The evening world., 1889-01-31
SHE Is NOW A MARRIED MAN.
MIR. BURNHAM'S NAME WAS ELLEN AND
HE WAS MRS. POWELL.
An Actual Transformation Of Sex Stranger
Than Anything I'm the Realms Of Fiction
The Belle Was n Happy wife Until Acc
cident Revealed that she Was n Man
Then (S)IIe Married Miss Evnrts.

cident Revealed that she Was n Man
Then (S)IIe Married Miss Evnrts.
ESPECIAL TO THE WORLD
WATERLOO, Ia. Jan. THE following sad
and remarkable story in not written for the
malevolcnt or the ignorant: Just before the
civil war there located in the town of Broadhead,
Wis, a DIR. Burnham, who came from st. Law
renee County, n. Y. Mr.. Burnham was at this
time the happy father of two children, u son and
a daughter, and it is with one of these children,
the daughter, Ellen, that this story has to do.
Mr.. Brrnham was a well-to-do man, being a
druggist as well as a practising physician, and
the fact of his being..a physician may lead
some to place the blame Of the unfortunate
circumstances which followed the lite of his
daughter upon hin. Ellen was a remarkable
child, a dark little brunettish sort of -tomboy
creature, extraordinarily bright, and possessing
peculiar charms for her companions. At an
early age she developed special adaptabilities for
music and was placed as soon AZ her age would
permit in the seminary at Broadhead, her
father and friends taking great interest in her
success. She soon became a leader among her
woman friends, and an accomplished musician.
frequently giving concerts and musical soirGes
at Broadhead and surrounding places. She was
petted and conrted by her acquaintance and
friends, possessing many admirers and not u few
s%uitors.
While the beautiful Ellen was at her social
zenith some evil genius led Mr.. J.. w. Powell,
editor and proprietor of the local paper in Broad
head, to become her envied and accepted lover.
The courtship that followedwas as happy and Joy
Gus a. that which usually attends pure and chaste
love, and after some time they were married,
the hymeneal rites being performed at the resi-
dence of the brides father. An elaborate we'd
ding was given, the young wife being the star of
the occasion-the husband the fortunate pos
SCISSOR of a coveted bride. But an awful skele-
ton was to make its abode in the closet of their
life.
They lived together for two years. to all APP
pearances happily. At this time the war was in
progress and Mrs. Powell took a trip to Wash
ington. intending to visit some friends then iiv-
ing at the capital. Mr.. Powell disappeared and
it is supposed that he enlisted in the Federal
army.
Mrs. Powell while in Washington moved con-
siderably in society and attracted much attcn-
ton, both for her social gifts and u strange,
undeterminable masculine impression which she
gave to those who met her. This seemed to be
developing in her at this time. Her voice be-
came more voluminous and a slight, downy mus
tache was pcrcGptible on her upper lip.
The attention of the United States secret SER
vice WAS nnalF centred on llhT ana she was
spotted as a supposed Confederate spy masque-
rading as a woman. Nothing vas done, how
ever, further than to keep her under strict sur
VIGILANCE. After remaining in Washington sew
eral months she started to return to Broadhead,
but was overtaken at Chicago aud arrested by
Government detectives, charged with being in
the employ of the Confederacy as u spy. This
was a circumstance which to her future life
meant more, illimitably more, than the discov-
ering of the compound by Dr.. Jekyll meant to
that unfortunate being in the role of Mr.. Hyde.
A complication of affairs was brought about.by
this arrest which resulted in the necessity for all
examination of the prisoner, Mrs. Powell, to
ascertain her sex.
The examination was made by DR.. Brainard,
Professor of Anatomy i'll the Rush Medical Col
lege, Chicago, the best anatomist ut that time
in that city. The examination resulted, more
particularly from the circumstances surround
ing the prisoner, i'll the most astounding issue.
Having lived two years as the wife of Powell,
the physician here informed her that she
was not a woman, but Il man. A surgical OPP
Grafton was necessary. The prosecution was
dropped by the secret service, and Mrs
Powell" after the operation mentioned,
remained i'll Chicago until conYalescent,
then assumed male attire, as made necessary by
the law, and proceeded to Broadhead with a
broken heart and crushed spirit. No divorce
was necessary, as the development of the above
facts made the marriage with Powell, ipso facto,
VOID. MRS. Powell " now became Mr.. NJ. {. Burn
ham, entered upon the duties of a mai engaged
III business, was successful, made a comfortable
fortune, developed a mustache and later full
beard, and again began to figure in society, this
time, however, as n man.
Burnham began to give his attention to a Miss
n ertr1iIa Eva ts living nj RrnaHbaaJ Wiz ubn
was acquainted with the early history of the
man. and who, in fact, had been in Burnham's
female life Il girl friend and chum at the semi
nary. No doubt they had in their earlier years
slept in each others arms as bosom friends and
whispered condolences to each other. They were
married and removed to Waterloo, Ia, where
Durham entered upon an active career. Erect
ing an opera-house in this city, establishing a
drug store, and, taking part in all public move
mcnts, he soon became a highly respected and
estimable citizen.
lie was at one time Superintendent of the
Congregational SundGy-school here and was
very much liked. lie was also a very prominent
music teacher at the same period, and 20 far az
his outward life and appearance were concerned
Durham was a type of perfect manhood. He
left here several years ago and went to Califor-
mia, where he is now living on account of the i'll
health of his wife.
Poor Powell! An account Of his after career
is not available. Suffice it TO say that the one
time successful journalist aud husband of bean
tiful Ellen Burnhan, as told in a despatch in
The WORLD, was found in the gutter at Chicago
recently, n common drunEard aud vagaboud,
arrested and fined 80 for disordorly conduct.
But the line was RENTED by the Judge when
some of the circumstance of Powell's life were
brought to hi knowledge.
This incident served to recall the remarkable
dual existence of the wifc-husband known az
Durham.
The Catholics and the knights.