GIRL IN MALE ATTIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12609, 25 June 1904, Page 2 (Supplement)

GIRL IN MALE ATTIRE.

END OF A STRANGE CASE. The curious case of the Indian Civil servant, Mr. Francis Woolf Murray, and his servant,:; Beatrice Holland, who was found in the streets in male attire, came to an end in London on May 6. " The defendants were arrested by Police-;' constable Hoodman as they i left the Hotel Russell at ten o'clock in the evening. They had entered the bote!, and Murray had requested to be served with refreshment. He was refused, and after a protest left with the girl, who was wearing a grey tweed suit and a golf cap. They had been watched by Alice Buckley, a young girl who had formerly been in i the ; employ of the male defendant as domestic servant' in street, Tottenham: Court Road. She told the police he requested her to wear male attire, and because she refused she . alleged that\he' ; tore' off • her skirts and endeavoured to strangle her. A summons was served upon Murray for assaulting this girl. The evidence on this particular charge he treated with indifference. He expressed a desire that the summons might be amended by the addition of the name "Oswald.'' " That name," he said. " I get from my grandfather and godfather, the Duke of Leeds." 'He said his object in going about with the girl in male attire was "to ascertain the opinion of the lower classes on tariff reform." Since the remand Murray had been under the observation of the medical officer at Brixton Prison, and it was certified that he was of unsound mind. Mr. '.Robinson, the Court missionary, said he had made arrangements for the girl— now appeared in a bright blue costume—to '- go into a home. Her iaiothei ; attended the Court and said 'she objected, inasmuch as she had a situation in view for her daughter. Mr. D'Eyncourt thereupon discharged the girl, and said be should ■ hold the mother responsible for her future behaviour. Murray, whe lolled indifferently in front of the dock, was asked if he had anything to say. ".No," he replied ; "I have put myself in the hands of the doctor, and he will speak for me." Dr. James Scott, medical I officer of Brixton Prison, said he considered that Murray was of unsound mind, and had j been so for some time. Murray: What? He says lam of unsound mind; I suppose lam jif he says so.. ■ • ' ! Mr. D'Eynconrt asked Hie girl Buckley if she wished to press the charge of assault. i She replied that she did not. Murray: If she presses it i shall ask for an adjournment. Mr. D'Eyncourt: No; I shall mark you discharged. '