DUNEDIN SENSATION

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1590, 6 November 1912, Page 8

DUNEDIN SENSATION

THE MASQUERADE. PA.THETIC CASE OF A.NNIE. BEM), (By Telbgraph.—press Association.) . Dunedin, November 5. An amazing story of d joiißg 'i-oii'imfi slraugo masquerade was brought to a traffic culmination in.a lodging-houso iu Albert Street early this morning, wheu tho unfortunate girt, who Mil been masquerading as a inpii, wits .foiiiid ■' uhc6n«' scious in Iter roo.ui, with u female'babir.. dead beside lier. Ever iiucc tier arrival 111 Dunedin at the end of January elie had boon. knosva as Thomas Parkes, and since February 3 had been contimiously employed ...as,' a. nialo assistant in .Mr. ii. il. Driver's ljook shop }ii George .Street. Since her arrival hero she occupied ;a. room, '/as ■ a., mala hoarder at Mrs. l'Wgtffc^^ardirigT&tabi, lishmeiil in Albert Street. Of lata slia had, complained of feeling unwell t especially during' tho last few davs, and oa Monday evening she.arrived noma lit her. lodgings about 7.30 p..m.. considerably, La' advance of the customary time. ' Shis stated that she felt unwell, and tho landlady remarked that she had belter go to bed and that .she would .bring her a cupf of tea in the morning. Deceased shortly.', afterwards retired to Jier rooin, l(>ckin^} : i the door,; and the landlady and t.vo cthei ; boarders also retired. .Mfs; Pledger .states', file heard ''I'arke.s" gro:aniiig duvihg'tiia' early part, of the night, and about. 11'.50 ■ p.m. she heard ft. noise, but silo did notl make investigations. At 20 minutes to .5 iit t'hfi morning Dr.. Xewlands also . lie.iird groaning, but,took no. acti»:i until ■ sonio 40 miiiu.fes 'loteri Sviieri. intc-ted;'' th<* l>cdroom by- means "f a ladder; .The 1 girl Vii.3 found. lying on the floor uncon-; scions, and l.nd given birth to a female child, which was lying beside her, dead, and' wrapped in an; old overcoat. • "rf Dr. Fleming, who was wiled in, found''' tho' patient in a dangerous 'state -of collaps?, and she was conveyed to the has* • pital, She. never rallied, nor showed : signs- of conscio.asn.ess, butgraduaUysanli" anil died at five minutes past three; - Her real, name is Annie. Head, and she; is 20 years, of '.age. She went to school : at; DubV.o, New South Wales, and the next trace of her was on October 6, 1911,; in Ararat, Victoria, when she met with' , an accident while masquerading as ' » : Man, She was' then going under the name of Thomas llalph. About two months later slie cauie to Invcrcargill, going under the name of Thomas Kussell, ■aiid after slaving'there forabout a month' she came to Dunedin; and entered Mr. H. ■ ; H.. Driver's book " shop;, 'as'.. "Tliomui ■ Parkes."