ANNIE READ’S END.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 65, 9 November 1912, Page 7

ANNIE READ’S END.

STRANGER THAN FICTION. Mr H. H. Driver, bookseller and stationer, Dunedin (at whose shop deceased was employed), when seen by a Times reporter expressed himself as quite shocked at the tragic fate of the deceased. He said that nine months ago ho had- inserted an advertisement in the papers asking for applications for the position of assistant in his place of business. Miss Read answered the advertisement. She was neatly attired in masculine clothing, and had her hair cut short. She said her name was “Thomas Parkes,” and that her father and mother, who resided in Sydney, had just died within a short time of each; other—both from apoplexy. She said she was an only child, and that when her home had been thus broken up by the death of her parents she doubled to leave Sydney, and went to Adelade, where she had obtained work in a. timber yard. The deceased said she had then decided to come over to New Zealand, and Mr Driver, never doubting that the applicant for the position was a man, deckled to give the young man—or woman—a trial as assistant in Ids shop. Mr Driver says he found Miss Read industrious, honest, and respectable ; she seemed anxious to learn all she could of her work, and when he had gone to Christchurch last month to attend the Baptist conference which was being held there Miss Read was left in full charge of the business. “Right up to the last (Monday) I had not the slightest indication of the real sate of affairs,” said Mr Driver. “ ‘Tom,’ as wo always called he deceased woman, locked up as usual then, and went off’ to ‘his’ home. This morning, on homing to work, I found that ‘Tom’ had not arrived,, and the lad who is always employed by me said that ‘Tom’ had remarked on the previous afternoon that ‘ho’ did not feel very well, and I then told the hoy to go to the place where ‘he’ lodged and toll ‘:hm’ not to come down to work till ‘he’ felt better. The lad came hack with the startling information which has been already made known.”

Mr Driver went on to say that Miss Read had a very likeable nature, though she was rather reticent. She had been working all the Monday afternoon with the books in the stores, making up accounts for the month, etc. She also proved herself quite strong enough to open the cases of books and do all the heavy work necessary in a book shop. The deceased had acceded to a request that she should take down the shutters of Mr Rossister’s shop next door, Mr Rossiier being in poor health, and. had done this work gratuitously for some few days. Mr Driver remarked that Miss Read had been up to his house on several occasions to tea, but neither he nor his wife ever suspected that she was a woman masquerading in a man’s clothes, nor, of course, that she was in the condition she proved to he. Her voice was not distinctly masculine, hut the feminine note was not sufficiently marked to arouse suspicion.

At the inquest, Sergeant Eccles gave evidence as to taking possession of the room occupied by deceased at No. 1 Albert street. Among her effects was a portmanteau containing all her correspondence for the past four years. From letters and postcards which lie. found he gathered that she was attending the Dubbo (New South Wales) Public School in 1908 as Annie Reid, and also staying at “Rotornahana,” Darling street, Dubbo. Later, in 1908 and in 1909, she was residing with a Mrs Hamer, Brisbane street, Dubbo. On September 14, 1911, she entered the Ararat (Victoria) Hospital masquerading as Thomas Ralph, and about a month later left the institution under her proper name—Annie Reid. While in the Hospital she was asked to go to Western Australia, but there was no evidence, of her having done so. Eventually she turned up in Invercargill as Thomas Russell. While there site got into touch with a man who assumed the name of “Father Peter.” Hhe had been identified. During January, 1912, she left Invercargill and canto to Dunedin as Thomas Parkcs, under which name site had since masqueraded. From the time that slio arrived in Dunedin in January till near the end of October she had been in correspondence with the man known as “Father -Peter,” who, he had gathered from his letters, was well aware that deceased

was a woman masquerading as a man. Slio had throe suits of male clothing in her possession and a large lady’s hag with a back-comb in it. There was nothing to indicate that she had anticipated the birth of the child. Her age was about 20 years. The Coroner said that there was

no need for any further evidence to establish the cause of death. It had been necessary to ascertain whether sbe had been the cause of the child s death or whether it had died from natural causes, and they had already decided that the death of the infant was owing to neglect at birth. As to tho cause of the death of the mother, tho evidence of Dr. Homing was very plain. He could only find, in accordance with the doctor’s evidence, that death was due to puerperal eclampsia during childbirth.