The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1838-05-23

4 Woman Husband. Il From the Man
chester (Eng.) Guardian. "A few days ago
respectable female waited upon an attor-
ney in this town, and asked his advice in a
case Of very peculiar nature. 1t seems
that her husband, n master bricklnyer, who
had been in the habit of trusting her i'm
plicitly in his business, even leaving to her
management the booking requisite in his
trade, had of late, for some cause or other,
refused to allow her the usual weekly sum
for housekeeping. Having ulso in other
respects, treated her, as she conceived, in
an unkind manner, she came to take ad-
vice as to how she should proceed, under
the circumstances, against her husband,
whom, to the no small astonishment of the
professional gentleman she was then con-
sulting, she declared to be not a man, but
woman. Legal investigation of the affair
was made at the police office, which result
ed in the separation Of the unnaturally
paired couple. From what could be CLEAN
ed of the history of this female husband, it
would seem that she assumed the garb and
character of a boy at an early age, and that
IN that character, she was apprentced, At
the oge of sixteen or seventeen, to a master
builder, in one of the large towns Of York
shire.
Being Of good exterior, with prepossess-
ing appearance and manners, and of feat
ures rather handsome, the supposed young
man attracted the attention of many females
in the same condition Of life and amongst
others was the one who afterwards became
the wife. The attentions Of the young
hr, t,yor
and the union took place shortly after the
expiration Of the apprenticeship. Soon af-
terwards this couple came to Manchester,
we are told, about the year 1929, where the
husband commenced the business of n bull
der, and by considerable skill, ability, and
attention to business, was toleraby sue
cessful. She was for many years a special
constable, in the 18th division Of that body ),
acting when the services of the division
were required, as at elections, orange pro-
cessions, and meetings Of trades unions,
turn-outs, &c. &c. so far from absen,ing
herself from what, as iu the case Of well
grounded apprehensions of riot, must
have been, to a woman, n post of some un
pleasantness, she is remembered to have
been one of the most psnctual in attendance,
and the most forward volunteer in actual
duty in that division.
Since the investigation and disclosure Of
the circumstances the wife and husband
have separated. We believe that, although
no legal proceedings have been, or indeed
could be, taken in this extraordinary case,
Mr.. Thomas, deputy constable, has had
several interviews with the husband, in
which he has endesvored to induce her to
make some provision for the woman whom |
she has so shamefully deceived. and who, |
after having for % years filled the charac-
ter of wife. greatly beneftting the inter
es,s of her supposed husband, not only by
her care of household concerns, but sf the I
business books and accounts, had surely
some claim TO compensation ms q servant,
if she were unable by law to demand main
tenance Of q wife. We believe ihn, Mr..
Thomas so far succeeded in this humane
negotiation, as to induce the husband to
agree to give up the wife, the house IN which
they had resided up 10 the time Of the dis
covery, with all the furniture that II contain
ed. The wife is, therefore, Still residing
there and The husband has gone 10 lodge
elsewhere. The habits Of the latter, we be-
Iiere, are much more in accordance with
these Of her assumed sex and occupation