Woman Marries Woman, Shepherdstown Register (Article, 1867)
Full Text
Woman Marries Woman--The Father-in-Law is Averse
A person was brought before the Police Court at Syracuse the other day on a charge of wearing male apparel while being a female, of making love to Syracuse belles "on false pretenses," and marrying a woman, [etc.] There is no doubt of her femininity though her counterfeit of a man is said to have been perfect. She is English, is supposed to be about forty years of age, went under the name of Alfred Clark, and received remittance from England, part of which goes for the support of a sister in Syracuse. In reply to the question, 'Are you a male or female?' she answered--'Your officers can tell you, or have told you.' She refused to give any more direct answer to the inquiry in relation to her sex, and was committed for further examination.
A few weeks since she assume the garb of a man an made the acquaintance of a young lady named Miss Lewis. After a brief courtship they were married, and the parties have since resided together as husband and wife. The marriage ceremony was performed about three weeks since, and the bride's father, suspecting there was something wrong about his new son-in-law, obtained a private interview, and informed her of his suspicion that she was not what she pretended to be. At first she said she was a man but on closer questioning, she admitted that she was a female. She has marked features, prominent nose, high cheek bones, black hair, worn long (for a man) and curling at the end, and apparently brushed and oiled with care. She wears a glazed cap, blue coat, blue shirt, dark vest, snuff-colored pants, gaiter boots, and a shawl over her shoulders; speaks with considerable confidence, but is not very communicative.
It is understood that when this eccentric woman first came to the house of the bride's father she was dressed in female apparel, and her clothing was changed in man's attire with the knowledge of the family. The probability is that the family supposed she was assuming the proper habiliments of her sex, and that her woman's dress was a disguise. The lady's father was averse to the match, but the bride still clings to her woman husband, and claims that the arrest is a conspiracy against them. They were allowed to meet in one of the ante rooms of the police office, and embraced each other with the greatest marks of affection.--Chicago Journal
