“Indecent act” in judge’s private chambers
A tattooed lady
Prosecution at Birkenhead
Liverpool Daily Post Thursday January 23, 1919
A travelling show-woman, Elizabeth Clarke, charged with indecent behaviour in a fairground tent, appeared at Birkenhead Police Court.
Detective Gordon Hughes said Clarke was on show as a tattooed lady and after paying tuppence for admission he saw her performance.
He said: “Her audience included several youths and girls, among whom there was much giggling.
“Adults present appeared to be disgusted and left the tent.
“She concluded her act with the remark ‘don’t tell your mother what you have seen.’”
Appearing for the defence Mr Lynskey pleaded not guilty on Clarke’s behalf and told the court that the show had travelled across the country and there had never been any suggestion of impropriety.
Witness for the defence Miss Eva Griffiths, a member of the Birkenhead Women’s Citizens League said she had seen the show twice and saw nothing which would affect the girlhood of Birkenhead.
Clarke was then taken into the magistrates’ private room to exhibit herself under similar conditions to those under which she appeared before the public and on their return into the court the magistrates said they found the charge to be proven and inflicted a fine of 20 Shillings on her.
