Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1911-09-26
Mrs. Ray Leonard Passes as a
Man and Worked at Shoe
makers Trade in Lebanon
for 22 Years.
SEX FOUND OUT AT ASYLUM
Male Garb When But 13
Years Old, Her Parents CCnsenting
Thereto, for the Purpose of Better
Helping Support the Family-Her
Sex Never Suspected Until She Was
Given Bath at the Asylum.

Starting out when a girl of 19
years to masquerade as man, Ray
Leonard, of Lebanon, for 40 years
succeeded in playing her part and
deceiving the world, and her true sex
became known for the first time last
night when she was committed to the
state hospital for the insane.
During 22 years of the 49 she lived
in Lebanon, conducting a shoe shop,
and none of the residents of that city
suspected her of being a woman.
Recently she began acting queerly
and the other day was committed to
the asylum by Judge Duncan, of AL
bany, and so well did she look the
part she was playing that she de-
ceived him, an examining physician.
the sheriff who took her to the in
stitution, and all the officers of the
asylum, as her sex was not discov-
cred until she was being given a
bath by receiving attendant, p. II.
Grub.
Ray Leonard is a native of Maine
and 62 years old. Her father was
James Leonard, and her mother,
Rowie Leonard. She was one of q
family of six children, and the family
was poor Realizing that upon her
shoulders would fall the burden OF
contributing to the family in the way
Of the necessities of life, she decided
to don the clothes of a man and do
mems york, as She could in this
manner earn more money, and upon
her submitting the proposition to her
parents, they gave their consent.
After a number of years spent in
Maine. she Toyed westward, settling
in Lebanon % years ago. During her
stay there she has conducted a shoe
makers shop.
When she arrived at the hospital
and was turned over to the receiving
attendant, she objected to the taking
of the usual bath, on the ground that
she had just taken one, and that she
was tired. She finally yielded, how
ever, and was placed in custody of
Receiving Attendant Grub. A. few
minutes afterwards, DR. Steiner, su-
perintendent of the institution. and
DR.. Griffith we're surprise d to have
him rush into the Office and give the
startling information that the patient
assigned to him was a woman.
She was then transferred to the fe-
male ward, and afterwards told her
story to the asylum authorities. She
protested against being put in the
ward with the women as she said
that during all of her life she had
associated with men as man. and
that she did not like now to don wo-
mans garments. and associate with
them. Upon being urged, however,
she yielded and she is now wearing
the first woman's apparel she has
worn since - years of age.
She resembles a man in many re-
spects. She has scant beard, her
features are masculine, so are her
manners, and her language. Her
conduct. say the physicians, Is clean,
and there is nothing to indicate that
she is in any way degenerate She
is suffering from a mental impair
ment caused by the secluded life she
has led.
The sheriff at Albany last evening
confirmed her story as to her resi-
dence in Lebanon. He also stated
that she bore a good reputation in
Continued on page hve.)