“BARKER” MASQUERADE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3916, 9 March 1929, Page 2

“BARKER” MASQUERADE.

STARTLING REVELATION. “MARRIED” TO ANOTHER WOMAN. London, March 7. Inquiries reveal that “Captain Barker” is the daughter of a Jersey man. Her maiden name was Leslie Valerie Baiker, but the most startling revelation is the fact that while masquerading as a iman she was “married” in November of 1923, at St. Peter’s Church, Brighton, to Alfreda Emma Howard, aged 27, the .daughter of a chemist at Little Hampton. The parish curate performed the ceremony at which the girl’s parents were present. The entry in the register describes the bridegroom as “Victor Barker, aged 29, bachelor, independent son of William Barker, deceased.” The Howards only learned to-day that the person who married their daughter was really a woman. The mother stated in. an interview: “ ‘Barker’ courted my daughter, Alfreda, as ‘Sir Victor Barker’ for two years. He said he was a baronet and kept worrying Alfreda to marry him. He seepied a fine, manly fellow, and knew how to make love to a girl. .Sopie members of the faimily opposed the match, hut my daughter’s heart was set on ‘Barleer,’ so we did not oppose the marriage, which was unhappy. They lived -at Brighton, Hove Andover, and other, places, but my daughter becalme miserable and said that she felt compelled to ,leave her ‘husband,’ for ever and return home. She has stayed with ns ever since, helping us /with our little business.” The Daily Telegragh states: “ ‘Barker’ during war time served as a V.A-D. in France, arid was always noted for her masculinity. She married an Australian army officer named Smith, who subsequently returned to Australia.”

“CAPTAIN BARKER’S” HUS- , BAND. MEMBER OF A.I.F. London, March 7. The Evening Standard states that “Captain Ivor Victor Barker’s” marriage certificate is dated April 27th, 1918 (Milfoi-d, Surrey). It shows that the bridegroom was Harold Arkell Smith, aged 38, bachelor, second lieutenant in the Australian Forces. “Barker’s” so-called wife stated in an interview to-day that she was terrified at the thought of the disgrace brought on her family. She never for a moment suspected anything. She had .been thinking of divorce fox’ some time, but she could not afford it. The first part of her married life had been happy enough.