ransvestia

One kindly young man who later did the photography and finger- printing evidently believed that the drink contained neither drugs nor alcohol, did let the flannel-mouthed suspect finish the drink.

I was arrested and handcuffed and stuffed into the back seat of a police car. "For your protection as well as ours," was the answer when I asked, "Why the handcuffs?" Imagine if you will a 47-year-old modestly dressed quiet lady who had never harmed anyone when wearing the clothing usually known as apropriate to either sex, being hauled away, handcuffed, to the police station which was in sight about two blocks away. Ridiculous! The fingerprinting and picture- taking was completed in about an hour. The Polaroid wasn't working well and over a dozen snaps were made. I did not smile even though inwardly there was a devilish urge to ask for half a dozen 8x10 glossies. I heard, "Be sure to get the shoes," more than once. Maybe they thought they were pretty, too. My car was towed to a garage in an adjoining town and $12.50 retrieved it, the most inexpensive item of the ordeal.

Around 1:30 a.m. bond was set for the dangerous criminal at $200. I was allowed to make that one phone call, and that was after the police explained that the town's bondsmen would not act for a non- resident. Luckily my wife had the first hundred and woke my mother- in-law for the second. I don't know that mama believes the excuse given. She doesn't know about Helen, and could never understand. My wife is listed in error in the FPE director as "C." She is definitely at least "A" — and has been for many experiences before this one which saved me from an overnight residence in the pokey.

The courteous young officer went to the car to get what these folk considered my correct clothing. I was allowed to use the hospital- clean jail cell to change. The city building is almost new but it's not a nice place o visit under such circumstances. I was temporarily free and home by 4 a.m.

A local lawyer was engaged. His fee was reasonable at $200 for three court sessions. Neither he nor the judge knew a whit about the FP situation. I tried to educate both of them with Virginia's articles. The judge was willing to consider an opinion by an analyst. The visit and letter which explained in lay language that I am a harmless kook, not at all dangerous, cost another hundred dollars. The judge finally decided to "still be hard-nosed about this" and the sentence was $50 fine, $8 court costs, 30 days in jail suspended (thank good-

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