Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-02-05
TWENTY YEARS, DISGUISED.

yard of Messrs. Henderson, Coulborn &
Co., at Renfrew, person who was known
to their workmen as John Campbell. He
was engaged at the forge in company
with three others, and won the esteem
of all around him by the handy and in
telligent manner in which he executed
any task allotted to him. On the 29th
of November ''Johnnie, as was famil-
iarly called, fell sick in the house of
Thomas Early, laborer Pinkerton lane,
where he lodged during his stay in Rem
frew. and DIR. Allison was called in. He
at once pronounced the malady to be
smallpox, and intimated to the patient
that removal to the Paisley Infirmary
would be requisite. The patient disap-
proved of that step, but the doctor point
ed out that it was impossible that any
person laboring under such a disease
could remain in such dwelling. See
ing that the medical gentleman was so
determined, the patient wished to be
clothed to leave the town. This raised
the curiosity of Dr. Allison, and he at
once put the question, "Was it because
of sex?" The reply was in the afirma-
tive, and the subsequent explanation
was that the supposed Johnnie was
lassie, and had worn male attire since
she was l3 years of age, for no other pur-
pose than keeping ''clear o thae black
guard men" Her present age was about
32. The doctor apprised the landlady,
Mrs. Early, of his discovery, and to her
surprise informed her that she must get
woman's clothes in which to dress her
lodger, so that she might be admitted to
the Paisley Infrmary as none other than
Marie Campbell This was done, and
Marie has at last recovered from the dis.
ease from which she had been suffering.
Her brief sojourn, however, in the in
firmary has not been without its inter
ruptions and further remarkable disclo-
sures. AS the past month was drawing
to close the resident medical officer of
the infrmary, DR.. Lewis, received let
ter from the inspector of poor for the
parish of Kirknewton, in the vicinity of
Edinburgh, stating that the attention of
the parochial board of that place had
been drawn to the case of his patient,
Marie Campbell, and they believed she
might be the person wanted by the par
ish since May of 1870. DIR. Lewis 'hav-
ing replied to the letter, the inspector of
Kirknewton visited the infrmary in
company with woman named Mary
Ann Mckennan. This led to a COM
plete Identification of "Marie" with the
John Campbell who, in December, 1869,
married McKennan and afterwards re-
sided with her in the village of East
Calder for time. Subsequently they
removed to Kirknewton, and to all ap-
pearances they lived happily together
till May, 1870, when Johnnie disap-
peared. The wife at the time raised the
cry that her husband was woman, but
her testimony was not credited, and she
having two illegitimate children before
the marriage with Campbell became
chargeable to the parish. The woman
McKennan had another child few weeks
ago, and difficulties arose with regard to
the registration. At the infrmary
Campbell maintained that McKennan
knew her sex before the marriage, and
that there was mutual understanding
in the matter but the latter declared
that she was not aware of the truth till
some days after the ceremony. The eli
max was reached on Wednesday. Act
ing Superintendent Stewart, of the Pals
ley police authorities with request that
he would at once apprehend Johnnie, .
alias marie Campbell, on charge of
coRtravening the Registration act by
making, or causing to be made, false
entry. in the register at the time she was
married to McKennan, by representing
herself as John Campbell. This was
done, and the patient, who had recovered
from her illness, was removed in custo-
dy to Edinburgh. The woman, Mrs.
Early, with whom Campbell lodged in
Renfrew, states that she knew Campbell
only as a man five years since. The lat
ter was then engaged as farm laborel
at place called Howden-o o-the-Bri, IL
the neighborhood of Tranent. She came
to the latter place, attracted by the higl
wages given on the railway and was EN-
ployed as surfaceman between Dalkeitl
: and Ormiston. She remained as a lodg
er with Mrs. Early for about six months
and through occasionally exciting sus
picion regarding her sex, cleverly re
moved any doubts by her after conduct
During the greater part of the time sh
c lodged with the Early's she slept with
: fellow male lodger. Campbell fell il
love with Highland lassie named Kat
/ Martin, and conducted herself towar
IS the young woman with all the usual al
dor of an affectionate beau. On one OF
y casion she took Kate to Edinburgh, an
IS when the two returned in the evenin
'e they both stayed at Campbell's lodgine
t There being only two beds In the hous,