A BOY'S MASQUERADE

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 40, 16 August 1919, Page 5

A BOY'S MASQUERADE

ACCOMPLISHED RASCAL IN GIRL'S CLOTHES.

(BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.) ' AUCKLAND, This Day. The police at Takapuna; becoming suspicious of the movements of a girl, demanded an investigation of her belongings, and found in her possession, jewellery resembling articles which had been stolen from various houses. The police matron was about to search the prisoner, w.hen a holiceman, struck by a resemblance, asked : "Is that you, Norman?" A boyish voice, accompanied by tears, admitted that he was. The'iden-' tified boy is fifteen years old. He was arrested in the South Island some weeks ago for thefts at Wereroa Training Farm, and escaped from custody in Wellington. He committed thefts at Napier and elsewhere, and reached Auckland. He was well dressed, and was in possession of a considerable sum 6f money. The boy was before the Juvenile Court here last Saturday; and was committed to a local home, from which he deserted. When arrested, he was clothed in well-made female attire.

WTien the lad, who has been masquerading as Ada Reeve, was before the Police Court, the Probation Officer said he had exercised a disturbing influence on the other inmates of the probation house. The Magistrate ordered his transfer to Wereroa, and the return of the stolen property to the owners.