Sir Victor Barker” for two years. “He said he was a baronet and kept worrying Alfreds to marry him He seemed a fine, manly fellow, and knew how to make .love to a gir l Some members of the family opposed the match, but the daughter’s heart was set on ’Barker,’ so they did not op pose the marriage, which was unhappy. They' lived at Brighton. Hove. Andover, and" other places, but the daughter became miserable and said she felt compelled to leave her ‘husband’ for ev«-r and return home. She has stayed with us ever since, helping us with our little