"Fasting Girl" was Fed on Rissoles

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 50, 27 August 1932, Page 18

"Fasting Girl" was Fed on Rissoles

A "fasting girl" behind glass panels, eating in secret two meals a day, applying each day a little less rouge so that she would have the approaching pallor of death, while spectators— having paid twopence each—were warned not to show the ravenous girl food in case she broke the glass to get at it. That was the picture drawn at Margate Police Court when fraud was alleged in the exhibition of "Miss June, the Fasting Lady." Charges of fraud against Winifred Mary Tomlinson, aged 18, an actress, of Eugby street, Wolverhampton— known as "Miss June"—and Violet Mather, a dancer were withdrawn, says the London "Evening Standard." Robert Todd, 63, general dealer, High street, Whitsable; Reginald Raylott, 43, of no fixed home; and Harry Gould, traveller, of the Fair Ground, Welsh Harp, Hendon, were charged with conspiring to defraud and obtain a total of 6d from Margaret Fagen, Ivy Bosina Kate Hewson, and William Banford. Mr. J. Thorn Drury, who prosecuted on behalf of the Chief Constable, said the men exhibited in a shed in High street, Margate, a young woman who, they claimed, entered a glass cabinet with the intention of remaining without food for 44 days. People were charged twopence to see "June" here, and during the 18 days on which the exhibition was open £140 ■was taken. Miss "June" was fed twice every 24 hours, said Mr. Drury. There were no facilities for cooking on the premises, bnt she was given plenty of sustaining food. "At one period sh© was looking so uncommonly well that they knocked off rissoles and one or two other items from, the menu," said Mr. Drury. When Todd rented the shop he represented himself as a novelty exhibitor and antique dealer, and covenanted not to use the premises except to sell novelties and antiques. Todd found the money, and Gould found the girl.

The exhibition opened on 14th. June, and on that day "Miss June" entered the cabinet. The wood panel through which she entered was screwed up, and there were glass panels in front which could be slid along a sufficient space to enable food to bo passed to her. "From the moment the exhibition opened there does not appear to be one single statement or advertisement that waa not a blatant lie," said Mr. Drury. "They said she was fasting, when she was being fed regularly. "That her name was Lillian June, when it was Winifred Tomlinson. '' That she was 23 years of age, when she was 18. "That a doctor and nurses were in attendance, when they were not; and "That her pulse, temperature, and weight were taken daily, which, was not true. "A notice was exhibited asking visitors not to display food in front of the cabinet as it was feared that the ravenous girl would break the panel and grab the food. (Laughter.) "Miss Tomlinson was induced to sign an agreement under which she was to receive £7 for her fast and Todd and Gould share the proceeds equally between them." "Elaborate arrangements for Miss June's make-up were made. She was provided with rouge and instructed to decrease the amount on her cheeks daily, to give the pallor of approaching death. '' She was given the material to draw dark lines under her eyes and round her mouth to indicate wastage of flesh. She was" also instructed to be extremely careful to leave no crumbs after eating." After a while Miss Tomlinson (the "fasting girl") communicated with the police, and the men were arrested. Todd, said Mr. Drury, had been associated with fasting shows at Folkestone, Chatham, and Gravesend, and in two instances the shows attracted the serious attention of the police.