SYDNEY MAN-WOMAN

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 111, 11 May 1921, Page 3

SYDNEY MAN-WOMAN

DISCOVERED AND FINED.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

SYDNEY, 3rd May.

Sydney appears to have more than her ■fair share oJ strange and erratic people. ■Newspaper readers are always being 'tickled with some queer, or eoi-ciid disclosure. The latest is the discovery of a man who masqueraded as a woman. We have many cases ,of women passing themselves off as men : but it is much more difficult for a' man to "get away with it." . x It appears that the detectives have been watching this man—-George Augustus Rocake, 68 years of age—for a long time. They found that he had worked as a jobbing motor mechanic during the day, and was employed- casually by various firms. He was "then in male attire, and there was nothing extraordinary about his behaviour. But frequently in the evenings he completely disguis-ed himself in female attire. It -would have ■taken an expert to detect the disguise. Rocake spent much time and money, apparently, on the make-up. He was •then dressed, witli. meticulous care as to details, as a middle-aged woman. The black hat was a fashionable bit of millinery, the stockings wore silk, there ■were earrings and plenty of powder, there was a wig, the gloved hands were •encased in a muff, and the "undies" were of delicate texture and complete as to equipment. . Thus disguised, Rocake ■ frequently went out walking at nights with various women. The detectives' suspicions were moused, because on these1 excursions Rocake—who was known as Winifred Wileon—always eousht dark and ■ unfrequented places. They watched for a Ion? time, and finally they arrested ■. "Winifred" and charged him with offensive behaviour. They raided the room he had occupied in "Rush-cutter's Bay for a year and took away a cartload of female clothino-, paints, and powders. Roeake told tho Magistrate that there was1 "no ulterior -motive , whatever behind his.prnnk. "Are you sane?" asked tho Magistrate. "Yes, quite sane, a-nawered tho man-woman, who stood m tho dock in female attire. "I did it once a fortn-ightA-sometimes once a week. It was more a matter of mnK-mg fun. The mnn-woman was Pnpd £2. A curious, ■bißhlv-nmusecl., and by no means silent crowd followed "her" aa "sue" taib the Court. ■