Extraordinary Impersonation Case.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 210, 18 October 1888, Page 3

Extraordinary Impersonation Case.

Melbourne, October 2. On Saturday night at the Exhibition Detective Sexton arrested a man named Gordon Lawrence, who states that he is twentyone years of age, and an actor by profession, on a charge of insulting behaviour. Lawrence was dressed in a woman’s clothes, and was most admirably made up. In company with’a woman named Mrs Bioughton, who resides at 274 George street, Fitzioy, he was conducting himself in a somewhat peculiar manner ia the Avenue of Nations about nine o'clock. Detective Sexton was so much struck with the extraordinary resemblance between this soi-disant woman and Lawrence, whom he had detained a few days previously on suspicion of being concerned in a robbery of a diamond ring at Sydney, but found he was not the man wanted, he went up to him to obtain a closer view. Lawrence had by this time attracted a number of men around him, and they were jostling him about. This rough play disturbed the fair wig'which he wore, and disclosed a portion of his closecropped, natural black hair. This convinced the detective that it was really Lawrence impersonating a woman, and he arrested him. The story spread rapidly, and such was the curiosity of the crowd to see the individual that it was with the greatest difficulty that he was taken to the police office in the building. Here it was found that the detective's surmise was correct. Lawrence was dressed in a red skirt with blue end white body. His hat was of a fashionable shape, and was entirely trimmed with red. A fan and sunshade, coquettishly carried, completed his outfit. His cheeks and lips were painted, and his eyebrows neatly pencilled. His slight figure, small feet and hands, and feminine voice completed the illusion, and With his fair, curly wig carefully fixed on, it was difficult tojbclieve that he was a man. The Crowd that had assembled outside tne police office was so great that it was impossible to get through with Lawrence, in order that he nrght be taken to the citv watchhouse, and for a time the place remained in an actual state of siege. At last the rumor was spread that Lawrence had been taken cut the back way, and the crowd at once rushed in that direction, and Lawrence was then transferred to the citv lock-up. He is known to have arrived from Sydney about six weeks ago. He was presented before the City Court yesterday on charges of insulting behaviour and vagrancy. The public excitement ran high, and from before ten o'clock until fairly late in the afternoon the entrance to the Police Station in Little Collins Street was blocked by a crowd of spectators, who gazed anxiously at the empty prison van in the vain hope that the prisoner might at any moment alight from it. The Court was crowded, and the police had the greatest possible difficulty in keeping the avenues, and even the reporters’ box clear from intrusion. Finally, after the usual list of police charges had been completed. the case was called on, and the prisoner was placed at the bar. His appearance caused a decided sensation, dressed in a red skirt, and a close-fitting jacket of blue striped with white, the outlines of his figure wonderfully resembled those of a woman, and the deception was still further increased by a flaxen wig, surmounted by a jaunty bat.. The costume was a trifle loud, but even in the nervousness of the moment the prisoner displayed no awkwardness in his woman’s garments, which indeed he wore with the unconscious ease of a person long accustomed to their use; As he leant easily upon the bar, his eyes modestly downcast, and one silk gauntletted hand fingering with the imitation diamond cross, which rose and fall perceptibly at his breast, there was nothing whatever to betray his sex. In every look, in every motion, in every line nf his figure he was a woman. The momentary mistake of the presiding Magistrate in asking what she was charged with, was an unconscious testimony to the excellence of the impersonation, and when a moment later the prisoner uttered a brief denial of the charge in a voice that, despite all its affectation, was yet a woman’s voice, a thrill ran through the Court. It was evident that here was something more than mere acting, and that the portrayal was wonderfully assisted by nature. The evidence showed a long career of crime on the part of the accused, who was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. And now came another proof of Lawrence’s histrionic powers. The sentence had scarcely been pronounced, when he threw up his arms, uttered a wild shriek, and fell. A few minutes later he had divested himself of the borrowed plumage, and stood revealed as a sallow-faced and unpleasant looking young man of rather vqlgqr type. His woman’s clothing was taken into the police station, where a portion of it was identified by Dr Henry, of Brunswick, as having been stolen from him a fortnight before, while the prisoner was employed by him as boots.