The Washington times., 1903-03-13
SUPREME COURT HEARS
CASE OF ELLIS GLENN
Masqueraded as Man for
Many Years.
HER RELEASE ORDERED
West Virginia Asks for New Trial
Case Argued Yesterday.

The Supreme Court Of the United
States has been asked to reverse the
decision of Judge John J. Jackson. OF
the United states district court OF West
Virginia. in the case OF Ellis Glenn. the
woman who gained much notoriety be-
cause OF her long masquerade as
man. She was indicted for forgery in
the courts Of Wood county, West Vir-
GINA. \
Hunter H Moss, jr., OF Parkersburg.
appeared before the Supreme Court yes
terday afternoon and argued The case
for the state OF West Virginia. Ellis
Glenn and her counsel. Hon. c. T. Cald-
well. OF Parkersburg. will arrive in
Washington next Sunday and appear
before the court 70 reply.
A Peculiar Case.
The Ellis Glenn case has attracted
more attention than any other case In
recent years Ellis Glenn is a woman
thirty-five years of age. She first
sprang into public notice by her arrest
in Illinois three years ago on charge
OF forgery.
When arrested she was attired as
man and was tried. convicted and SEN
fenced as such 70 the penitentiary at
Joliet for a term OF years When the
prisoner arrived there. her sex was
discovered and the prison officials re-
fused to receive her. no provision hav-
ing been made for the reception OF wo-
man prisoners.
Her attorneys obtained her release
from custody on writ Of habeas
corpus. The incident was given much
newspaper notice. and William Richard
son, of Parkersburg. remembered he had
been swindled out OF 81 400 by a young
man who tailed very closely to the
description Of Ellis Glenn. He went
TO Illinois and identified the woman and
caused her arrest. She still wore mems
clothes.
requisitiOn was secured. and the
woman taken TO West Virginia. From
some mysterious sources, the woman
obtained large sums OF money to retain
the ablest counsel. She was indicted
for forgery and the case brought to
trial II lasted for four weeks. The
jury remained out for three days and
failing to agree so reported to the
court. The judge inadvertently dis
charged them.
The prosecuting attorney wanted a
new trial. The woman's attorneys, how
ever. secured her release on writ OF
habeas corpus Judge Jackson held
that the woman, once tried. could not
be tried again after the jury had been
discharged. She was arrested, however
and is now under bond while the Su-
preme Court OF the United states IS
considering the merits Of Judge Jack
sons decision
Ellis Glenn admitted she had lived
as A man in West Virginia, and told
how she worked IN the oil fields as a
teamster. a barber, and even worked in
livery stable as a hostler. She per-
sistently refused 60 tell where she was
born and raised. aud why she donned
male attire. and TO this day her former
Whereabouts remains a mystery. She
always associated with men. and for
several months courted a young woman
OF Marietta Ohio For more than a
year she roomed with young man
who testified under oath he never knew
her sex until so Informed by the officers
who arrested her, Although offered
large sums for theatrical engagements
she has persistently refused them. Her
attorneys think the Supreme Court will
sustain the lower court and lberate the
woman.