Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-09
A :. Baraerous'' woman's Freak.

The two or three line item which ap-
peared last week in most of the daily press
of this city, announcing that aSacramento
barber named Harris had been discovered
to he a female, and was arrested for wear
ing male attire, scarcely elected 4 remark
In Oakland at the time, but yesterday on
the return to that city from Sacramento Of
one OF its veteran Democratic leaders the
brief item was remembered, referred to,
and much discussed, for the Democratic
chieftain brought the news from the CAPT
tai city that the party arrested was none
other than the well-known "Bill' Harris,
who had lathered and shaved in Oakland
Tor four long years, without being discov
cred that he was she. Among the
hdbitnes Of the various barber shops and
among the firemen of Oakland Bill"
Harris was freely discussed yesterday at
ternoon, and now, since he has turned out
to be she, many funny things were
thought of that she did when he lived in
Oakland. He was remembered as q
handsome-looking, smooth faced young
man, OF good and temperate habits, grace
full figure and tapering fingers; and one
prominent tonsor;al artist, who worked
side by side with "Bill" for one whole
year, remembered having asked him why
his ears weTo pierced, when her reply was
that she did il on account OF his weak
eyes. And again IL was remembered that
when Bill" was once reminded OF his
striking likeness to Miss Mary Vane, of
Canada, he blushed clear up TO the roots
OF her hair. Yet Of all this nothing more
was thought at the time than that Biil's"
excessive modesiy was so stirred by the
f1attery of being fayorabiy compared with
handsome girl that he showed suf-
fusion of red color In her cheeks that con-
fused him. From what could be learned
OF this freak. struck maiden she came TO
this State from Boston about six years
ago; resided in one OF the lower coun-
ties for year, whore he tended bar, but
soon after he'd that portion OF the State
for shooting the life out Of one of a band
OF Greasers who were in the habit of i'm
posing upon her employer by drinking
his merchandise without pay. She ap-
peared In Oakland about four years ago,
working the first six months in u BARKER
shop near the southeast corner of Broad
way and Seventh street Soon after
Bill" opened shop of her own on Sew
enth street, between Broadway and Wash
ington. which he conducted successfully
for eight months, when she protited by an
opportunity and sold out for handsome
bonus, agreeing, however, not to open an.
other shop in Oakland for one year. She
committed breach Of promise, however,
and soon fitted up the elegant tonsorial
parlors on Broadway now occupied by
Jerry Bowman aud Gus Myers, on the
show windows of which can yet be deci-
phered, Wv. X. Harris Tonsorial
Rooms For having opened this latter
shop" Bill" got herself into q lingering
and expensive lawsuit, which caused him
to fall so far behind in her rent that final
ly Col. Hanifn, "Bill's" landlord, took
the shop from her. "Bill,' lett Oakland
soon after this--some eighteen months
since--and nothing has since been heard
Of her until the appearance Of the little
item referred 20, which II has since been
discovered to mean none other than the
Identical Bill" Harris. who Is 80 well
remembered in Oakland. francisco
Chronicle.