Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-08-07
SHOES OF HUMAN SKIN.
A Chicago Shoe . Maker Makes
 Them to Order.
An Enterprising Reporter Is Measured for Pair and Has an Interesting Conversation with the Dealer
 in Human Lonthers

Conversation with the Dealer
 in Human Leather.
 It has been whisre ed around that Mir. William Gee could an would make shoes that were more reliable than any to be had in Chicago, and MT. Gee when approached admitted that it was so.
 They'll never crack on the sides, and they'll never wear out. They are most elastic and shape themselves to the feet SO that there can be no possible trouble from misfits.n
 "I believe I'll get pair." said the re- porter.
 'That's right" said MT. Gee "You'u never regret it. They'll wear you forever and will it like moccasins. One doctor I know has pair of slippers that he has worn seven years, and they're good for another seven. Ihaven't much left, but have the skin of one white woman here. suppose you'd rather have that than negro's skln."
 It was somewhat startling, and If the re- porter had not had 0 warning as to what to expect he would probably have been fur ricd.
 MT. William Gee sells shoes made from the skin of human belngs.
 He has done 1t quietly for some time, and is now making pair of low shoes from tho skin taken, according to his own story, from the leg of 8 woman. Of course Ar. Gee does not advertise the fact that he makes shoes from human skin, but some of his patrons have been told that they could have some of these "extrcmely durable shoes" if desired.
 These facts were in possession of g Chicago Tribune man, so he promptly re- piled that he preferred the skin of white woman. Mir. Gee took a parcel of yellow leather from a case and said:
 "Here it Is. It Is the l,.st white woman's I have. It is pretty hard to get 1t now"
 "WhyW asked the reporter as he felt of the leather.
 "Well, it's hard to get 1t tanned" re- piled MT. Gee. We used to send 1t out as pig-skin, but before tanning 1t is too easily distinguished, and tanners are super stitious. can get the skins easier than l can get them tanned"
 "How do you get the skins"
 II know man who used to be medical student and he supplies them to me. He's practicing physician now"
 A question as to who the medical man was seemed to make MT. Gee suspicious and the matter was dropped for moment while the reporters foot was being measured.
 "what are the peculiar advantages ot human skini" ventured the reporter after awhile.
 Tt never wears out," replied MT. Gee, "and it never cracks. It Is the most dura. ble of any leather. You can wear it for years. It stretches well, too, and Is most comfortable shoe"
 "Do you make manyi'
 "No. l haven't had much to do lately. You see it isn't generally known, and then find 1t hard to get the skins tanned now.H
 "Where are they tanneda"
 MT. Geo evadcd the question.
 Several hours later the Tribune man called again and suggested that the skin was not human skin at all but that deceit had been attempted. On this call young woman was working at machine near the front of the store. Her material was ap- pareptly from the same piece of leather that the reporter had seen earler in the day.
 If any one wants to bet that this Is not human skin," said MT. Gee, "tel nc what the amount Is and will put 1t up and fur. nish the proof can prove it by the doctor who got 1t for me and b. the tanners.''
 He declined, however, to give the names of either ''unlees there Is something to be gained by it, you know"
 II would like to know, though" said the reporter, "if that Is surely from 0 human body"
 The girl at the machine made some sort O1 an exclamation, and MT. tee remarked: i:
 "She hates to wore on it"
 Then he brou out tho skin that he had shown in the mo. g, unrolled it, and laid 1t along his body. There had been two pieces cut out.
 "You see," he said, as he smoOthed it out, ''it Is portion of Q woman's skin. It runs from the neck nearly to the ankle. One of your shoes''-and he showed the place-'was cut from the breast, and the other''-another illustration-"from the leR."
 In both places leather had been cut out to all appearances for g shoe. and the piece he exhibited had every indication of hav- iug been originally fitted to that portion of the anatomy he described. To make the matter doubly sure he brought out another piece of skin.
 "This Is 8 negro's," he said. 'It's taken from his side just under the arm. You can see how thin 1t is under the arm, and how 1t gets thicker further down." The matter was demonstrated as he went along.
 Going out the reporter asked the girl at the machine how she liked working on leather made from human skin.
 II don't like it," she said, "but then there Is no reason to complain now. IL doesn't smell" SW ~ oV AA
 "Did iti" Her nose went up. "WheD the sachel first came here-''
 "The skin came in 8 sachel then"
 "Yes"
 Ut wasn't tannedW
 "No."
 II have 1t all tanned myself," said Mr. Gee. 'vThe skin is brought to me and then l have 1t tanned. That's my greatest trouble"
 Recognised by His Logs. When the Bishop of Edinburgh was in this country he visited Bishop Williams, of Con- necticut, at Middletown. Habited in the English Episcopal costume of knee brooches and black silk stockings, he alighted from | the train and was at once accosted by Bishop Williams, although the two men had never met each other before. ''Tell me" asked Bishop Williams after the first greet ings, "how did you know mei 70, by your face," replied his Lordship of Edin- bureh. 'I have one of your photographs, you know. But tell me in return how you knew meP 70, by your legs" replied Dr. yy;ll;oros with ovnu cd ov,;l Ia ot