Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-09-08


These are familiar acts, for the story OF
the remarkable sexual transformation
was published all over the country at the
time. 1t is recalled now by the discov-
cry that sister OF Lawrence Payne has
recently developed similar personal pecu-
liariJies. The Paynes are sad to be an
old Virginia family. but the PepUblicqp'S
correspondent is advised that the state
ments that they have been among the
foremost families of the better class is a
mistake. They are well known in their
own neighborhood, but plain ardworking
people. They have had a little means,
but have never ranked as among the +.
+. V. set,
THE FAMILY TREE.
Old Jane Payne, who lives on a farm in
Berkeley county, West Virginia, where she
has lived for 60 years, is the Oldest family
living, being 81 years old. JoseDh Payne,
son of hers, who died in 1853, settled at
point about half way between Martins
burg and Winchester, Va, and it is in his
family the two remarkable transforma-
tiOns have occurred. He had several
daughters, and Sarah, the oldest, married
Hugh III. Merritt, well-to-dO farmer Of
Bellaire, o., some II or Is years ago
Sarah Merritt died, leaving children, the
youngest being al infant daughter, 8 OF 4
weeks old. This child was given to the
aunts in Virginia to raise. They were all
aunts then, but since they have turned
out to be uncles rs well as aunts. Farmer
Merritt has concluded tits unwlse to leave
his little girl Bessie in such peculiar Gus
tOdy. They refuse to return Bessie. and
this has brought bill in equity to deter
mine whether the father shall have his
child. She is living at the same house
which had in 1t none but aunts n short
time ago There were Aunt Bessie, Aunt
Mary, Aunt Rebecoa and Aunt Leila, but
Aunt Mary married Jacob J.. Swimby a
few years ago and went to an adjoining
farm to live. Aunt Rebecca
PUT ON TROUSERS
and became Uncle Lawrence, and lately
Mr.. Merritt seems to have learned that
Aunt Leila, the youngest, ought to drop
her petticoats also. In his suit for pos
session he does not lay so much stress
upon his paternal rights as he does upon
the unftness Of his sister-in-law. The
whole matter Is summed up in the follow
ing extract from old Mrs. Payne's testi-
mOny:
Odd Leila Payne ever make any ad-
mission to you concerning her sex? If SO,
when and where and in what manner?
A.-She told me she was a male. She
told me so last October during her moth
er's sickness. That was the last time l
was in her house.
Q.---Does Leila Payne dress and comport
herself as a woman, and is she so regarded
by the community at large?
A,-She dresses as woman. AS for
the rest | don't know, but ] suppose she
has been regarded as a woman.
Q.-Are you related to Leila Payne2
AIM her grandmother.
Q.-DOes Bessie Merritt sleep in the
same bed with Leila Payne?
Al don't know whether she sleeps
with her now, but know she did years
ago.
Mr.. Merrltts lawyers say they will pro-
duce in evidence a statement based on
an examination signed by Dr. Mcclure,
the same physician on whose certificate
Rebecca, now Lawrence Payne, procured
marriage license last year, that Miss Lee
liza is more man than woman. In the
popular mind Miss Bessie, next to the
eldest in age, is accused of
THE SAME HEREsY
as Miss Leila, but up to the present there
is no testimony of q like character, and
she does not strike casual observer with
an impression of her guilt. Lawrence,
who was Rebeoca, besides being farmer,
| runs grocery store called the Rest, prob
ably because 1t is a stopping place be-
| tween Winchester and Martinsburg, be-
| ing about halfway between the towns.
| But business is hardly as good at the store
is not as much in favor with "the bOys'
| OF the county as Rebecca, the village
maiden, used to be. For years it had
been believed and conceded by many of
/ the neighbors that Rebecca was entitled
/ by natural endowment and business tact,
as they say, "tO wear the breeches." Re-
becca herself thought so, and blamed the
| family for having kept her in petticoats
so long. Nevertheless the transformation
| created great sensation. 1t stirred the
| county to the utmost
TURMOIL OF AsToNIsHMENT
and excitement. The girls with whom
Rebecca had associated and their immedi-
| ate friends were most astonished. inca
/ siness and alarm reigned in all the fami-
! lies which had held any social Intercourse
with Rebecca. Consequently after the
metam0rphOss and marriage her former
| friends held themselves alOof, to the detri-
| ment of her business. A few enterp-ising
! people at the time thought that she,
being 50 much in the peoples thoughts
and on their tongues, would be great
| success as a lecturer. Accordingly il
was arranged that Mr.. Lawrence II. Payne
| would lecture at Martinsburg on stock
raising, or something like that, in which
he was known TO be an adept when he
wore pettiooats. but the project was
\ failure Nobody went to hear the lecture.
which was expected 10 attract everybody.
Lawrence is described by reporter of the
/ Washington Post who recently visited
| the Rest as about medium height for a
man, or, perhaps, little below it, His
business suit was not close-ftting, but
standing behind high desk be presented
face that was beautiful in every feature,
a complexion fresh aud clear and bright
as "A blush rose. He looks to be boy Of
not more than % or %, but in reality he ia
about 40. His voice is a sweet mezzo
/ soprano. He talks with ready intelli-
/ gence. an easy grace and the quiet conf
/ dence of man who is conscious that he
has ample evidence in reserve to prove bis
| case.