Transvestia

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page. A headline two columns wide, two inches tall: GARB OF WOMAN LEGAL FOR A MAN, Ashbury Park - Muni- cipal Court Judge Eugene Capibianco ruled yesterday it is not illegal for a man to dress like a woman unless the man also happens to be carrying dangerous weapons or is doing something else illegal. Oliver J. Ware, 19, Comstock Street, was found guilty of violating the municipal code by appearing on a public street dressed in woman's clothing. Police said he was wearing a woman's wig, a miniskirt, and knit stockings when they arrested him on Comstock Street Monday night. However, he also was carrying a ladies' pocketbook containing three large knives. "If the testimony merely showed you were wearing women's clothes and nothing more, I would conclude you hadn't violated any law," Judge Capibianco said. "But you had in your possession these knives and you also had an identification card belonging to a young lady for the purposes of practicing some deceit.' Ware was fined $50 on the municipal code violation and fined $100 on the disorderly conduct charge of carrying a dangerous weapon for an unlawful purpose. Mr. Capi- bianco had reserved decision after the hearing Tues- day, saying he questioned whether it is considered "indecent" today for men to dress like women, or viceversa. "We're living in unusual times" the Judge said. "Women go around dressed as men, wearing slacks and with their hair cut short. I've seen women walking along the street and I can't tell if they are girls or boys."

And that's the text of the story. Obviously Judge Capibianco is the kind of judge any one of us would dearly love to meet in court. We don't carry knives and we readily admit our identity if ques- tioned.

And speaking of going out dressed. I've come to a conclusion which is not too pleasant to consider in our TV social activities. One TV going out dressed has a fifty-fifty chance of passing. Some have a better percentage, others a less favorable

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