The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-08-13
Judge Asked August Ss!b Which
but Got No Decisive Answer.
PROMISED HE'D NEVER TELL
Poses as wcman's Husband but Refused to
OIsprore Allsgatkns Of Her Brother
ln 0psn Court.

New York, Aug. la-"Are you a mar
or a woman
August Seib witness In the court OF
! special sessions. refused to answer this
] question put by the judges on the ground
that his reply might tend 10 incrimnate
him.
Seib came into the case in this fashion
owen White "a years old. was arrested
Sunday night on complaint of his sister,
which charged him with assault She told
the sergeant at the West Forty seventh
Street station that her brother tried to
choke her. In court yesterday White &C.
cused his sister of living with woman
who was masauerading in mems clothing
and passing as her husband
They are sitting together now right
In this court" said he at the same time
pointing TO the rear OF the court room
They know ! know their secret and
they've put up job 10 send me 20 Jail"
AS the prisoner spoke all eyes were
turned toward the sister. With her was
a short, stockily built person dressed in
a blue serge suit and carrying a gray
Fedora hat.
Judges Mayer. Olmsted and Holbrook
Immediately ordered the sisters compan-
ION 10 take the stand. AS the witness
sat In the chair, u was noticed that the
face bore no signs OF beard and that the
hands and feet were smaller than those
OF most men.
Joseph Darling, counsel for White.
asked:
What is your Manner
August Seib." was the answer. which
came In high pitched tones.
3 Are you man or a woman
No answer came for fully two min.
utse. IL looked for a time as II the wit
ness would burst into tears. Finally, with
face flushed and apparently greatly sm=
oarrassed, the witness turned toward the |
',ench and asked
Must | answer that question; have ! |
got to:'
Before Justice Mayer could answer. |
august Seib had already decided.
Il won't answer II. anyhow: prom
sed that I'd never tell and / never WI |
That's all there Is to IT,"
One OF the justices asked II to answer |
The question would tend 10 incriminate |
the witness. and the answer was
Yes IL would"
Then you are not legally compelled !
10 give an answer" said the justice
In answer TO other questions August
5eib said he was a waiter and worked
n downtown restaurant. He gave his
Ige as 30 years
On being excused Seib and Whites Sis
er left the court room hurriedly not
ven waiting for the verdict on the charge
gainst the brother
Several reporters tried 10 talk with
he couple as they passed out, but neith-
r had anything 10 say. They boarded
Broadway car at Leonard street White
yas discharged
HOME OF STRANGE COUPLE.
Al the home Of the Seihs little is known
bout them except that they occupied
va rear rooms on the third hoor and
ave been there for about two months
hey were not at home when a
eeper, said last night that the rent had
zen paid regularly by Whites sister,
nd that up TO last Sunday the brother
al lived with Mr.. and Mrs Seib
They have had several family quar-
is, said Mrs. Quinn. but aside from
lat, l never paid much attention 20
em. They go away early in the morn
&. and never see them until late in
e evening. Mr.. Seib seems 10 be a
'ry quiet person. lie seldom has any
ing to say 10 any OF us
Sergeant Hosey, or the West Forty
venth street station. said that White
I'd made the statement when ne was
ought TO the statlon-house that his sis
RS alleged husband was woman.
II didn't pay any attention TO Whites
mark said the sergeant. but I re-
ember now that the husband appeared
mewhat embarrassed and only smiled
me when | looked him over I didn't
lieve Whites story
The address given by White in court
fictitious. He said he was living at
West Thlrty-ninth street which is a
nement house occupied entirely by ne
'oes. No such person as White was
lown there.