Clothed As Woman (Evening Post, 8 November 1945)

On November 7, 1945, in Dunedin, a peculiar case emerged at the Magistrate's Court involving a 19-year-old named Garth Hamilton Gilmour. He pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering a house during the night. Gilmour was discovered in the early hours of the morning almost completely dressed in female clothing, accompanied by a wooden baton similar to those used by police officers. The incident escalated when he was confronted by the occupant of the house, leading to a struggle before Gilmour was detained and subsequently handed over to the police. Upon his arrival at the police station, officers found that he was also wearing a brassiere and a corselette, underscoring the unusual nature of the situation. During questioning, Gilmour admitted that he derived a certain amount of satisfaction from dressing in girls' clothing and enjoyed "flitting about from house to house." However, he could not explain his reasoning for entering this specific home, attributing it to sheer mischief on his part. Gilmour’s counsel revealed that a medical examination had taken place, though the doctor found no signs of mental illness. Nevertheless, the doctor noted the presence of some abnormalities in Gilmour’s behavior. As a result, he was committed to the Supreme Court for sentencing, indicating the seriousness with which the legal system was treating the matter. The case highlighted issues of identity and behavior that were notably unusual for the time.

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