WOMAN IN DISGUISE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 20 December 1913, Page 5

WOMAN IN DISGUISE.

STRANGE STORY

BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION. HAMILTON, Dec. 19. A charge of theft against a married woman, Annie Fernley, in the Hamilton Police Court, brought to light some remarkable facts. The woman, who is only 19 years of age, ran away from her home at Taihape shortly after entering her teens, and to avoid arrest and the return to an alleged tyrannical step-parent, she disguised herself as a boy, and went about the country earning a living at masculine occupations. One day she met a man named Fernley, whom she knew previously, and who was considerably her senior, and the two threw in lots and went about as mates, taking up drainage and other work together. They held fencing, drainage and well-sinking contracts around Hamilton two years ago, their employers describing both as excellent workers. At Hastings, about twelve months ago, the woman was discharged for vagrancy, on Fernley promising to marry her. The couple returned to Hamilton a few months ago, when the woman took up the occupation of domestic servant at a house, from which she was charged with theft.

She was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence when called upon. The husband, on a charge of receiving the stolen goods, was acquitted."