The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1908-03-18
WOMAN IN MANS CLOTHES
VINO SMASHES HEARTS IS
CAUGHT BY LOCAL CHIEF
Has Been in City For Several Days
Has Long Record in
Seattle.

Notorious Nell Plckerel, alias
Harry Allan, was arrested Monday
on Front street by Chief of Police
.>els Short. The woman was at
tired in her usual mans costume,
and 1t is stated has been masquerad-
ing in this city since last. Friday.
Nell Pickerell is probably the most
notorious woman in the northwest.
For 81 years she has been a resident
of Seattle, and according to reports
in sound papers was responsible for
the suicide of two young women In
Seattle and it is also stated she had
similar difficulty in Tacoma, al
though she stoutly denies all three
Of the allegations.
1t is declared she ingratiated her
self into the esteem and then into
the affection of the women; that she
married one of them, and when the
girls made the startling discovery
they had been duped by one of sthelr
own sex the shock was too much for
reason to withstand.
The young woman is black haired,
has rather refined features when off
set by her masculine attire, is neat
ly dressed and a confirmed cigarette
cmoker. Her voice is somewhat fem
mime. but she affects a slight Bowery
accent which perceptibly aids her in
carrying out her deception.
"That Seattle story" she said in
the city Jail last night, sis palpa-
BILE fake. some reporter made three
or four dollars out of it, and that is
a.. there is to the mass of junk. |
didn't sue the paper because | shrink
from notoriety.
"What do wear mems clohtes
for? You should see me dressed as
a woman. I am a hideous fright.
look so much better. don't you know.
just as l am now that l know you
wouldn't like me at all in woman's
attire.
"No woman ever committed sui
eide over me. just have a name
that's all. If your chief of police
should commit suicide tonight you
would blame ii on me. Wouldn't
you, now" she added with an en-
ticing smile.
Assured that ner wish would be
gratified, she continued: Il don't
ste WHdl tuts div piNh oi illC ioi
| feel so much more comfortable
dressed as a man and can do Sc
many more things 1t is no fault
of mine if people don't see that
am a woman
Chief Short had watched the Pick
erell woman for some days, and up
on her arrest Monday told her to
give her correct name, as he was per-
fectly familiar with her identity
She admitted she is Nell Pickerell
On her clothes several dollars were
found: tobacco and cigarette papers
pawn ticket showing she had
Soaked" a sparkler for $55 let
ter from a music house assuring her
that her song poem under the name
of Harry Allan would be published
shortly and a small book In this
was a picture of herself taken from
the Seattle Times. 1t also contained
the addresses of several married
women in Seattle and Tacoma and a
number of affectionate verses dedi-
Gated to various ones of the fair sex.
She attempted to secure bail last
night by sending note to Lenora
Kelley, First ayenue, but it was not
forthcoming. Late in the evening
Miss Pickerell was visited by two To-
cal women She says she has friends
in the city and merely came TO Yaki-
ma to renew acquaintances.
Il am not a dip she declared
when that proposition was put up to
her. 81 never took penny in my
life which came dishonesty" and
her dark eyes flashed just as though
she meant every word of it, Maybe
she did. Who knows?