WOMEN DECLARE THEY SUSPECTED “ CAPT.” BARKER.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18703, 7 March 1929, Page 10

WOMEN DECLARE THEY SUSPECTED “ CAPT.” BARKER.

SHE ALWAYS HAD PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). (Received March 7, noon.) LONDON, March 6. The astonishing fact that the woman Barker, who masqueraded as a man, went through the ordeal at her trial at Old Bailey for being in unauthorised possession of an automatic pistol and was acquitted without suspicion of her sex, has aroused several women to say now that they were suspicious and tried to trap Barker, But the “ captain ” always had a plausible explanation. The fact that she said she had a “ wife ” and little boy contributed to her immunity from suspicion. It is believed that she was married to a soldier who died after the war, leaving her with a child unprovided for.—Australian Press Association.

STARTED MASQUERADE SIX YEARS AGO.

(Received March 7, 11.30 am.) LONDON, March 6. It is now revealed that “Captain Barker” is Mrs Valerie Smith, who married an Australian in war time. She is the mother of a nine-year-old boy and an eight-year-old girl. She served with the VA..D. in France and was also a lorry driver. She started her masquerade six years ago when she was poultry farming in Sussex. While she was at a West End hotel, where she was eventually arrested, she shared a communal dressing room, drank beer and changed her clothing among men. When her locker was opened it was found to contain dress clothes, an eyebrow pencil and a powder puff, which obviously had been used, and also safety pins. There was a safety razor, but there was no evidence that it had been used. It appears that she carried on the masquerade in many towns in England, particularly at Andover, where she played cricket and tennis and was often seen in the streets in flannels and shirt, with open neck. She often went shopping in plus fours.—Australian Press Association. The amazing career of a woman who posed for years as an army officer, under the name of Captain Leslie Ivor Victor Barker, was one of the leaders of the National Fascisti in London, and ran a West End restaurant, and was then employed as a reception clerk in a big West End hotel, was revealed by her arrest for contempt in failing to appear at a bankruptcy examination. The “ captain ” was taken to Brixton gaol, a men’s prison, where the secret was revealed. Apparently the sole reason fcjr the astonishing episode from her viewpoint was that the world’s opportunities for men were greater than for women. She was enabled to keep her secret by reason of the fact that she is a fine boxer, a good companion, and hunted in manly fashion. She is tall and well-built, and has dark hair.