REMARKABLE IMPOSTURE AT BEECHWORTH.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1172, 15 August 1884, Page 3

REMARKABLE IMPOSTURE AT BEECHWORTH.

A telegram from Beechworth in the Age of July 31st Bays An extraordinary case, and one which fairly rivals the notorious Du Lacy Evans imposition, was brought to light here this morning. On Saturday last an individual known as Edward Moato was brought before Mr Forster, P.M ,at Bright, charged with being illegally upon the premises of a residenl of that plane On being brought imo Court the accused f igne < death so successfully that many persons in Court cried “ Shame,” in protest against the action of the police in bringing a dying person into Court, and the magistrate lemanded the accused for medical i-xami na ion. 0 i the 21 at inst. the accused was discharge'l by r,wo justices, but was arrested on the following day by Sergeant Shoobridge. on the charge of lunacy, and was brought to Beechworth on \Ve bus! y evening for examination. This morning, after examination by Drs F >x and i'kinner, the accused was committed to tho asylum, and was accompanied to that institution by Sergeant Sboobridgc, who wag suspicious as to whether Moate was really a man. The officer communicated bis suspicions to Ur Deshon, the medical superintendent, and was shortly nfrorwards informed that his suspicions were well founded, as “Edward ” Moate was undoubtedly a woman. Moate was for a number of years employed as a man servant by the late Vlr Phipps, then clerk of courts at Omco. B iforo his death Mr Phipps was most assiduous y nursed by Moate, and bo bequeathed to the supposed man, in the name of “ Edward Moate,” a quantity ct property which has since been dUpisedof. Under this will Moate is said to have recently bee <mo entitled to a coalmine in England, and shortly before the arrest she delivered to Sergeant Shoobridge the will, together with a power of attorney.

'* V j " ‘ * Several year* ..ago Moate. eUter 4 tbe «m ploymeut of the late Dr Warr'eni, who died suddenly at Bright. Or Warren is stated to have previously lived with Mr Phipps at Opi«p- The sudden death of the doctor appears to have been the exciting oau>e of Moate’s . madness, as she is continually raviiig about him; and supplicating God’s merdy for him, Moate has also refuse I food,'and has net oaten a pound of solid food.for IQ days, so that she is nec ssarilv in a low state. Shu is 50 years of age, of short stature, and a n dive of Ireland. Her hands show she has done rough work. Nothing is shown here of her history prior to her employment at Omen