The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-09-24
A GFRANGRLADY,

Robinson, Esq, a farmer living near
Roney's Point, this county, went to Sheriff
Tingle's oficein this city, and told him that
he had been robbed Of 5000 in cash, and
that hesuspected a lad calling himseliFrank
Van Buren,, or Curen, Of committing the
theft. Frank had been employed about the
farm since thel 10th Of May last as 4 farm
hand, but had never stolen anything before,
but had disappeared about the time the
money had. He had told Mr.. Robinson
that he lived on the Island at No. 81 North
York street. The Sheriff undertook 70
work up the case, and told Major Mitchell
to look out for the above number, which
he Jailed TO find, as no such number Is
there. Frank, however, was not TO be
found, and information was received that
he had gone 10 Cincinnati TO the ExpoSi.
ton,
Nothing further was done In the mat.
ter or said about Il until last Saturday
week, when Frank reappeared at the
Robinson farm house, saying that he had
been sick at home on the Island, in this
city. He went about his work as usual,
and on last Tuesday, the 10th, came 70
town with Mr.. Robinson in the wagon,
and did not 60 back. Shortly afterwards
$50 more we're missed. Deputy Sheriff
Creighton also was on the lookout, but
nothing more was seen Of Frank at the
farm. Sheriff Tingle and Deputy Nit.
chell however were on the alert, and Mon.
day night, when Major Mitchell started
for his esidence on the Island, was told
that Frank and another party had gone
over shortly before in buggy. Notifying
Jingle the circumstance, the two took up
their station at the toll house, and
about one o'clock the party they
were looking for came from the
direction OF Bridgeport Frank was
promptly arrested and his companion suit.
Tered 10 depart, as he had no connection
with the affair. The officers took their
prisoner to the county jail, keeping close
watch meantime lest anything should be
thrown away that would identify him as
the thief in question. Atthe Jail a search
OF his pockets shoVed up Sl02l in money.
Deputy Mitchell then made seI4s IsplaFs
as 10 the sex Of the prisoner and proposed
that one OF the female prisoners examine
her. She then admitted that she was O
woman and Miss Mollie Mclaughlin, an
inmate Of the jail was sent for to Identity
her, and as soon as she appeared exclain'
ed: "why, - Goosberry, when did you
get out ofthe Ohio FenitentIGrY,H This set.
tied the question Of sex and she was assign.
ed cell with the female prisoners.
Squire ". W. Miller was to have given
her hearing yesterday at 300 P. ", but
as the prosecutor was not present 1t was
adjourned until II A. ". to-day.
A reporter Of this paper in company
with Deputy Sheriff Patterson called d
the jail yesterday afternoon for the pur.
pose Of Gscertaining the history Of thi.
strange lady" We found her dressed
MP in . rather nobhy tpll suit OF boyi
clothes, and becoming acquainted viii
her fellow prisoners, At the time We Yenl
in she was very inteleslelly Watching the
movements and listening to the incoher.
ent rawlings Of maniac in q cell on the
floor on which sheis confined. We spoke
to her and asked her II she cared to give q
brief account Of Der past life, and espe.
ciRlly that part relating 70 her sTperience
as o man. She said that she would vii.
lingly answer any questions put to her,
and told us the, following story
! was born in Muskingum county, o.,
in lS47, and am in my SD year. Ny name
is Florence Goldsborough, sometimes call
ed Gooseberry. ] lived there some time,
i and then my parents noyej 10 this city
thence TO Z farm In Belmont county, B.
! We lived there until was sixteen years
OF age, when / ran away. l had never
done any work in the house or about it,
always assisting my father in his farm du.
ties. When ran of l could not do work
as domestic, and could not work in girls
clothes on farm; Sc to make matters easy
/; assumed mans clothes and have worn
them ever since, or about sixteen years in
all. began working on a farm near Mel.
bourne, Guernsey county, aud in sew.
eral other localities. ! then went
to Cincinnati and went on he
Alaska steamboat as clerk. She Piled be-
tween that place and New Orleans after.
wards returned to farming. At one time
| was employed at DAVIS barber shop in
Cleveland, then as bell.boy in the Sher.
man House, Buffalo, \. y, but princi.
pAlly worked on farms. On the 9Th OF last
May l came back to the vicinity OF this
city and stayed around unti! tho 18th,
when NJ. Robinson employed me to work
on his farm near Roney's Point since
that time, with the exception Of little
while was sick on the Island, l have
been there ever since"
The Sheriff tells me you said you had
been in this Jail before; is this SOP ''Yes,
sir. When little girl, two or three Of US,
Maggie Jones, Nary Hart and myself
were in on charge OF stealing preserved
fruit. but the grand jury found no bill
agAinst Us and We were discharged. This
was under Seybold as Sheriff, s long time
ago
when did you become acquainted with
that distinguished female, Mollie Nc
l.Anghlin?" ~ knew her as school sirl -
what did Mollie mean last night when
she asked you When did you get out Of
the Ohio penitentiAryT"
well, there was some stealing done
from Mr.. Noble, who lives in Franklin
county, Ohio, near Columbus, and I got
three years for grand larceny, in that
prison"
"were these the only times you have
been in PRISON. "Hes, sir, the only"
She then went on to say that she had
never been detected before As a female.
although the tact was known TO several,
but they had never given her away"
Her father and step-mother live on the
Island. His name is John Goldsboroush,
commonly known by the euphonious tile
OF John Goosebery. Her mother had been
dead for some time, and her father had re-
married.
In appearance she resembles a lad Of Is
or 10 years Of age. Her hair Is dark
brown, closely cut and parted like a boys.
She is small and slender, and does not
look able to do heavy work, although she
saws she can plough, &c, Her hands are
small and delicate, although rough and
worn by hard work. Her feet are also
very small.
Long exposure to the elements and con.
TACT with male society Of all descriptions
has given her decidedly masculine ap-
pearAnce, both in manners and talk, q.
lhopgh she is by no means impudent or