DUNEDIN MASQUERADE CASE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLVII, Issue XLVII, 7 November 1912, Page 5

DUNEDIN MASQUERADE CASE

DEATH OF THE MOTHER. (TJsited. Press Association.} DUNEDIN, Nov. 5. An amazing story of >a young woman s strange masquerade was brought, to tragic culmination in a lodging-house in Albert-street- early. this morning, when the unfortunate girl, who had been masquerading, as a man, was found unconscious in ber. tooie, with a female baby dead ibeside her. Ever since her arrival -ii Dunedm fit tbe end of January she had been known as Thomas Parkes, and since February o •had been continuously employed as a male assistant in Mr. H. H. Driver's book • shop 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, and on Monday -evening she arrived home at her' lodgings about 7.30 p.m. considerably in advance of the customary time. She stated that felt un.well, and the landlady remarked that she had better go -to bed and that she would bring her a cup of tea in the morning. Deceased shortly afterwards retired to her tocir. locking the door, and the landlady and the two other boarders also to tired. Mrs Pledger states she heard "Parkes" greasing during the early part of the night, and about 11.20 ip.ni. she heard a noiae. but she did not imake investigations. At 20 minutes to 5 in the morning Dr. Newlands also heard groaning, but took no action until .some 40 minutes later, when he entered the bedroom bv nreans of a ladder. The girl was found lying on the floor unconscious, and had .given birth to a female child, which -was lying beside her, dead, and wrapped in an old overcoat. Dr. Fleming, who was called in, found the ipatient in -a dangei'ous state of collapse, and she was conveyed to the hos pital. She mever rallied, nor showed signs of consciousness, but gradually sank and died at 5 minutes past 3. Her real .nam® is Annie Reid, and she is 20 vears of age. She went to school at Didbbo, 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. She was then goiiig under the nam? of Thomas Ralph. About two months later she came to Invercargill, going under the name of Thomas Russell. and after staying there for about a month she ca~r«'to Dunedin, and entered Mr. H. H. Drivel's book shop as "Thomas Parkes." ■Nov. 6. Inquests were held this afternoon on the bodies of Annie Tleid, iwbp had been masquerading as "Thomas Parkes," and her child, both of whom died yesterday. Dr. Gordon Mac Donald said he hnd oome to the conclusion that the child ■bad Ibsen born alive, and bad died from neglect. The .Coroner returned a verdict to this effect. At it lie ino west, on the body of til" mother, Dr. Fleming stated she was suffering from puerperal eclairtpsia. Deceased would probably not have survived confinement ;no (matter what treatment she 'had received, as she had been suffering from. B right's disease, which left a tendency to'puerperal eclampsia at child-birth. • . A verdict in accordance with the iredical evidence was returned.