YOUNG MAN IN FEMALE CLOTHING.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLII, Issue 207, 1 September 1908, Page 6

YOUNG MAN IN FEMALE CLOTHING.

An unusual charge was preferred at the Wellington Magistrate's Court recently, when a young man named Denis Wm. Quill appeared oniremand on a charge of being an idle and disorderly person within the meaning of | the Police Offences Act, 1884, in that ■ he was found in Pirie Street, on the j night of August 23, disguised in female clothing. Mr Devine appeared for acused, who pleaded not guilty to being an idle and'disorderly person. Evidence for, |he prosecution alleged that defendant,"|who was only 21 years* of age, inras, inched to,be "wild." Be invested in .^soi^bb, female clothing re-r cently, a^tra;c|©(l jby the. cheapness of the gobdsf>whiph. ■he purchased for a sister jl|S years;of, age. H, was stated that on Sunday last a Mrs Ralph, residing in Quieeri Street,' was abouf> to enter her housp when she was attracted by defendant's appearance., He appeared to be watching the house, and the lady wejat ,in and" informed her son. Defendant walked away into i Atistia Streetj 'and then on to Pirie j Street. Subsequently Mrs Ralph's son caught,defendant in JPirie Street near the train tunnel. Quill was dressed in female attire, excepting that he had a man's cap on and wore, an overcoat, '.^in reply to Mr Devihe, Mrs Ralpht-stated that the man did ;^ptv.nwle^:-';herv;-in':\any,'.'w.ay',- In/ fact, he;rather tri^d. to avoid -her. : - ■■' .'...;■ Ypting R,alph. said, he overtook defendant, near the tunnel and bailed him, up. Defendant struggled violently and said he would not do it again, which witness took to mean he would', do no more masquerading. At this stage several young men appeared on the scene and assisted Ralph with, the captive*, eventually escorting him to i the Mount Cook Police Station, where he arrived stripped of most of his clothing. • , Evidence was also given by Alfred Thomas and Michael Black, one of whom stated that there was not much of the female; attire left after the strup^le* Defendant had a complete female outfit, on, including corsets, skirt, bodice, petticoat, slip-bodice, suspenders, and other female underclothinec. Defendant said he was laying a trap for someone—^a fellowboarder. ';..••

Constable Dyer stated that he saw defendant at Mount Cook Police Station at 11.3J0 p.m. on. Sunday last. Quill was then in a half-dressed state. Witness went up to the top of Pirie Street and found the. remnants of a miscellaneous collection of female clothing (produced). The clothes were scattered all over the road. Defend? ant appeared to be quite sober. THE DEFENCE. Mr Devine stated that the absence of parental control had affected accused' s behaviour. He was apprenticed at Messrs Luke and Co's engineering works, and. had been behaving himself well for the past few months, but was unfortunately addicted to drink, some of whi«sh had been supplied to him by friends on,the day in-1 question. ■ His Worship said this little bit of fun might have been the means of giving defendant six months' imprisonment. The present case should act as a warning. The information Would be dismissed. -;