Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-02-21
DEER CREEKS MATCH.
FATHER PRBDBRICK'S STORY OF THE PB-
CULIAR MARRIAGE
OF Katie Beal and Hannah Calder-Ths Priest
Speaks Of Hannah as "Hs, but Katis's Mother
Calls Her "She"-Calder's Powerful
Influence Over the Girl.

| -@Ne-N-
Calls Her She"-Calder's Powerful
Influence Over the Girl.
BALTIMORE, February 20 The Rev. J.
A. Frederick, passor of st. Mary's Catho-
lie Church, Clermont Mills, Harford coun-
ty, Md, was in the city yesterday In
speaking of the marriage Of Katie Beall TO
E Hanna Calder, who had always been
considered a woman, he said: Ten years
ago 1 received Calder into the Catholic
Church. Since then he has been one of
my parishioners. He is the only member
of his family who is a Catholic. In all
thOse years 1 knew and heard of him only
as an eccentric old maid. But, by the
way, he never really affected female ways;
on me contrary, he kept his hair cot
short and walked with a masculine
step In the early part of last
May Calder called at my residence in Har-
ford county ard said be desired talk with
me on business. He told me he wanted to
be married This is my case exsctly,
father, he said, handing me newspaper
clipping of remarkable case of mistaken
sex at Winchester, Va. / read the scrap
and Immediately comprehended the situa-
tion. Cllder's previous masculine manners
we're at once made plain to me. 'YOu
must give me time to consider the matter,
said l, because your case is not an ordi-
nary one.' Calder then departed, after
assuring me that he had consulted sur
geon.
1.-TWO weeks later he returned. In the
meantime l was morally assured that Cal
der had right to marry, and as it wss q
duty lowed him as one of my parishion-
ers, l informed him he was free 10 act.
For my own part, after carefully consider
ing the subject, / felt satisfied | could per-
form the ceremony. Calder thereupou
asked me to procure him marriage Ii
censa. He said be could not seek one for
fear his purpose might be discovered ard
himself exposed TO the ridic1le of all who
knew him. l declined to help him on the
ground that he should throw off his female
clothing, assume male attire, 90 boldly TO
Belair, secure the permit in person, and
thus face the world in his new condition Of
life, which I reminded him he would GER
tainly have 10 do one. day. Father, think
of the effect on my parents, he interpOsed;
they are both aged, and will live but a
short time. I would rather they wculd
know nothing OF my marriage. In year
OF so l will 90 west with my wife and live
properly Meanwhile she can live at her
home, and l will keep to mine. No one
will be any the wiser, father.
This appeal moved me to consent to
secure the license, which did in the Office
of the clerk of the Court Of Common Pleas
Of Baltimore City in the names of + Han
ma Calder and Catherine Beall. When
Calder WAS baptized by me the name
Elizabeth WIS added to his other Chris |
tian name, and as he had no other cogno-
mems save these, aud asked me TO use them |
in tho form did, gave them to the clerk. |
The ages of the contracting parties | stated |
to be 81 years (Ualder's) and Is years (Miss
Beall'e), since Calder had so informed me-
"The Sunday following be called at my
residence. l announced to him that had |
the license. He fixed the date Of his mar
riaee for June 10. When the day came, |
Calder and Miss Beall visited my home to-
gether in the morning and stated they were
in readiness to have the marriage ceTe- |
mony performed. 1t was the frat time |
had met the young LADY. questioned her
as TO her age. I will not be eighteen years
old until next September she said. That
being the case, will not marry you with
out the consent of your parents, | said.
You are minor. Calder seemed to be sor-
rowed by my decision. He told me when
I went for the license she had completed |
her eighteenth year. Father, really
thought Katie was eighteen years old, he
explained. 4 will not marry you, l told
him, without the consent of Miss Bealls
parents The pair went their way.
Promptly on September s. 1899, the
Young lady's birthday, Calder snd Miss
Beall presented themselves for the third
time on their matrimonial mission at my
residence. Calder wore a linen ulster
that reached TO his ankles In his hand
he carried broad trimmed straw hat.
There being no further religious or legal
objections to the marriage, 40 far es
could learn, and having no other option
"a pastor toward a member of his con-
gregatiou, l married them. Catholic
priests do not act hastily in official mat
ters. l was then and am now satisfied
did only what was my duty.
Several weeks ago all sorts Of Iumors
concerning the marriage began to reach
me- Some Of my parishiOuers preached
the subject, but toward them all l kept
silent. because realized that l had the
secret of the couple and was not justified
in disclosing it at the time. At last these
importunities became 30 annoying that l
was eompelled 10 take decisive step to-
ward suppressing them. Accordingly,
last Sunday morning during services In
formed my congregation, without using
names, that l had never during my
sacerdoial career married man TO man,
nor woman to woman, but always a man
TO woman as God enjoined."
"Egersinoe their close intimacy begun,
said Mrs. Lemuel H. Beall, Kate has been
a changed girl. Hanna Calder g emed to
have some powerful enchautment over her.
Calder's strong, positive will was absolute
law to Kate, and she had but to nod to
make Kate obey at once. 1t never ap-
peared like love, but more like fear OF las
cination or sorcery. Kate's will is OF the
vieIdinp. pegstive sort. She Il a iair
blonde. with blue eyes, well-formed and
not very tall. She weighs us pounds.
Daring this year Kate's behavior has been
curious. From bright, cheerful girl she
had become despondent I tried to get
her TO confde in me, and not long sgc l
entreated her with my whole power to tell
me what was weighing her down, but she
only threw her arms about my neck EN-
brsced me and burst into tears, saying
'Obl mother, can never tell you my
troubles NIL
Iemuel Bsall. the father of Katie Beal,
in company with John Wilgis, her uncle,
apent Yesterday in Baltimore looking io1
his daughter. He declined 20 talk on the
subject of her marriage.
THE PRESIDENTS HEALTH
~, Wa cu0arinp From Nervous frobtrh-