MAN-WOMAN’S WIFE

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1929, Page 9

MAN-WOMAN’S WIFE

POLICE COURT SEQUEL. There was a police court .sequel at Evesham, Worcestershire, recently, to the disclosure made that a woman named Holtom, in the poor law infirmary, had been masquerading as a man. Mabel Beatrice Hinton, of Merstowe Green, Evesham, who had lived with Holtom as the “wife,” was charged with makino- a false statement relating to the birth of her younger child at Evesham on September 16, 1927. Mr. H. J. Barham, prosecuting for the Registrar-General, said that while Hinton was living with Holtom, a child was born to -her. It was registered as William Sidney Holtom. The mother’s name was given as Mabel Holtom, formerly Hinton, when her real name was Williams. It was an attempt to pass off an illegitimate child as legitimate. Mr. Henry Charles Gardiner, superintendent registrar, Evesham, stated that he saw Hinton regarding the registration. She said she realised that as Holtom had proved to be a woman she could not be the father of the child.

Mr. Cross, defending: Were you impressed that she was speaking truthfully when she said that she thought the woman was a man?—l was impressed. Sarah Holtom, the “man-woman,” who bore a laud girl’s outfit and man’s boots, gave evidence of having lived with Hinton as her husband for about four years. She asked Hinton who was the father of the child, and she said that she did not know.

Cross-examined, she said she went with Hinton to have the child christened, but did not give her name. She had dressed as a man for 20 years. Hinton was committed to Birmingham Azzises, bail being granted.