GIRL'S TRAGIC END.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11509, 6 November 1912, Page 4

GIRL'S TRAGIC END.

A REMARKABLE CAREER.

STRANGE MASQUERADE. ■■■_■■■■-■■ (By : Telegraph.—Prtss I 5"! * DUNEDIN, Tuesday.' "■■•■' An amazing story of a young woman's strange masquerade was brought to a tragic culmination in a lodginghouse in Albert-street early this moraingy'when an unfortunate girl, who had been masquerading as;. ;a man, _.was found unconscious in her robin with a female baby dead beside her. Ever since her arrival in Dunedin at the end" of January deceased has been known as Thomas Parkes, and since February 3rd she had been continuously employed as a male assistant in Mr H. 11. Driver's bookshop in Georgo-street. Since her arrival here she occupied a room as a male, boarder at Mrs Pled- ■"■ ger's boarding establishment in Albertstreet.

Of late she had complained of fooling unwell, especially during the last few days. On Monday evening she arrived home at her lodgings about 7.30, considerably in advance of the customary time. "He" again asserted that he felt unwell. The laiiulady remarked that "he " had better go to bed, and that she would bring "him" a cup of tea in the morning. Deceased shortly after retired to her room, locking door, while the landlady and two boarders also retired.

Mrs Pledger states that she hoard "Parkes" groaning during the early part of the night, and about 11.30 p.m. she heard a noise which led her to assume that "he" bad alien out of bed, but she did not make any investigations.

At twenty minutes to 5 in the morning Dr. Newlands also heard groaning, but took no action until some forty minutes later, when he entered the bed room by means of a ladder. "Parkes" was found lying on the floor unconscious, with tiie bed clothes thrown about "him." On raising the bedclothes Dr. Newlands discovered that the supposed man was a woman, and that she had recently given birth to a female child, which was wrapped beside her dead, and wrapped in an old over-coat.

Dr. Fleming found the woman in a dangerous state of collapse, and she waa speedily conveyed to the hospital. Sho never rallied, nor showed any sign of consciousness, but gradually sank and died at five minutes past 3.

The woman's real name is Annio Read, and she is twenty years of age. She went to school at Dubbo, New South Wales, and the next trace of her was on October 6th, 1911, in ArajjjHf Victoria, when she met with an ent while masquerading as a man. Her sex was then discovered. She waa then going under the name of Thomas Ralph. About two months later sho came to Invercargill, going under the name of Thomas Russell, and after staying there for about a month, came to Dunedin to enter Mr H. H. Diver's bookshop as Thomas Parkes.