Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-12-08

be was brought prominently under the no
tice of the public by the consequences O
an eccentric excursion which he had taker
into the domains of matrimony. Harry
Stokes, wanting companion 10 life, execu
ted matrimonial contretemps. True te
his rote as a rnan-for be had reached the
age when the average of the bricksetters
are fathers as well as journeymen-he cas-,
about and fixed his choice upon plump
little widow who kept beer-house in Gu.
pid's alley, off Deansgate, Manchester
He had been accustomed to take his pot Of
beer and smoke his short pipe under Bet
sy's roof and at last took decided fancy
to Betsy herself He was good looking
young man, was Harry Stokes, for, al
though still undersized and innocent ot
whiskers, face as smooth as woman's,
he was stoutly built, had a capcious depth
of chest, and pair of hips which gave an
unusual profit TO his tailor. Betsy then
looked with favor on Harry's suit, for be
had the reputation of being good steady
workman, and was doing pretty well as a
bricksetter. 1t was resolved that the twain
should become one flesh; and so to church
they hied. Harry discharged tie duties of
bridegroom at church to perfection; but
when the widow got him home there was
a terrible row. The night was spent in a
downright quarrel and fight; and the la
mentable result was summons taken out
by Betsy against her husband for an as
sault, for which he was condemned to the
New Bailey for one or two months.
During the hearing of the case, Betsy,
with great vchemence, declared that her
husband was not mar, and that she
therefore would not live with him. The
case created great amusement and gossip
at the time. and formed the subject Of pop
ular ballads, which were sung and hawked
about the streets of Manchester. "Harry"
Stokes, on issuing from the New Bailey,
was considerably prosecuted by those lit
tie gamins who know SO well how to tor
ment street celebrities, while he was also
the object Of much curious speculation
among his brethren Of the trowel He,
however, maintained discreet silence as
to his sex, threw out hints that the woman
he had married WAS mad, and as the most
effective proof that she was malevolent
libeler be soon after married another wild
ow, rejoicing in the name of Francis Col
Inns, who was some fifteen or tweety years
his senior, and who had grown up son
and daughter living with her. His con-
A. H.
lived until he committed suicide, in the
most mysterious history. She declares
with solemn earnestness that she did not
know until informed the other day, that
the person with whom she had been living
for the last twenty-five years, sleeping to-
gether night after night, in the same bed,
was woman, and her own children look
ed upon Stokes as their stepfather. She
asserts that she took Stokes into her house |
in the first instance, out of pity. to shield
him from the persecution TO which be was
subjected. 1t may be that, although ont
of a sense Of shame, the old woman thus |
attempts to conceal her knowledge of
Stokes sex, she did, in reality, know from
the first that the person was woman, and |
that she was, in all probability, induced by |
Stokes to consent to the union, in order |
that the appearance of married life |
might dispel the rumors ahoat, aud enable |
him to live in "peace and quietness."
Whether or not that was the intention,
The acquaintance brought about that result;
for, although there were 'surmises that
Harry" Stokes was woman, and be was
the object of curious glances, he
escaped the open molestation 10 which he
had been previously subjected. Harry and
Fanny took beer house in Corporation
street, Stafford, where they lived for two
years, when they '.fitted' to Quay street,
near Dcansgate, turning private house
into beer house, at this house they stay
ID eleven years, during part of which time
hey held second beer house in Camp
street, off Deansgate, which they called
The Pilgrims Res" and was superintend-
ID by Mrs. Stokes son. To this house
hey themselves finally removed, and kept
t on for six years, when they carried their
furniture 10 No. IL Richmond street, be-
.ween st. Stephen street and Broughton
-oad, Stafford, where they still lived to-
,ether as man and wife, though the neigh
1ors had their little whisperings together
the staple of their conversation being the
peculiar figure of Harry Stokes, and spec
llatious -thereabout.
They were living in Richmond street up
10 the time of the tragedy, which has re-
rived the whole history of this singular
person. Harry Stokes appeared latterly
10 be falling into decay circumstances, and
The fear Of poverty is believed to have in
luced him to commit suicide. On Friday
evening the deceased went to the Swan
public house, Pendleton, and after drinking
our glasses of ale, be left for the purpose
IF proceeding, as be stated, to Throstle
Nest. In tho morning o hat was found on
The top of the water in the sluice of the
river lrwell, at Mode Wheel, and on ex-
animation the body of man was stand
ing upright in the water. At the inquest
before Mr.. Coroner Nutter, on Saturday.
lhe body was identified as that of Harry"
Stokes, the well known master bricksetter
IF Stafford; and it would probably have
been buried in its clothes as it was, and
he secret of the poor courageous, hard
working Harriet Stokes would thus have
lave been buried with her, had not one of
he jury been acquainted with portion of
! L r I 4. |