Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-07-12
FRANCIS THOMAS.
The Vile and yiIIRInous Negro, Who,
for Sixteen Years. has Passed
himself Of a. n woman
His Arrest.
ExarnlneIiSn OF the ScOuDdFeI by Four
Physicians-UpOn their TesttmO-
ny He Is Committed 10 the
Chain-Gans.
A Good Joke on the Republican Party
-Thomss the Supposed woman who
Testified 10 Being Raped Eight
cen Times During the
Memphis Riots,
FRANCIS THOMAS.

Great excitement was caused yester-
day in police circles by the arrest, exa-
minstiOn and trial Of q negro who has
lived in this city twenty-seven years,
but was supposed to be woman. Fran
els Thomas was tho maine by which the
regro was called. Among the negroes
that OF "0ld Crutchy" was often used,
because of an injured leg. Night before
last "Francis Thomas" was arrested on
the charge of wearing female clothing,
for 1t had already been told to the police
that the creature was man. Few be-
lieved this, for m any had always con-
sidered Thomas an hsrmsphfodlte. The
chief Of police, however, was not at all
doubtful IS TO the result OF an iuvestiga-
ton, for DR.. J. 81. Nuttall, q well known
physician Of this city, had informed the
police that he would establish the fact
that Thomas was man and not q
woman.
THE ARREST
was therefore made at DR.. Nuttalps in
stance, he being induced to this step in
order to prevent Thomas practicing ne
farious designs upon the different house
holds to which, by reason Of female at
tire and dress, he had access. All along
Thomas hes served as cook, house
woman, or dom e2tic servant, employees
thinking that he was woman. Tlomas
has cooked and washed for more than
one good family in this city. and has
had opportunities for doing great deal
OF mischief. "He," 'she," or sit" as
the negro may be termed, formerly kept
AvILE DEN
on Madison street, near the Bayou Gay
oso, and siuce then an infamous house
near the county jail. He has been
more than once arrested upon the
charge Of lewdness and immortality, and
it is said that the negro has proved the
ruin of many persons, both white and
black. he managed to escape punish
ment, but never abandoned his vile
habits and corruptions. To prevent this
was the cause of his arrest. Thomas
was put in the statiOnhouse night before
last to await trial before Recorder Duff
yesterday morning. As the question of
sex could only be determined by
EXAMINATION,
DR.. J. II. INITIAL, with Drs. w. Y.
Taylor, r. II. Taylor and Julius Wise
1.-THE latter recent yof Cincinnati, Ohio,
were called in to do this. These physi-
clans, who are well known here, visited
Thomas in his cell, and told him the OBJ
ject Of their visit. Thomas said he would
not submit to an examination, but on
being told that force would be used, con-
scented. The physicians then proceeded
with the examination, and, as Dr.. Nut.
tall predicted, found "Francis Thomas"
to be fully developed man, and in no
respect a woman; in fact, Thomas is not
he alof
to be. The physicians made thorough
examination of Francis Thomas.
THEIR EVIDENCE,
given on the trial before Recorder Duff,
was to the effect that upon the examina-
ton of Francis Thomas they found that
he had none of the developments of q
woman whatever, nor anything that
could possibly be mistaken as any part
OF the identities of the female sex. The
evidence shows that there is no part Of a
woman about him, the organs being en-
tirely those of male in every respect.
Francis Thomas, moreover, would have
a heavy beard did he not shave every
day. He is strong and we'll
developed negro man, and Recorder
Duff imposed upon him fine of fifty
dollars, as he was only charged with
and convicted of a misdemeanor. In
default of the money with which to pay
this fine, Francis Thomas was put
UPON THE CHANGING.
Station-keeper Tim Hope, having
purchased hin q suit OF male clothing.
The chain-gang were working on an
alley near Market square, but when
Frances Thomas was added to it, the
fact soon became known and attracted q
large crowd of men, women and boys
mostly negroes. The crowd contiued to
increase, and soon numbered hundreds
OF spectators who were anxious to get
glimpse Of the negro man that had been
regarded as q woman. The crowd be-
came very much excited, confusing the
chain.gang and preventing work. Fran
els Thomas was an object Of the greatest
wonder, small boys, old men, women
and children pressing around and ask
ing a thousand questions. Owing to
the big crowd, Tim Hope conducted
back to the Adams street
but during the
afternoon hundreds of persons visited
his cell to get a look at
and talk to the negro. When an AP-
PEAL reporter asked Thomas why he
had adopted female clothing, he replied,
at is none OF your id business"
Thomas seemed to be quite angry, es-
pseially when made to take lot of false
nair and Eraids from the top of his
head. Like most females, he wore false
hair, but did not use chalk or rouge. He
declared that he had not had fair trial;
that Tim Hope was bad man, and that
he would dispatch direct to Washington
Tor justice. Francis Thomas was doubt
ess recalling the fact that in 1857 he testi-
fed before the congressional committee
which came here to investigate
THE MEMPHIS RIOTS;
hat he was respectable lady of color,
and had been ravished eighteen times
Dy as many different Irishmen in this
,Ity. This evidence the Republican
committee received, and
lpon it based ''rawhead.and-b bloody
bones" report. This story of rape went
he rounds of the Radical press, calling
Orth the most vindictive articles and q
demand for troops. How sac to think of
Francis Thomas's ruin! Perhaps the
members of the committee
n the Mississippi investigation may
ind similar subjects for the accomplish |
nent Of its purposes. And thus ends the |
tory Of Francis Thomas.
Raso.RoH VO.naU