The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-01-18
IN MALE ATTIRE.

YOUNG LADY GRADUATE OF THE BOSTON HIGH
Boy-THE STORY OF HER wANDERINGs.
The young woman who was found on pier %
North River Thursday evening dressed in male
attire, and who taken into custody by an officer
of the Twenty precinct arraigned yeser
day before Judge Otterbourg at the Tombs Police
Court. In appearance she is tall and slim, with
small. sharp features and black hair cut short and
combed back from the forehead. loose fitting gown
supplied the place of the male habilinents in which
she discovered. and she tugged at it nervously
and drew it close to her FORM Us If not at all pleased
with the forced exchange. Instead of being but
fifteen years of age, as she at first claimed.
she admitted to the Judge that she was
eighteen. and she looked it fully. Her statements
at times contradictory, and at one moment she
would decline to give any information about herself,
while in the next she would become very commune
cative.
Her story was to the effect that her is Madge
Rivers, born in Boston in 1860. Her parents died
when she three years Of age, and she was taken
care of thereafter by family named Worthey. They
were kind to her and sent her to school. An apt
scholar, she advanced rapidly. and three
years ago graduated from the Boston High
School. Then her troubles began. The Worthey
family with whom she still remained moved
to Everett, Mass, and became reduced in crcum-
stances. Feeling that she a burden to them she
determined to earn her living at least and IL pos
sble extend aid to her benefactors With that object
in view she made conidant of her half sister, May.
and between them they concocted the plan she had
city Of New York and there obtain work. Believing
she could disguise her beyond detection and that
her chances OF obtaining employment in male attire
would be better she donned the suit which she and
her half sister together manufactured.
IN NEW YORK.
Carrying on her arm Q small satchel, containing
comb and brush and few articles of underwear she
took the train tor New York. via Fall River. and
arrived here on Thursday evening. On the boat she
was accosted by young man, whom she described AZ
fair haired and good looking. who forced his COM
pany upon her aud insisted that she girl. She
resented an insult he offered her. and reached
this city without further annoyance. Being
without means Of obtaining lodging she
sccosted an officer. who. snspecting her sex.
house. where she was locked up in a cell. During
the night, she alleges. a man came to where she
She ordered him to leave, and hour later ne
returned and told her that he only intended to find
be. respectable person. and that measures would be-
taken to provide for her.
uNsoUND MIND?
Miss Rivers at times appeared Eighty, and her pale
face and strange manner gave the impression that her
mini was unsettled on account of sickness. Judge
Otterbourg at loss what disposition make OF
the case. and postponed action to give Miss Rivers
time to write to her friends II her statements are
correct she will be restored to them possi
BILE. Mrs. j. NJ. Rogers of No. 1874 Prince street.
lady who takes an interest in women in distress,
called at the Tombs and offered Miss Rivers q home.
The Judge, however. did not to let her 20 until
he had heard from Everett, Mass.
Miss Rivers at the request of Judge Otterbourg,
made statement In writing OF her history and ex-
perence since leaving her home, which is substan-
tally the same AZ the above. Her writing and COM
position would indicate the truth of hor statement
that she is graduate; and when she learned that her
experience would probably appear in print she
pressed much annoyance at the surmises ''all New
York would be apt to draw from it."
A
Sergeant Welsh, duty when Miss Rivas
brought to the Twenty precinct police sta
ton house, said in contradiction of her story that
no person had been taken down to her, and that
the doorman questioned her in the morning. before
she left for the Tombs to whether she had slept