Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-29

New York Dee. 2S.-Aftcr a lapse 81
10 years, during which "a sex mystery
in the law office of the late Col. II. G..
Campbell had been well nigh forgot
ten, the unmaSking of N0cilai De Ray
Ian, the Chicago woman who posed as
u man. reveals circumstances which
point to the conclusion that De Ray
Ian began his career in this city.
Lawyer Hiram o. Nance, No. 223
broadway, was member Of Col.
Camnbell'S firm when Il occupied Of
fee ut No. 2GJ Broadway. He SAID
yesterday that in 1893 a young man
secured employment in the office az Il
stcnographer. giving the name of Ian
sci. because Of Langel's appearance
there was at first Il disposition to rid
iculr him" on account of his CT
felEinancy. Langel had a bcardl"ss
tace. the contour Of a 'woinans small
hands and feet and q noticeably nip
Iy" walk.
1t was not long before the employ;
ceased to twit Langel. He" proved
to be the most skilful stenographcr in
I'll" Office and was highly esteemed b.
Tho members Of the firm. because Of
his" efficiency, his" salary was plac-
cd at tie top notch-$30 u week. Suol
after I.angel brought to the Office Il
beautiful woman whom he" introduc-
Cd as his" wife. Mrs. Langel was
head and shoulders taller than her
'husband. and they We're a devoted
couple. The wife called for her thus
band" at the conclusion of his" dut les
almost every day. There was no more
talk Of tn" De Raglan being girlish.
Langel remained Il faithful cmployc
in the office for three years. Their
were several occasio during that
time whom strangers entered the o.
fee, ANA hearing Langcls voice. as
he sat out of view in another room,
insisted that the speaker was Il Woin-
an. His" appearance on these occa-
sions sometimes caused good-natu-ad
baGinagc.
Langel was afflicted with 4 chronic
cough which gave the members of the
firm who became much attached to
him" considerable anxiety. They ad-
vised Lang'l to 90 to Bermuda and ac-
copied his" resignation reluctantly III
the belief that this was his purpose a
snort time after his departure. an
other employees that he had seen Ian
gel on the street dressed in woman s
clothes. The boy was ridiculoI. but
stoutly chung to his story. He said he
could not be mistaken because of q
slight scar on Langers face The boy
said he had made an effort to address
LanScl. but the latter avoided him.
MI Hance and his present law part
ncr. William J. Miller. were walking
along lower broadway :; year later
when both exclaimed almost stimuli
tan"ouSly:
There is Langcl dressed in woman>s
clothes"
Th"y were so startled by the dis
covery that hurried consultation was
held. and they agreed 70 confirm their
Identification. Crossing the street. they
got IN front of the woman. and as She
approached, confronted her.
we could not have been mistaken"
Mr.. Hance said yesterday. eve boti,
locker for and saw the scar. LanecI
looked 'dasEers ut us. her confusion
strengthening our belief until it
amounted to certainty. I-angcl fairly
ran TO escape our Inspection
He hence said he had studied tha
recently published photos Of De Raw
IAN and was Immediately impressed
with the almost complete identity with
tn" features Of Langel. Mr.. Tance
regards as confirmatOry of the corciu
SION that Langcl and De Raglan were
one and the same, that De Raglan died
or tuberculosis. disease with which
LahEcl was Enthusiastically afflicted.
SlEce tn" discovery Of LangeIs mask
ing was made by Mr.. Hance and Mr..
Miller he was never afterward re-
ported as having been seen in this
city.