A MAN WOMAN

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1929, Page 5

A MAN WOMAN

A DEATH-BED CONFESSION

United Press Assiviarinn ~ Rv Electric 1

Telegraph- Copyright)

Received this day al 12.25. rum.) NEW YORK’. May 5.

\ message from Oakland, t'aliifornin. says, confessing on his deathbed. Derosley Morton, a New Zealander, known ns Peter Stratford, announced : “ I am not a man, I am a woman. She disclosed that she had masqueraded as a lißiii for twenty years. Stratford, who in life was a nonentity except to n small group of religious mystics, in death will attract worldwide attention. She was buried in a pauper's grave at San Loren.ua cemetery before two spectators, neither ob whom were mourners.

.Hoi ton came to New York many years ago from Now Zealand and oniekly botanic known for her literary ability. She then disappeared and not until three days ago was: lomid again. She died in hospital from tuberculosis in the name of Stratford. She had married and had carried bn correspondence with numerous cither women. Tlio “ widow” is Mrs Elizabeth Rowland, of Kansas t ity! She deserted her so-called husband five months ago. when she' learned oif the hoax. Letters to and from women wore l found among Morton’s effects. Twined in every line of these letters stretching into the innermost moments of Morton’s life are threads of mystic .Mohammedan belief from the Orient known ns “ SinTism.”