The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-11-02
is TIE WIFE OF A MINISTER.
Smokes Cigarettes, Wears Hair Short and
Takes StTolIs In Male Attire.
SHE is MOTHER OF SEVEN CHILDREN.
Finally Arrested By Polio, Husband Explained
That hs ad Taken Up Residence in a Wiz
Isgs on Account Of Wife ecoentIcIliss.

Philadelphia, Noe 2.--lNhat Magi-
strate Neall terrrrs-tffe most singular
and interesting case that ever came
before him for his judiclal verdict pre-
sented itself i'm his court Tuesday.
The prisoner was young woman OF
attractive appearance and modest de-
meanor who had been arrested for
wearing boys clothing in North Broad
street on Sunday evening.
The picture she presented in court
was such that il puzzled the magistrate
and excited the curiosity Of the onlook-
ers. So evident was ii that she was
woman In spite OF her masculine togs
that IL seemed incredible that she could
have been able 10 appear I'm public
often similarly clad without attract
ing the attention of the police Yet
that was the assertion made by the po-
lice. and the facts proved that they are
correct
INDIFFERENT TO SCRUTINY.
A. she sat before Magistrate Neal,
her legs crossed and her hands in her
trousers pockets she apparently did not
notice the attention she was creating.
Her hair was cut after the fashion OF
college football players. That II was
badly cut no one thought remarkable
when she explained that she had cut
IL herself at home.
The fingers OF her right hand were
stained with the nicotine OF cigarettes.
which she smokes constantly. Her
trousers were tool ong I'm the legs ami
bagged sadly at the knees. She wore
a Coat and waistcoat and an overcoat
that never were intended by any tailor
TO be worn together ana evidently
fnT
than their present wearer.
This assortment of masculine clothes
was surmourted by a delicate, pale
face. Of which no woman would nave
reason TO be ashamed of Her hands
were white and small and, altogether,
II needed NO Sherlock Holmes IL see AT
n giance thar the odd figure sitting
there with dsv nUast eyes was "a woman.
Judicious and no unkindly question
ing by the magistrate at first had no
effect i'm bringing out any clue TO the
little womans identity. At last, when
told hat she would be committed To
iail for appearing on the street dressed
as man. she seemed much moved. Her
distress was 50 evident that Magistrate
Neal spoke 10 her soothinRly and then.
In spite of her football hair and mascu-
lire garb. a flood OF very feminine tears
came 20 her relief.
CAUSED FAMILY'S ISOLATION.
Between her sObs she said she was
the wife Of a clergyman and lived on
the Limekiln pike. near PitNille. \
policeman with this Information soon
located the womans husband. who
proved TO be the Rev Mr. Martin whom
he brought 10 court with a bundle of
women's clothing under his arm for his
wife.
With the discovery OF the husband
the whole of the w1man's remarkable
story was brought to light Mr.. Martin
explained that he had worried about
his wife's absence from home over
night. but. being aware of her eccen-
trlcities he hesitated to inform the po-
lice.
The husband said the wife Is tho
mother Of seven .ildren. but long has
had an irresistible passion for wearing
mems apparel. That is why. MIR. Mar
Tin said. he moved his family 20 Pitt
Vile where though he took the largest
house in the place. they lived i'm COM
parative seClusion and had few neigh
bOrs. Mr.. Martin inquired the circum-
stances OF his wife's arrest. and learned
that the policeman who brought her to
the police station had found her follow
ed by a crowd OF ieerng boys. she
was i'm tears al the time. and went with
the policeman readily although she
steadfastly refused to say who she was
Charged at first with vsgrancv she
drew cut a check book and filed I'm a
check Tor q small amount. Ihen she
was locked W. for wearing mems cloth
ing.
RECOGNIZED BY NElGHBORS.
In spite of the rustic character AMI
small population " PittVille the advent
Of the Martin family there gave more
10 talk about than any circus that ever
struck the place. In spite q The fact
that PittviNr is In Philadelphia IL ~
not reached by trolley car. and he VIII
lage never saw a letter carrier until
three weeks ago
Mr.. Martin. his wife and seven chill
dren came there with the April vloots.
and in snlte Of the fact that they made
IL evident that they ala not want 20
receive any callers and kept their chill
dren home as much as nossible they
soon became the mos, talked OF family
I'm the locality.
The wonder and the gossip started
one d0y when "A neighbor r1ticed a
man coming out of the Martins gate
lie prepared 10 nod 20 Mr. Martin when
ne saw thar W was not the clergyman
The strangers odd dress and ill-fttinc
garments attracted his attention. and
IA feminine movement ~ the hand in
brushing back mass of unkempt hair
nrde him suspact that the figure was
that Of a woman
BETRAYED by HER ACTIONS.
4 moment later. when the object oi
HE suspicion paused at n lamp post
ard lighted n mntCh In n way that M
man ever would have done g. the Oh
server was convinced HIS suspicious
were correct. Closer inspection satis-
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1t-,r ~ rtECo nr rror, r