MAORI MASQUERADER PEEPS COYLY FROM BEHIND FUR NECKLET

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6902, 7 May 1929, Page 6

MAORI MASQUERADER PEEPS COYLY FROM BEHIND FUR NECKLET

Made to Remove Hat

ASKS TO BE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE DISGUISE

“BURN THEM,” SAYS MR. HUNT.

‘ ‘ Times ’ * Special. AUCKLAND, Last Night.

The astonishing request that he be allowed to contmuo wearing female attire was made by Nikora Huno Haora, a young Maori, after he had pleaded guilty at the Police Court this morning to having falsely represented himself as a female.

The request was made through SubInspector McCarthy after a conviction had been entered, but Mr. F. K. Hunt, S.M., emphatically refused it, stating that the man must wear Iho clothes common to his sex.

Accused, who is aged 2tj, and was arrested in Harley street, Takapuna, last evening by Sergeant P. Brown, of Dcvonport, pleaded guilty to a charge of imposing upon Bernard Kissin, of Clifton road, Takapuna, by falsely representing that- ho was a female, “June O’Hara,” and obtaining employment as a housemaid between February 1 and Mtiy 4, receiving 25s a week as wages. When tho accused’s name was called, Haora catno out of the room usually reserved for female prisoners. He was dressed in a fashionable green crepe-dc-chine frock, nigger brown coat, black clociio hat, grey silk stockings and patent leather liigh-hcelcd shoes. With mincing steps and adjusting a brown fox fur as lie walked into the dock, Haora looked, even on close scrutiny, like a Maori girl. Ringlets of glossy black hair peeped from under tho smart little hat.

Haora looked coyly at the Magistrate from behind the shelter of his fur, but only his brown eyes could be seen.

After making his plea of guilty, Haora stood silent and the Magistrate’s first comment was: “If he’s a man, he’d bettor take his hat oil for a start.” (Loud laughter.)

Haora hesitated and then removed the hat. Long wavy hair fell about his nock; tho crowd laughed and he looked uncomfortable.

On one occasion, wkeh his voice was heard, it was uncommonly feminine in tone, being pitched in a high alto. Sub-Inspector McCarthy said the caso was one of thoso where a man had an inclination for women’s work, but Haora could not bo allowed to continue masquerading as a woman. Nothing serious had occurred, but such a masquorado could not bo tolerated underthc law. “It must be stopped,” added the Sub-Inspector. k' “Take him away and burn those clothes lie’s got on,” said Mr. Hunt, “then send him back to liis people.” Sub-Inspector McCarthy: “People who know him speak very well of Haora. A woman who has had quite a lot to do with him still refuses to believe he is a man.” (Laughter.)

“Well, he’s convicted and ordered to econo up for sentence when called upon and tell him he must get into his own clothes immediately,” said Mr. Hunt. The Sub-Inspector added that Haora was a well-educated young man. Mr. Hunt remarked that there had been many cases in history of a feminine mind and a masculine body.

New Zealand Woman Posed As Man for 20 Years in America

DEATH-BED CONFESSION.

HAD WIFE AND MANY WOMEN PEN FRIENDS. OAKLAND (California), May 5. Confessing on her deathbed to her sex in the words, “I am not a man—l am a woman,’’ Dereslcy Morton, a New Zealander, known as Peter Stratford, disclosed that she had masqueraded as a man for 20 years. Stratford, who in life was a nonenity, except to a small group of religious mystics, but in death will attract world-wide attention, was buried in a pauper’s grave in the Ban Lorenzo Cemetery before two spectators, meithor of whom was a mourner. Morton came to New York many years ago from New Zealand and quickly became known for her literary ability. . She then disappeared, and not until three days ago was she found again. She died in hospital from tuDerculosis. In the name of Stratford she had married aDd carried on a correspondence with numerous other women. Her widow is Mrs. Elizabeth Rowland, of Kansas City, who deserted her socalled “husband” five months ago, when she learned of the hoax. Letters to and from women were found among Morton’s effects. Twined in every lino of these letters and stretching into the innermost moments of Morton's life are ’.breads of tho mystic Mohammedan belief from tho Orient known as Sufism.