Woman Marrying Woman, Watertown Republican (Article, 1869)
Full Text
WOMAN MARRYING WOMAN.
The Perplexity of the Courts at Santiago--The Courtship in the Baths--The Capture of a [Chilean] Heiress--How shall the Property be Divided?
An account of a very extraordinary marriage comes to us from [Chile]. It is probably without a parallel in the annals of the law.
Near Santiago, the capital of [Chile], are the baths of Colina. The people of fashion crowd to this watering place in the proper season, to find rest and quiet there. Near the baths they have been wont to meet a young man who offered for sale newly-laid eggs, and many other articles, for which he found a demand among the fashionable society of the place.
There was one peculiarity about this young man which attracted the attention of the police. He also wore a cloak. Whatever the occasion, the cloak was never removed. But that was all. Further investigation revealed nothing, except that the youth was a handsome and industrious young fellow, making an honest living by selling eggs.
Among the beautiful senoritas in the habit of resorting to the baths was a dark-haired, pretty young heiress from Santiago. The engaging demeanor of the seller of eggs, and perhaps the air of mystery about him, attracted her attention. This he quickly perceived; and it was not long before a courtship had resulted in the betrothal of the humble youth and the rich girl. They succeeded in satisfying the parents of the young lady, and the marriage took place.
Only a few days passed, when the city was scandalized by the report of a suit for divorce, brought by the wife. She had married a woman! The youth wearing the cloak, and with the dress and manners of a man, was one of her own sex.
A divorce was, of course, immediately granted; but a serious question was presented to the court, as to the wife's property. It seems that the so-called husband, whose object was to obtain the property of her victim, had already made purchases in her wife's name. Should these be regarded as valid. The husband certainly acted as the agent of the wife and with the wife's consent. Still, though the pretended husband is subject to other punishment for her fraudulent assumption, it seems hard to compel the wife to apply her money to the [fulfillment] of the contracts made under such circumstances.
The case is yet decided.
