LONG MASQUERADE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26328, 6 December 1946, Page 8

LONG MASQUERADE

MAN LIVED AS WOMAN REVELATIONS AT INQUEST EVIDENCE OF “ HUSBAND ” (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. Dec. 5. The story of how he lived for over 41 years with a person whom he thought was “ half woman and half man" was told by Robert Woolgar Orton in sworn evidence at the inquest into the death of Keitia Wiremu Reweti Paraona at Tuahiwi on the night of November 26. The inquest was re-opened at Kaiapoi this afternoon before the coroner (Mr H. P. Lawry. S.M.). Orton said in his statement that about 41 or 42 years ago he married a person at Rangiora post office. At the time he thought that she was a woman but shortly after he was married he ascertained that the person was not a woman, “ I never actually found out what sex this person was,” he said. “ I thought that she was half woman and half man. We lived together as man and wife after our marriage. For about three months I occupied the same bed as this person but,after that we used separate beds. The reason I never mentioned this to any person is that I did not wish to have any publicity. We lived in Wellington for about 'l9 years and people in the district knew us as man and wife. I never saw him with his clothes oft. I know that this appears to be a queer kind of life that I have lived and the only reason that I can give for it is that I did not want to have any publicity over the matter.” Minister’s Story A sworn statement by Eruerathama Tirikatene, minister of religion, of North road, Kaiapoi, given on the day following the death of Paraona, stated that the body witness had just viewed, in the presence of the coroner in the Kaiapoi morgue he identified as that of a person who was known to him for many years past as Kate Orton, the reputed wife of Robert Woolgar Orton. "I knew the deceased for over 40 years,” he said, ** and I always understod that the deceased was a female, as he always dressed as a woman, even in his teens. It is only since his death that I have ascertained that the body is that of a male. I have lived with Mr Orton and his reputed wife for many years whilst in Wellington on my parliamentary duties, and the couple have always been known and lived as man and wife. I have ascertained from Orton that when they went through the marriage ceremony many years ago he was unaware of the sex of the person, he married, but that when he subsequently ascertained the true facts he thought it wise to make no disclosure. During the time that I have known the deceased, his health has always been good and I have not know him to require medical attention.” Giving evidence, Frank Huria said that he was a woolclasser, of Woodend. On Tuesday, November 26, he was present at a function in the hall at Tuahiwi where celebrations were being held in connection with the Maori elections. He had known the deceased for the past 40 years and had always known him as Kate Orton. He had never had any occasion to believe the deceased was other than a female. Paraona arrived at the hall about half an hour before his death. .He was shaking hands with many of the people present, including witness. They had just shaken hands and witness had stepped away a couple of paces when he heard a noise behind him. He saw Paraona falling to the floor. Discovery of Truth

Constatye E. R. Warren, of Kaiapoi, said that at 0.20 a.m. on November 27. Dr C. F. McKee, of Kaiapoi, reported to him that he had been called, to Tuahiwi Hall, where a Maori woman aged about 63, had died suddenly. He could not give a death certificate. because the woman had died about half an hour' before he arrived. A telephone call was put.-thrOugh to the “ woman’s " husband, in’ Wellington, and it was •scertained that Paraona had never been attended by a doctor at any time The discovery that Paraona was a man was made by the district nurse in the course of stripping and cleansing the body. Inquiries showed that Paraona was a native of Gisborne, and as far as could be ascertained, the deceased must have been masquerading for well over 40 years. The coroner then adjourned the inquest sine die for the reception of a prepared report on a post-mortem examination made .by Dr B. Pearson pathologist at Christchurch Public Hospital.