Posed As Woman (Evening Post, 27 January 1942)
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Summary: Posed As Woman (Evening Post, 27 January 1942)
In Timaru on January 26, 1942, a peculiar incident involving a local businessman led to his arrest under suspicion of espionage. William Claude Marcelle Preen, a 41-year-old married man, was seen parading in women’s clothing at Caroline Bay, which raised alarms among onlookers. Subsequently, he was apprehended in the women’s waiting room at the Timaru Railway Station. During a court hearing, it was revealed that Preen had pleaded guilty to being unlawfully in the waiting room. The police reported that he could not provide a satisfactory explanation for his actions. His behavior was interpreted as possibly influenced by the sight of women in men’s attire, which prompted him to try dressing as a woman. Preen disclosed that he had been contemplating this for some time and had purchased the feminine clothing in Christchurch and Timaru. Despite the unusual circumstances, no evidence emerged indicating that Preen had engaged in inappropriate conduct towards any women. At the time of his discovery in the waiting room, he was calmly reading a book and smoking, activities deemed unremarkable for women at that time. It was noted that he had taken the same train from Christchurch while dressed in women’s clothing. Preen's counsel characterized his actions as a fleeting curiosity to experience what it felt like to dress as a woman, exacerbated by his wife's absence and the looming prospect of military mobilization. He had been a respected member of the Timaru community for 24 years, and his counsel argued that this unusual behavior stemmed from a temporary fascination rather than malign intent. The Magistrate, Mr. Morgan, suggested the matter was more appropriate for medical assessment than for criminal punishment. As a result, Preen was ordered to reappear for sentencing within 12 months if called upon, indicating that the court opted for leniency rather than strict legal repercussions for his indiscreet actions.
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