The Helena independent., 1891-11-27
An Iowa Convict Named Charles
Miller Turns Out to Be y
Female.
II Makes the Eastern People Think
& They Had Had Holen
o@f Forelund.
Hut the Picture settled 1.-two Railroad
@ Men Arrested on ths Chargeof
-azsst Grand Larceny. ass5

"ChArile Miller would seem 70 Do q n
favorite narne with women who don male
attire and take TO robbery as a means OF
livelihood. Tt was thought that Helena hnd
the distinction Of capturing the only and
original "Charlie Miller" when the police
here run down Henry Clark and bis female
associate in the holdnp BUSINESS Bnt i
was not so. Iowa has one and what little
of her story Ii known is certainly ia many
respects more remarkable than that OF tlle
foolish girl who made months talk for
the queen city Of the Rockies. Aletter was
received by Sergeant Nicholson yesterday 4
from AL. II. Whitney Of Fort Madison.
Iowa, whichsreads rs follows:
..Enclpsed you will find newspaper clip
ping and picture Of a woman that came 70
this prison az n man under the name ~
Charles Miller. Yesterday / saw in tho
Cedar Rapids Detective the other clipping
enclosed J. think your Miller and our
Miller must be one and The same. Will %
glad to give any information We have that
you may want in regard to Miller
The ''other clipping referred to Is one
relating to .Charlie Miller or Helen
Forslnnd, the Helena boy woman. The
clipping referring TO the Iowa n,an-woman
| reads Us follows:
"One Of the most remarkable occurrences
that ever happened at Fort Madison was
upon the discovery that convict named
Charles Miller, convicted at Sioux City in
| 1889 on charge Of horse stealing, and who
| in stripes a. a male convict, was il fact .
woman. This discovery created 9 sensa-
! tion. For several years the person known
as Charles Miller had been employed IN
| different capacities at Sioux City--as M \
| expressman and NJ d hostler. Miller finally
stole horse, was arrested and placed il
jail. A woman, claiming to be. Miller,s
| wife, appeared on the scene and visited
Miller almost daily at the Jail for four
months. The woman was acco ompanledg ~
four.yea old child who called Miller
Papa" The prisoner was convicted ted son
L the charge Of horse stealing and awarded g
\ two year term at Fort Madison. The sheriff
Handed the convict at the prison a.
Knight, and il was rather dark ~ ths
Ibath room. When tha chance NJ i. of
]togasry to stripes, the recsiyiug koih4qar
failed 10 notice anything pecul liar q bout she
new arrival Next morning Charles Miller
was put il the shop ny work learning tos
1 side and tree boots. Miller worked along
for several weeks. occupying X cell with
| The cellg are fitted up With Two hunks, one
/ above the other. Krautz never had sus-8
picion that his cell mate was other than
man. One morning convict Charles Miller
turned up among the convicts reporting
sick ut the hospital, aud when Miller's turn
came to see the doctor he stated that he was
4 suffering from paiu in the chest and sore
lungs. Iherenpon the doctor told the con
vict to strip off his shirt, wishing 70 make
an examination. The convict colored up at
the request OF the doctor and seemed
greatly confused. This caused much aston
ishment to- the doctor and attendants. An
other order to strip WAS met with q
fiat refusal on the part ct the g convict. ~
Deputy Beard then took the convict into
an adjoining room, and when the doctor
entered, again told Miller to strip. Miller
not com plying, the officer proceeded to pull
/ off the convict's clothing. AT this Miller
| tainted dead away, and the doctor imms-
diately discovered that one convict, at
least in that institution, was woman.
Charley Miller was provided With feminine
apparel, and aas there was no place at Fort
Madison for female prisoners abe was
| transferred to the Woman's department nt
Anamosa prison, where she is now serving
her two wear term. The mystery regard
4 ing her il as great AZ ever. She has told
nothing concerning her history. The reputed
wife and child Of Charley Miller. the horse-
thief have also Disappeared and lott No
4 trace
The clipping bears no date. but Az Char-
I lev Millers otfense was committed III 1850,
| and she had but two years to serve. II ia
evident that tho account waa published
| some time ago and that the woman hAs
been freed already. The Helena .Charlie
Miller may have heard Of the Iowa case
/ and taken the same nRme, but glance at
| the picture of the Fort Madison convict is
sufficient to show that the two ARE not one
| and the same" 3&#
4 3s 4 4t