MAN’S MASQUERADE

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 6 December 1946, Page 3

MAN’S MASQUERADE

LIVED AS_ WOMAN BORN NEAR GISBORNE “MARRIED" OVER 41 YEARS (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. Dec. 6 The story of how he lived for over 41 years with a person whom he thought was “half-woman and halfman” was told by Robert Woolgar Orton in evidence at an inquest into the death of Keitia Wiremu Rcwcti Paraona at Tuahiwi on the night of November 2G The inquest was reopened at Kaiapoi yesterday afternoon before the coroner. Mr 11. P. La wry. Orton said in his statement that about 41 or 42 years ago he married a person at the Rangiora post oflice. At the time he thought she was a woman, but shortly after he was married he ascertained that the person was not a woman. Never Knew What Sex ‘'l never actually found out what sex this person was,” he said. "I thought that she was half-woman and half-man. We lived together as man and wife after our marriage for about three months. The reason why I never mentioned this to any person is that I did not wish to have anv publicity. “We lived at 26 Mahora street Kilbirnie, Wellington, for about 15 years and people about that district knew us as man and wife. I never saw him with his clothes off. I know that this appears to be a queer kind of life that I have lived, and the only leason that I can give for it is, as stated above, I did not want to have any publicity over the matter.” A sworn statement by Eruerathama Tirikatene, Minister of Religion, of North road, Kaiapoi. given on the dav following the death of Paraona, stated that the body witness had just viewed in the presence of the coroner in the Kaiapoi morgue was that of a person who was known to him for many years past as Kate Orton, reputed wife of Robert Woolgar Orton. Dressed As Girl in ’Teens

“I knew the deceased for over 40 years and I always understood that the deceased was of the female sex, as he always dressed as a girl even in his ’teens,” continued the witness. “It is only since his death that I have ascertained that the body is that of a male.

“I have lived with Mr. Orton and his reputed wife for many years while in Wellington on my Parliamentary duties, and the couple have always been known and lived as man and wife.' I. have ascertained from Mr. Orton that when they went through ti'.e marriage ceremony many years ago lie was unaware of the sex of the person he married, but that when he <-i bsequently ascertained the true facts, he thought it wise to make no disclosure. Frank Huria said that r.e was a woolclasser of Woodend. On Tuesday November 26, he was present at a function in the hall at Tuahiwi, where celebrations were being held in connection with the Maori elections. He had known the deceased for the past 40 years and had always known him as Kate Orton. He had never had any occasion to believe that the deceased was other than a female. Death Occurs Suddenly Paraona arrived at the hall about half an hour before lus death. He was shaking hands witn many people present. including the witness. They had just shaken Hands and witness had stepped away a couple of paces when he heard a noise behind him. He saw Paraona half l'aiiing to the floor. Constable E. R. Warren, of Kaiapoi, said that at 12.20 a.m. on November 27, Dr. C F. McKee, of Kaiapoi, reported to him that he had been called to the Tuahiwi hall, where a Maori woman, aged about GO, had died suddenly. He could not give a death certificate because the woman had died about half an hour before he arrived. A telephone call was put through to the “woman’s” husband in Wellington and it was ascertained that Paroana had never been attended by a doctor at any time.

The discovery that Paraona was a man was made by the district nurse in the course of stripping and cleansing tile body, continued Constable Warren. Inquiries showed that Paraona was a native of Gisborne, and as far as could be ascertained, the deceased must have been masquerading for well over 40 years. The Coroner: Is that ail the evidence for the present? Constable Warren: Yes, sir.

The coroner then adjourned the inquest sine die until the , completion of the report of the post-mortem examination made by Dr. B. Pearson, pathologist at the Christchurch Public Hospital.