BERNARD, NOT BERTHA

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 4012, 11 August 1931, Page 2

BERNARD, NOT BERTHA

YOUTH'S POSE AS CHORUS GIRL A LIVERPOOL HOAX An amazing story of a youth who posed as a girl was told at Liverpool Police Court. Dressed as a girl, with a fur-trim-med coat, silk stackings, and highheeled shoes, Bernard Keenan (sixteen) appeared on a charge of being in unlawful possession of a bankbook, two cheques, a suitcase, and an umbrella. Mr T. A. Smith, for the police, said Keenan, a native of Tullamore, King’s Country, landed in Liverpool from Dublin recently. Miss Julia Sullivan. a worker for the Liverpool Port and Station Work Society, saw Keenan in feminine attire, and ; taking him to be a girl, asked if she could be of any assistance. Keenan said he was a chorus girl, and had becu with a touring company in Dublin. He added that he had come to Liverpool to seek an uncle named Clarke, whose address lie did not know.

BERNARD, NOT BERTHA. Miss Sullivan became suspicious, and took Keenan to the society’s office, where he gave the name of Christina Keenan. Later Keenan Detective-ser-geant Harford his name was Bertha, but finally admitted the masquerade and said his name was Bernard. In his possession were the articles mentioned in the charge. He said ho had bought the umbrella and suitcase, and that the bankbook and cheques belonged to his employer, Mr Cormack, ot Church street, Tullamore. A message was sent to the Irish Civic Guards, who replied that it was true that the bankbook and cheques belonged to Keenan’s employer, but he declined to prefer a charge. Mr Smith, in view of this, asked permission to withdraw the charge. FILM AMBITIONS. Keenan’s father, who had come from Ireland to take his son home, entered the witness box and was asked by the deputy-stipendiary (Mr S. C. V. Addinsell); Can you give me any explanation of your son’s extraordinary behaviour? “He is very fond of the pictures, and had an idea of being a film star,” replied Mr Keenan. The deputy-stipendiary, in allowing the charge to be withdrawn, warned Keenan about his behaviour. “ You must not allow anything of this sort to occur again,” he said. “You must not go about in woman,’s clothes, or you will get yourself into serious trouble.” Keenan was then discharged, and the deputy-stipendiary remarked to the youth’s father, “ You look after him. He needs it.”