MASQUERADES AS GIRLS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20991, 2 April 1930, Page 10

MASQUERADES AS GIRLS.

YOUNG MEN IN COURT. EX-OFFICER AS HOUSEMAID. BOBBED HAIR AND CURLS. \ An unusual, and in some respects amusing, story was unfolded at High Wycombe Police Court recently, when Percy Douglas Baines, an old public school boy and exarmy officer, was charged with being found in a dwelling house for an unlawful purpose and with offering himseli as a female servant with a false character. The story began when Colonel dames advertised for a gardener-ehauffeuse or house-chauffeuse, and subsequently interviewed a “ pretty housemaid. Phyllis Baines,” whom he engaged to take up duties on January 28. The duties were to drive a motor.car and be useful in the James stated in evidence that ho found his new “ housemaid extremely useful and agreeable, except on one occasion, when “she” * made.a mess ot au omelette,” He was astonished when, on February 1, the police visited his bouse and took Baines into custody. It was revealed that Baines had, while in Colonel James’s occupied the same room as another housemaid, and had himself fixed up a curtain to seeing privacy. A large quantity of women s clothing which was found was explained. by the fact that Baines, when buying it, was not sure of his size, and had. therefore, a number of garments which would not fit Baines was found, when the _ police called, wearing a wig of bobbed hair with little curls, and admitted his identity. Evidence was given that his father ana brothers were successful professional men, but that he had been unsuccessful, and came to the conclusion that he would be able better to get a situation as a woman than as a man. . , , The first charge was dismissed, and Baines was fined £5 and ordered to pay £1 3s 6d costs on the second one. He drove away from the court to London in a motor car. . Remarkable revelations of bow a man, aged 21, had been persistently masquerading as a girl at seaside resorts and elsewhere were made at Brighton Police Court about the same time, when Austin Hull, otherwise Cissie Hull, pleaded guilty to charges of stealing a music case from a house at which he formerly lodged and obtaining f ood with intent to defraud the landladies of apartment houses. Hull, in a written statement, appealed to be sent hack to his mother and his brothers and sisters, who live in St. Helens. “ The reason for my being in female attire is this,” continued the statement. ” Seventeen months ago I went on the stage # impersonating a girl. After that I continued female impersonations, but I promise to let this ridiculous whim stop.” Detective Superintendent Taylor told the court that from the age of 16 -lull had frequently masqueraded as _ a girl, and had been cautioned by the police. He left St. Helens, where he had been employed in a colliery, last summer, and since then he had stayed at New Brighton. Liverpool, and other towns. He represented himself at Blackpool in the autumn as Miss Norma Jackson. _ He ran up a bill of £9 at the house at which he lodged, and left without paying. The Bench decided to bind Hull over to be of good behaviour on condition that he returned home.