AN AMAZING STORY.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10497, 6 November 1912, Page 4

AN AMAZING STORY.

Per Press Association. ; Dunedin, November 5. An amazing story of a young woman’s strange masquerade was brought to a tragic culmination in a, lodginghouse in Albert street early this morning, when ah unfortunate girl who had been masquerading as a man was found unconscious in her room with a female baby dead.beside her. ■ }, . ■ .■ - Ever since her arrival in Dunedin at the end of January deceased had been known as' Thomas Parkes, and since February 3rd 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. Oflate she had complained of feeling unwell, especially during the last few days. On Monday evening she arrived home at her lodgings at 7.30 p'm., considerably in advance of the customary time.; She again asserted that she felt unwell. The landlady remarked that she had better go to bed, and she would bring her a cup of tea in the. morning. Early in the morning Dr., Newlands was called in, ; and he entered the bedroom ; by means of a ladder. “Parkes” was found lying on the floor, unconscious. A female child was lying Reside her, dead, wrapped in an old overcoat. The woman was conveyed to the hospital, and gradually sank and died.

The woman’s name is Annie Read, and she was 23 years of age. She went to school at Dubbo, N.S.W., and the next .trace of her was on October:; 6th/ 1911, in Ararat, YiCr toria, when she met with an acci-. dent while'masquerading as a • man. She was thou going under the name of Thomas. Ralph, About two mouths later she came to Invercargill, going under the name .of Thomas Russell, and after staying there 'for about a month came to Dunedin to enter H. H. ...Driver’s book shop as Thomas Parkes.