A.I.F. Magician’s Borrowed Frock

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 56, 9 March 1944, Page 8

A.I.F. Magician’s Borrowed Frock

A magician in the Army 50-50 show was charged before a court martial with stealing a purple dress worn by female impersonators. Private Burton Trent Howard, A.1.F., the man charged, said he had borrowed the dress for his assistant to wear in a magic act at a private party. The party fell through and he took the dress back to his billet. A warrant-officer gave evidence that when Ilie troops were paraded for kit inspection, and a mosquito net, in which the dress was rolled, was found under, an overcoat claimed by Howard, the: latter had said: “Please don’t open it I before the boys.” Howard said he was an American citizen. He liad served for two years I in the Australian Army, including a considerable period in New Guinea, I prior to joining the 50-50 Company. I Under cross-examination, Howard re-1 marked: ‘‘l am a pretty good magician,! but I wasn’t quick enough to get to! that dress while the kit inspection was going on.” Tho court found Howard not guilty'j of stealing, and lie was directed to be 1 returned to his unit under open arrest. The sentence of the Court on an alternative charge of being improperly in possession of the dress will be promulgated.