Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-01-25
lAkeS hit GAkE,
A Martinsburg Woman Of Middle
Age
Suddenly Changes Her Sex by Aid
of Surgery
And Marriss a Female Friend and
Companion.
A Medical Mistake of Many Years
Standing.
Specidl 10 the Register.

WAsHISGroN, January 24.-At four
o'clock this afternoon in the little brick
church at Martinsburg, W. Va, which Is
used by the Southern Methodist coHgrega-
ton of that town, two people were married
by Rev. John lanstrest, formerly chaplain
of Jeb Stuart's Confederate regiment OF
cavalry. There was nothing peculiar
about the ceremony except that both par
ties to the contract have been known for
thirty.fve years as respectable women
in that vicinity. The groom, il such
name can be applied to the
leading spirit in this transaction
has been known for ten years in Martins
burg as a lady of correct habits, modest
demeanor and marked intelligence aud re-
fnement. His or her name IS Jane Cathe-
rlne Payne. During the ten years referred
to Jane Catherine has kept little store IN
the village known as Rest, thirteen miles
from Msrtinsburg and eight miles from
Winchester on the Winchester pike. There
is no better family in that section than The
Psynes. The mother was lett widow IN
comfortable circumstances some years
since and married again, but subsequently
separated from Her second Hash !'d,
and now lives on one Of the bcst farms in
Frederick county, Virginia, near the town
Of Rest, before mentioned. She reSed
seven children successfully, four OF whom
married prosperous farmers in that neigh
borhood; another lives at this Tins with
her mother. Still another conducts -four
iShing school for young ladies near her
mothers home, and the remaining one,
Jane Catherine, who, from Childhood
eyinced remarkable business talent, has,
matur ty, teen engaged in CONNER
cial Pursuits. No one in that vicinity
is more favorsoly known that the last men
toned. Living quietly aud attending
closely to business, the neighbors gradu-
ally came to look upon the proprietress Of
the little store as an old maid, born to
blush unseen and waste her sweetness on
the desert air. Judge, therefore, OF their
establishment when, on last Tuesday, Jane
Catherine appeared in MartinsOurg, boldly
announced her conversion
From the Gentler 10 the sterner Sex
purchased and arrsyed herself in suit Of
masculine hsbiliments including silk hat
ard red-topped boots, and followed up this
Performance by stating her intention to
marry Mrs. Annie Hinton, lady, who for
wears has been her associated assistant in
the town OF Rest. in the explanation fur
rl,aE Nhar had
been any occasion TO doubt femininity u1-
til about fortnight since, when
led TO visit DR.. Mciuire and DR.. Love at
Winchester these gentlemen performed a
simple snd painless operation and an
nouuced to their patient that there could be
no doubt as to perfect mssculsrity and that
the ignornamGs who superintended Jane
Cstherine's advent into the world as &C
conchew deserved to be prosecuted for the
dense stupidity which brought about the
subsequest wearing of petticoats instead OF
troysers. Armed with this information
Jane Catherine lost no time in carrying out
The Programme Before Mentioned.
The license issued for the ceremony was
made sut IN the name OF j. G. Payne in
stead of Jane Catherine Payne, it being j.
C. 8 intention to have the feminine name
Of Jane changed to the more suitable name
of John, as soon as sn act of the Legislature
can be procured for that purpose. Ofcourse,
the community in which this startling meta
morphose has occurred is considerably
stirred up over the event, but there is no
doubt as 10 the facts stated and no
one questions the purity and sincerity OF
the parties to the matrimonial contract.
There are no more reputable physicians in
the Valley of Virginia than the med
ical gentlemen who are credited with the
successful operation referred to. DIR. Nc
Guire is widely known as sktllful sur
geon and DIR. Love, the other physician, is
a son-iu.law Of Chas. James Faulkner and .
highly esteemed physician and gentleman.
The parties who were to-day
Joined Together In Matrlmony
have not onl been associated together in
business but have lived together for years
in the closest social intimacy, working,
eating and sleeping together without the
slightest suspicion that they belonged to
opposite sexes. Sjme indignation was at
first expressed among their neighbors over
the present discovery. One preacher IN
the neighborhood, who recently invited
Jane Catherine to sleep with his wife,
during joint viSit, scolded to-
dsy considerable because his in
v.tation was accepted, but on further
understanding of the matter he became
pscifed and lined in the general congrat-
ulstions extended to the happy pair. As
these people thus strangely brought to-
eether stood at the altar to-day Jane Cath
crime presented a somewhat delicate, man
Iy and determined appearance. Where
the luxurisnt chigpon formerly depended
the hair was neatly and closely trimmed
and the radiant couatensnce
6uiIeIess Of Moustache or whiskers,
looked positively handsome in comparison
with that of the bride, who is apparently
two or three years older, and hardly as pre-
possessing in her personal appearance a.
her companion. The newly welded pair
will after a abort visit among friends and
relatives, settle down in their former
home. and il is to be hoped that they will
epioy their present happiness indefinitely,
while at the same time continuing to pre-
sent a striking illustration that truth IL
stranger than fiction
Six Pupils Injured In . Panic.
Nxw YoRK, SANITARY ga coping on
the Hebrew free school on East Broadway
| tslI this morning crushing through the