In Amazonian.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 214, 16 December 1873, Page 7

In Amazonian.

A very reasonable plea for wearing men's attire was given by a woman named Johanna Johnson, who was charged with the " offence" recently at the Heathcote Police Court, Victoria. From the evidence adduced it appeared that Miss Johnson had remained as a female in the hired service of Mr Craven, storekeeper, Heathcote, for about five months, during which time her conduct was all that could be desired, she having proved herself both steady and hard-working. She, however, being aware that the rate of wages for labouring men is higher than that for female servants, and considering herself competent to perform the work of the sterner sex, discarded her female attire and donned the pants, &c, of the male. Then slightly altering her name from Johanna to Joseph Johnson, hired herself out as a labouring man to Mr J. Duff, farmer, Mia-Mia, where she worked for five weeks, proving herself both a willing and a smart baud. When arrested she was in the act of putting up chock and log fencing. There being no proof that the male attire was assumed for anything but a good motive, Johanna was discharged, female costume having first been procured for her. She pleaded hard to be permitted to wear the male attire, stating that she had been always accustomed to do so when a young girl, and in her own country, Germany, she had fought as a man in the army, and male attire suited her better than female, and that she wished to earn enough money as soon as possible to take her back to her own country. Miss Johnson, who is an exceptionally powerful and muscular woman, and appeared much more at home and better suited in 'male costume, was informed that the laws of the country would not permit her to wear any other than the attire of her own sex, and in such she was sent from the Court to earn her livelihood.