LATE DOMINION NEWS.

Mataura Ensign, 6 November 1912, Page 2

LATE DOMINION NEWS.

IN MALE ATTIRE. SAD CASE AT DUNEDIN. .PER UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION. DUNEDIN, Nov. 5. An amazing story of a young woman's strange masquerade was brought to a tragic culmination in a boardinghouse in Albert street early this morning, when an unfotrunate girl who had been masquerading as a man was found unconscious in her room with a female baby lying dead beside her. Ever since her arrival at Dunedin at the end of January she had been known as Thomas Parkes, and since February had been continuously employed as male assistant in Mr H. H. Driver's J>ookshop in George Street. Since her arrival here she occupied a room as a male boarder at Mrs Pledger's boarding establishment in Albert Street. Of late she had complained of feeling unwell, especially during the last few days. On Monday evening she arrived at her lodgings about 7.30 p.m., considerably in advance of her customary time. "He" again asserted that "he" felt unwell, 'and the landlady remarked that "he" had better go to bed and that she would bring "him" a cup of tea in the morning. Deceased shortly after retired to her room, locking the door, while the landlady and two other boarders also retired. Mrs Pledger states that she heard "Parkes" groaning during the early part of the night, and about 11T.30 p.m. she heard a noise which led her to assume that "he" had fallen out of bed, but she did not make investigations. At 20 minutes to 5 in the morning Mr Newlands also heard groaning, but took no action until some 40 minutes later, when he entered the bedroom by means of a ladder. "Parkes" was found lying on tlie floor unconscious, with bedclothes thrown about her. On raising the bedclothes Newlands discovered that the supposed man was a woman and that she had recently given birth to a female child, which was lying beside her, dead, and wrapped in an old overcoat.

Dr Fleming found the woman in a dangerous state of collapse. She was speedily conveyed to the hospital, but never rallied nor showed a sign of consciousness. She gradually sank, and dietl at- five minutes past three. The woman's real name was Annie Read and she was 20 years of age. She went to school at Dubbo, New South Wales, and the next trace of her was on October 6, 1911, in Ararat (Victoria), when she met with an accident while masquerading as a man. Her sex was then discovered. She was then going; under the name of Thomas Ralph. About two months later she came to Im-erearaill, going under the name of Thomas Russell, and after staying there for about a month she came to Dunedin to enter Mr H. H. Driver's book shop as Thomas Partes.

HOUSE BLOWN SKYWARDS. CARTERTON, Nov. 5. A six-roomed house at Waihakeke, occupied by Mr Albert Udy and owned bv his mother, was blown up by 201bs of gelignite this morning. Every board went skywards. No one was in the house at the time and nobody was injured. SUPREME COURT. WELLINGTON. WELLINGTON, Nov. 5. At the Supreme Court a verdict of ,guilty was 'returned against Frank Loasby Tocker, charged with having delayed postal matter. The Chief Justice, taking prisoner's youth into consideration, imposed a fine of £lO. THE WAIHI DEMONSTRATORS. WAIHI, Nov. 5. Although the police deny issuing an ultimatum, it is •understood that in view of Saturday's demonstration they intend to adopt firm measures to disperse the disorderly crowds and the tactics of the women visiting the workmen's homes will be firmly dealt with. MANURE IMPORTERS' CONFEREN WELLINGTON, Nov. 5.

At a conference representing the manure manufacturers and importers of New Zealand and the New Zealand Farmers' Union, representations were carried that on and after December 31, 1913, all importations of superphosphate and basic slag in bags should be in packages of not more than 1401b. gross weight; that each bag shall have two lugs; that shipping companies bu notified of iftxe decision and requested to do all that lies in their power to j assist in giving effect thereto; also I that they and the various harbor boards j be asked to instruct their stevedores to take action to prevent the use of hooks in the handlin gof these manures; that the resolutions be communicated to tlhe chambers of commerce throughout the Dominion with a request that they be passed on promptly to the importers of manures. HAMILTON'S ENTERPRISE. MOTOR TRANSPORT COMPANY. HAMILTON, Nov. 4. At a meeting of Hamilton business men last night it was decided to form a Motor Transport Company with a capital of £SOOO, and to institute a motor-bus service between Hamilton and Frankton, a distance of one mile, so as to bring Hamilton within easier touch with the Main Trunk train passengers. A few doses of Tonking's Linseed V Emulsion and your colds gone. 3

KNOCKED OVtER EMBANKMENT. WAIHI. Nov. 5. A man named James Barraclough, employed on the Waihi Company's Waikino line, was knocked over an embankment this morning by a downgoing engine. The man was just round a bend when the engine appeared and the brakes were applied but there was no time to prevent the accident. Barraclough is suffering from concussion to the spine, but no bones are broken. A SURPRISED CADET.

DANNEVIRKE, Nov. 5

The local Territorials were unexpectedly under fire last evening. At the weekly parade one of the members out of curiosity inserted a dum-dum cartridge, a relic of the South African War, in the barrel of his rifle. Thinking the shot had been exploded he pressed the trigger. The cartridge was discharged, making a large hole in the floor of the drill hall. Many cadets were in the hall at the time and the offender was severely reprimanded.