The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-24
IN FEMALE ATTIRE,
A Man Who Dresses in the Gowns
That Were Worn BY His Wife.

81 don't know why l do 1t, but when the feel.
ing comes over me can't help IT,"
So spoke very woebegone creature through
the bars OF cell in the TOmbs the other day
Except for the outcropping of the stiff, grizzled
hair on the upper lip and chin, which a bar
bers razor had gone over probably not later
than Saturday, the individual would have been
taken for a middle-aged woman.
This strange prisoner had, earlier in the day,
given his name to Judge Martin in the Tombs
Police Court as Charles Williams, and his resi-
dence as Newark
Later on he admitted that the name and ad-
dress were fictitious. H. had been brought TO
court by policeman from the Ola Slip station
house, who arrested him late Sunday afternoon
In the waltngr room of the South Brooklyn
ferry.
His masquerade had been detected while he
was III the department reserved especially for
women. AS soon as attention was called 10 his
strange manner and appearance. one OF the off,
GERS nf the ferry company recognized him as
the person arrested at Coney Island last sum-
mer for masqueradlng in female attire
10 Justice Martin the prisoner made an in
comprehensive statement, in which gri tor a
singular conduct.
Tie Justice was plainly without sympathy
for he promptly sentenced the spurious woman
10 Sixty days on the Island. in default Of $1,000
bail.
The prisoner endeavoIed TO excuse his
ofenSe. "My wife," said he, 'ded six years
ago In Buffalo, and l was diScOnsolate at her
loss. One day the idea seized me of dressing
myself In her clothes. did so, and upon sur
veying myself in the lUokngglas seemed to be
looking at my dead wife. The delusOn fasci-
mated me ana could not resist AT first ] only
wore the clothes IN my own room aud would sit
Tor hours in front OF the glass In communion
with my wife. she was good woman, and we
had one child, VINO died.
AFTER while tie notion 10 go out and mlngle
with people while wearing NY wfe's clothes
look possession OF me and ! could not resist
/ admit that the waist or jacket which am
wearing Today was not my wife'S. but still the
deluslon that am representing her is just as
strong as though 1t were; | bought this jacket,
which you see has putfed sleeves. because TO
nave worn an old-fashiOned garment, entirely
OUT OF the present style, would have made me
too conspicuous
Il have not done any man, woman or child
any Injury, and While L admit that IL is quite
right that l should be arrested, and m glad
that was arrested. do not think / should be
given so hard a sentence. The reason that
went into the apartment set aside for ladies
was because l was suddenly taken sick at the
stomach. intended no harm or dlSrespect to
anybody"
When asked TO explain why he was glad that
was arrested the prisoner replied: because
only by being taken INTO custody could the in
sane notion that had taken possession of me be
driven away. L fight against 1t. and l can
prove by many persons that in all other re-
spects L am perfectly sound In mind,
Il GO not Ike 10 admit that this is insanity,
but how else can l account for ii =? am an
expert bookkeeper and am 46 years old. L
VIII not give the name of my employer, for
When arrested the man held in his hand a
copy OF Hawthorne's "MOsses from an Old
Manse." He wore gold watch and had 81 90
IN the pocket of his dress. His entire outfit 10
the smalles. detail was feminine in character.
warden FallOn, who says he will send The
man TO Blackwells Island, was at a loss Just
where 10 put him when he was first brought
into the Tombs. He couldn't we'll put him
into tile male prison dressed as he was. and it
was, OF course, out of the question TO put him
into the female prison. He finally compromised
by placing him In the hospital cell in the old
prlson.-New York special to Philadelphia
Item.