DEATH OF AMASQUERADER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 11 May 1929, Page 7

DEATH OF AMASQUERADER

A FORMER NEW ZEALANDER

(By Telegraph—Special to “The Mail”)

CHRISTCHURCH, 10th May,

“A small and slight woman who affected a man’s cent, a tweed skirt, a man’s waistcoat, and collar, mannish in her airs, mannish in her bearing.” That is what a Christchurch man, throwing his memory back 20 years, recollects of a Miss Morton, whom be believes was the Miss Deresley Morton, the New Zealander who announced on her deathbed at Oakland, California, I hat for 20 years she had been masquerading as a man, Peter Stratford by name. The cable message telling of her death said that Miss Morton went to New i'ork many years ago from New Zealand, and quickly became known for her literary ability.” When Miss Morton lived in Christchurch, she was engaged in journalism. Her mannish bearing and appearance naturually won her many friends among men, with whom she was on terms of theeasiest camaraderie. She smoked cigarettes, which was considered quite outrageous in those days, and generally tried to affect the manners and costume a man as closely as she could. It is stated that the Christchurch City Council objected to her reporting its meetings, since it was. likely, at times, to discuss a question unfit for women’s cars.