The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-11-14
4 Romance Ending az Usual.
\ wOsIAN's DTe6UIsE TO EARN HER LIVING
-INTPRIsONED AZ : MALE CONVICT
PARDOEED AND MARRIED.
An glmira. Y. y, despatch to the y. Y.


An Elmira. Y Y, despatch to the y. !.
Tinaes furnishes the following:
\ curious story comes from Anegany county in
a prfvate letter from a weilknown resident or
that eouuty TO q gentleman OF this city. In 1870
Young man named William Freeman rented a
farm near wels7ilIe. Alleglny county He had
worked on different farms in that part Of the
state. e1ioved an excellent reputation, and was
known as Handsome Billy" Being unmarried
he hirel a widow Of middle age who lived in The
netghborhood to sup-rin end his household Affairs
4 neUb..y- Of this woman assisted Freeman with
the farm work. In the summer or 1877 several
burgIaries were com mitted in the county. Among
others a store vas robbed. and the goods were
traced 10 Freeman's barn and found hidden there
Freeman was arrested. and charged With being
concerned in the burglary. He declared that he
was innocent and few people who knew him be
leved him guilty. BY the time his case was ready
for trial, in October, speedy acquittal OF Free
expected, as circumstances pointed
strongly to other persons the criminals. But,
to the surprise OF the community, when Freeman
arraigned for trial he pleaded guilty to both
counts ot the Indictment burglary and larceny.
He broke down entirely in making the pea, and
begged the court to be lenient with him. He was
sentenced 10 eighteen months imprisonment in the
Erie County Penilentiary, and put TO work
polishing buckles among + lot Of hardened Grim
inals.
The Warden o the prison was given notice by
Governor Robinson in March, 1873. that petition
had been made for the pardon Of the prisoner,
William Freeman. and requested n report on the
physical condition OF the convict, as is customary
when pardon Is to be considered. DR.. Sinuock,
tho prison physician. proceeded 20 make the ueces-
sary examination Of Freeman, and in q few min
utes. reported to the Warden with the astonishing
intelligence that tho convict was a woman. The
prisoner was removed 81 oUcs to the womeus
quarters. She begged that hor ease should not
be made public and cCld the following story: Her
name. she said. was Mary Ann Scha'or. and she
was twenty-three years Old. Her parents were
German emigrants. and she was born on the
ocean. Her fthCr died soon after arriving in
America. and her mother married again and NOV
ell TO AIiegauy county. when she was eleven
years old her stcpfGthrr told h.r ne could not
support her any longer and that She must 80
away and earn her own living. She worked as
servant IN farm houses for few months. when she
determined TO disguise herself boy. in order
thar sha could and more rcmuncrativo employ
ment. No one but her mother knew Of her intcn-
tions. She went 20 n distant part Of the country
for about two years. dId furm work and worked
. one season on the Erie Canal. She rheu returned
to the vicinity pi her home. where no one reC0K-
nized her. Under the name of " ilI.an Freeman
Ehe worked in the vicinity for ten years w.thOut
awakening any suspicion that she was not 4 man.
She Joined the Methodist church IN 1879, and had
for several years Iongcd 20 assume her true char
acter. hut the wearing Of men e clothing had he
come second nature to hcr, and she was ashamed
70 make the change. In regard to the cri nc for
whicl she was arrested and 10 which shc pleaded
guilty. She declared that she was entirely limo
cent. The nephew of the woman whO was her
housckecper had committed the burglary and Sc
crcted the goods in the barn. and had declared to
her while she was in jail tat unless she entered
a plea OF guilty She woula never reach hone
aIivs. she believed that rhe nephew vas q man
who would not pause at any crime, and to save
her lie She pleaded guilty
When dressed in women $ clothing Mary sScaa-
fer became q fiue-Iooking woman. but awkward
from long use Of mae attire amt masculine labor.
She was pardonUd In the fall Is7s, and returned
a once 20 her mother. last winter she went to
Bradford. Pennsylvania. and obtained employ
per attire. The nephew whose threats made her
convict, and Icd 90 the discovery Of her secret,
escaped pun shment by Gavin < the State IN the
spring OF 1875 the merchant in whose sior. tho
burglary was committed disposed OF his business
anl 81 snt 80 Limestone. CHtJarausus county. y.
y. His business c4i}ct him frequently 90 Brad
ford. He was German, an. friend OF the man
Tor whom Mary Ann Scharc- worked. Hc mettho
youny woman at she store, iikca hcr. and asked
h.r o. marry him She accepted him. and I.s,
week they became man and wife.