The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-08-02
SAYS HIS
W|fE'S NOT
A WOMAN


remarkable charges ever contained In
legal document is that made by Abraham
Leakin. a tailor, OF No. l9l Christie street,
against his wife, Dvosi Leakin, OF No. 50
Jackson street.
The Leakins have been married IL
years. Now the man makes affidavit
that his wife of II years is man.
In the supreme court summons and
complaint served upon Mrs. Leakin yes
terday by the attorneys for his or her
husband. Pollock & Abraham. of No $50
Broadway. Leakin specifically charges
fraud in that since the date OF their mar
riage. on July 8, 1894 In the little town
OF Osta, Chernigoff. Russia, Mrs Leakin
has by &evice and falsehood concealed
her true sex from him.
In subsequent clauses in the document
the husband prays for judgment or de-
cree OF divorce or the annulment OF the
marriage tie. Leakin distinctly swears
in the papers prepared by his counsel
that his wife never was a woman"
ANGRY BEING CALLED MAN"
To say that Mrs. Leakin is indignant
at-being called a man is stating the case
mildly. She was seen yesterday by
reporter In a well-furnished and scrupu-
lously neat fat. where for six years she
has lived and kept boarders. and where
sha has made many friends by her gentle
ness of manner and her evident devotion
10 her husband.
'It is cowardly 10 make such a charge
against me now" she said, as tears
welled in her eyes.
II have shaved for my husband for II
years ever since the day I married him.
! have saved and worked continuously.
! have been manager OF his tailoring es-
taiblishment, where he has 40 hands en-
ployed.
He has several thousand dollars saved
up now and I have nothing / am get
ting old. and perhaps my eyes are not so
bright as when we were married IN our
home I'm Russia but / am willing yet 70
work for him II ne will come back and
withdraw these frightful charges
II think my husband must be crazy,
ne never made this charge against me
until May OF this year, almost the llth
anniversary OF our marriage.
"All this time we lived happily I help
ing him and he helping me II he insists
on bringing the matter to court / shall
make answer through my lawyer within
the time prescribed by law"
Don't HURT ABEY."
Neighbors are planning some sort OF
warm reception for Mr.. Leakin Sew
eral women who live in the same house
in Jackson street seem 10 think that a
women's committee, armed with tar and
chicken feathers, would be the proper
mode OF expressing their Indignation.
Mrs. LeakIn pleaded with them mot 10
hurt her dear husband Abey''
She tries to explain his strange charge
by saying that he must have come under
the influence ot some younger woman.
and adds that II he does not come back
10 her she will care no longer 10 live.
Voluble on every subject. this strange
oh ~ rnfs % Nnlx
plicit question:
Are you man or are you a woman
She Just looks al one pathetically when
this query is put 10 her.
There Is no indecision in the speech OF
Mr.. Leakin wnen he discusses the mat
ter.
do you mean 10 say that your wife
is actually mani" he was asked in the
office OF his tailoring establishment in
Christie street
Sure; say so 10 the lawyers" was
the response.
why did you not bring this charge
II years ago?" he was asked
AFRAID OF DERISION.
II will tell that TO the court" was his
reply. II was imposed upon. felt
great deal OF pity for her and only lately
did ! realize that i was fool My life
Is ruined. so I will have the marriage
annulled."
Leakin has not a single word OF re-
proach for the wife who has so long
borne his name.
She is a good woman" he said every
body h-es help like her or him my
self
When did you first discover that your
wife was a man?" he was asked
"Oh, just n little while ago" he re-
piled. I shall tell that to the court"
Leakin said he would rather have lost
his business, or, for that matter, his
life. than have his friends know what
fool he had been for IL years.
Il will have TO leave town now" he
explained; everybody will laugh at me"
Leakin is rather good-loohing. and 90
years old. He appears to be bright and
intelligent.
II knew my wife two years before I
married her" he said I'VE PLAYED 10,
gether as children, and she was one Of
the prettiest little girls-I thought-in the
town OF Osta.
she grew UP TO be big and strong. and
could carry more coal than could. She
was always kind and gentle. and no one
ever suspected that she was not a woman.
II have not now word 10 say against
my wife. except that she Is no woman
Il married man, not a woman"