A Woman In Male Attire, Chicago Daily Tribune (Article, 1864)
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A WOMAN IN MALE ATTIRE.--Yesterday afternoon officer Cummings arrested a person calling himself Jonny Hoyt, on suspicion of not being what appearances seemed to indicate. This suspicion was first aroused by the peculiarly fine womanly voice of the young man. After watching close for some time he concluded it was his duty to arrest her, which he did about one o'clock yesterday. When first taken into custody she stoutly denied her sex, asserting that she "was a man all over." Officer Cummings then hinted at a practical way of solving the doubt, when the young lady immediately "came down" and made a full confession, and was taken before Justice McDonnell. She gave her name as Kate Parker, said she resided in St. Louis, and had formerly been employed upon the stage, which she quit about four weeks ago. She then went to Mount Pleasant, Iowa, where she assumed a male rig and engaged with a cattle drover to go East, receiving $15 per month for her services.
They reached the city about three weeks ago and put up at the Drovers' Hotel, on the corner of Canal and 12th streets, formerly known as the Cass House. Here the young man being of a "gay and festive" temperament found genial companions. He played euchre, smoked cigars, and drank poor whisky like a veritable masculine. He visited houses of ill-fame, flirted with the girls, drank wine, and to use her own expression when first arrested--was a man all over. His boon companions about town, and the gay girls whose hearts danced as he smiled upon them will be not a little surprised when they learn that Johnny Hoyt was bogus.
She appeared in the Police Court in a new, neat suit of broadcloth, and her every appearance was that of a handsome and well-bred gentlemen. She gave her age as seventeen, and stated that she had no object in assuming the disguise, except the love of adventure, of which she sweared she had now got quite enough. In conversation she is sprightly and intelligent, and gives evidence of considerable culture. After hearing the case, Justice McDonnell fined her $30 and costs, which she promptly paid. An officer was then sent for a suit of garments becoming her sex, and she was soon transformed into a beautiful, blushing maiden, and started as she said for her home in St. Louis. Her Chicago experience will, we trust, prove a permanent cure for her morbid love of adventure.
