A Boys Masquerade (Evening Post, 16 August 1919)

On 16 August 1919, a peculiar case unfolded in Takapuna, Auckland, where police apprehended a young boy disguised as a girl, raising suspicions due to his behavior. Upon investigating the individual’s belongings, officers discovered jewelry that appeared to have been stolen from various residences. During an initial inquiry, an astute policeman recognized the boy, prompting him to ask, "Is that you, Norman?" The boy, who was identified as 15-year-old Norman, tearfully confirmed his identity. Norman had previously been arrested several weeks earlier in the South Island for thefts committed at the Wereroa Training Farm. While in custody, he managed to escape and subsequently engaged in further thefts in Napier and other locations before reaching Auckland. At the time of his arrest, he was notably well-dressed and possessed a substantial amount of money. This was not Norman's first encounter with the law; just a few days earlier, he had appeared before the Juvenile Court, where he was remanded to a local home. However, he deserted from that facility. When brought to the Police Court in Auckland, it was noted by the Probation Officer that Norman, under the alias Ada Reeve, had disturbed the other residents at the probation house. Consequently, the Magistrate ruled for Norman's transfer to the Wereroa Training Farm, and ordered the return of the stolen goods to their rightful owners. This incident highlights both the cunning nature of the young thief and the ongoing challenges the police faced in managing juvenile delinquency in the post-war period.

The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact

The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand

ada reeve