The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-01-23
SURE She WAS
MARY ANDERSON
Aged Nurse Throws Light on
tho Murray Hal! Mystery.
BROTHER AND SISTER ORPHANS
When Former Died Girl Assumed Name
and G.rh That Shs Might Earn Living
More Easily.
BROTHER AND SISTER ORPHANS

New York, Jan 2s-The mystery OF the
life OF Murray Hall. whose death last
week disclosed the fact that she had been
masquerading as a man for more than
thirty years. may be cleared by the story
told by Mrs. Canning. an old nurse. for
many wears connected with the Edin-
burgh Hospital I'm Scotland, out now liv-
ing with her married daughter at No. 50
Joralemon street. Brooklyn
Mrs. Canning yesterday told reporter
of case which tallles in almost every
minute detail with the life of the Muir
ray Hall. of New York.
IL Is the story of girl who adopted
mans attire through being forced 10 earn
her own living in her early youth how
when her sex was discovered after she
had masqueraded for years, she was
driven from Scotland by the notoriety,
and how she adopted the name of Murray
Hall.
II she be the same woman. the Murray
Hall who for years ran an employment
agency I'm Sixth avenue is Mary Ander-
ils
older than herself. was orphaned in her
fourteenth year and left destitute.
Mary Anderson and her brother strug-
gled to earn a living, but two years after
their parents death the boy died. In
story she told subsequently in the Edin-
burgh hospital. her brother persuaded
her to bury him as Mary" Anderson and
assume his name, saying II would be
easier for her 10 earn living.
MANY ODD CONDOLENCES.
AS John Anderson she went to the lit
tie town of Govan. Scotland and there
married Her inability 20 drop her fem
mime manners caused talk, and 10 stop
IL. she married. Here her life begins
striking parallel with that of Murray
Hall She smoked and drank, swore like
a sailor. and was fond of the society of
other women.
"Her" wife became Jealous, IL Is al
legged and separation followed. The wife
disclosed the fact that John Anderson"
was woman, and warrant was issued
for her arrest.
She went to Duddison a small town
two miles from Edinburgh, and later en-
tered Edinburgh This was I'm the year
1870 the year OF the small pox epidemic In
the Scotch capital, ana When she. showed
symptoms OF the disease she was taken
TO the hospital.
Here her identity was disclosed In
spite OF her efforts to conceal her sex.
and she was arrested on the old Govan
warrant. Her prosecution followed, but
was stopped when she volunteered TO
act as a nurse OF the small pox patients
at the hospital.
According TO Mrs. Canning's story,
there were then two sections to the hos
pital, one known as Hamilton Hall and
the otner as Murray Hall. John Ander-
son" was assigned to work In Murray
Hall.
ms is the coincidence which led Mrs.
Canning first to suspect that the Sixth
avenue Murray Hall was none other than
the woman, who had masqueraded as a
man nurse I'm Murray Hail. Edinburgh. IL
was during the dreadful plague OF the
year 1870 that the girl told Mrs Canning
her story.
FLED TO AMERICA.
The Edinburgh Scotsman printed the
story I'm full and the notor.ety the woman
achieved drove her from the hospital.
Wherever she went she was teered at,