The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-01-10
WEARING PANTALOONS.

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A curious story comes from western New
York. In 1876 voting man named Free
man rented farm near Wellsville, Alleg-
henY county. He had worked on different
farms in that part of the State, enjoyed an
excellent reputation, and was known as
"Handsome Billy" Being unmarried, he
hired a widow of middle ago who lived in
the heighborhood TO superintend his house
hold affairs, A nephew of this woman as
sisted Freeifiah with the farm-work. In
the summer Of 1877 several bufglaries were
committed in the county. Among others q
store Was robbed, and the goods were traced
to Freeman's barn and found hidden there.
Freeman was arrested and charged with be-
ing concerned in the burglary. He declared
that he was innocent, and few people who
knew him believed him to be guilty. By
the time his case was ready for trial, in octo-
berJa speedy acquittal ofFreeman was expect
ed, as circumstances pointed strongly toother
persons as the criminals. But, to the sur
prise of the communitd, When Freeman was
arraigned for trial he pleaded guilty to both
counts of the indictment, burglary and lar
ceny. He broke down entirely in making
the plea, and begged the court to be lenient
with him. He was sentenced TO eighteen
months imprisonment in the Erie county
penitentiary, and was put TO Work polishing
buckles among lot of hardened criminals.
The warden of the prison was given no.
tice by Governor Robinson in March, 1873,
that petition had been made for the par
don of the prisoner William Freeman, and
requested report on the physical condition
of the convict, as is customary when par
don is to be considered. DIR. Sinnock; the
prison physician, proceeded to make the me-
cessary examination Of Freemah,a and, few
minutes, reported to the wdrdet With the
astonishing intelligence that the convict was
woman. The prisoner was removed at
once to the women's quarters. She begged
that her case should not be made publican
told the following story: Her name, she said,
was Mary Ann Schalery and she was twen-
ty-three years old. He parents were Ger
man emlgtants, and she was born on the
ocean. Her father died soon after arriving in
America, and her mother married again
and removed to Allegheny county. When
she was eleven years old het step-father told
her he could not support her any longer,
and that she must go away and earn her
own living. She worked as servant in
farm-houses for few months, when che
determined to disguise herself as boy in or
der that she could find more remunerative
employment No one but her mother knew
of her intention. She went 10 distant part
of the county for about two years, did farm
work, and worked one season on the Erie
Canal. She then returned to the vicinity of
her home, where no one rerostiised her
Under the name of William Freeman she
worked in the vicinity for several
years without awakening any suspicion that
she was not man. She joined the Metho-
dist Church in 1875, and for several years
longed TO assume her true character, but
the wearing of mems clothing had become
SSSOhu hovuiO " hSIJ anu snc was uSudilleu
to make the change. In regard to the crime
for which she was arrested, and to which
she pleaded guilty, she declared that she
was entirely innocent. The nephew bf the
woman who was her housekeeper had COM
tnittcd the burglary and secreted the goods
in the barn, and declared to her while she
was in Jail that unless she entered plea of
guilty she never would reach home alive
She believed the nephew was man who
would not pause at any crime, and to save
her life she pleaded guilty.
When dressed in women's clothing Mary
Schaler became fine-looking woman, but
awkward from long use Of male attire and
masculine labor. She was pardoned in the
fall of 1878, and returned TO Bradford, Pa,
and obtained employment in sh6e store,
under her real name, in proper attire. The
nephew whose threats had made her con-
vict, aid led to the discovery of her secret,
escaped punishment by leaving the Slater
In spring Of 1873 the merchant III whose
store the burglary was committed disposed of
business and went to Limestone, CattarauA
frequently 10 bradford. He was German
and friend of the man for whom Mary
Ann Schaler worked. He met the young
woman at the storej liked her, and asked
her to marry him. She accepted him, and
last week they became man and ~lfe