The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-16
CONTINUED FROM PACE1
mAh.W0Mah SERVES Three YEARS OF
PRISON TERM AMONG MALE CONVICTS

ems ward" she said | interviewed her at the prison 81
convets and they have made my hc hell
cannot describe the long days OF labor among them in
inc Jue m and the prison yard or the insults offered
as We line up and march in and OF, OF the prison
Il experience the keenes suffering and humiliation when
bathing time comes The prison officials have a, last allowed
take their baths
my own 50 that am not compelled sleep in tho
cell with convict Before those privileges were granted
me my life was even greater hell than il is now"
"Artie" Bakers story reads like from the
pages Of fiction She was born deiomed baby girl in
little Iowa farming town. 40 years ago.
Her mother did not know her because OF her de-
iormy until she was II old and UP that time
suited and he told the mother tina; the child girl
My mother did no, dare face the ridculc OF the neigh
bors by putting me in dresses after had boys cloth
ing" the woman prisoner told 80 despite the physi
cans verdict went on living my lie to the world.
boy instead OF girl
The instincts OF strong in me- how
ever that began to excite comment the neghbos
The children called me Sissy.
I'm 1904 one OF my brothers got into trouble A girl
was about to become mother To my brother from
prison the girl from disgrace and at the time quiet
the gossip OF tho neghbors about my effemnacy married
the girl and became the father my brothers child
This marriage occurred in Harlan Ia, and after
ward, pursuance OF my agreement separated from the
girl Aer that lett home and taught school
Iowa, Kansas and Colorado
Il was driven from my schools in all of those states
when the superintendent learned that | was a woman
went to Los Angeles and attended tho revival meetings
being conducted by Gypsy. Smith, the evangelist,
to room in the Alexandria hotel OF that city and the
presence OF DR. Ethel Leonard accused OF being
Il broke down and confessed. DR. Leonard said would
be normal woman with slight operation.
Gypsy Smith then bought me womans clothes and I
wore them to his revival meetings. There and fell in
engaged TO be married Rev. Emmett said he would marry
But before the wedding my health failed and it was
postponed
Il made my way Summerdalc. Cal, where my sister
postmistress. sick and broke Desperate stole
handful OF money orders
81 mailed money for 500 to a minister in Saw
tcle. Los Angeles In the letter made believe was
my mother sending the money to hayward son in his citv
whom mother hoped had reformed My letter asked the
minister to look up and if trying do better to
give the 500.
Then went to Sawtele, attended the minister's church
thanked him for the good his had done me and
left my address with him, saying would become member
Of his church
"A day later he got my letter and came over and
the 500 worked this scheme all over southern
California cashng something like 81 800 OF money
orders found easier than working in schools get.
ting discharged
Jesse Roberts then postal inspector in San Francisco
and superintendent of the railway mail service arrested
"My discovered when the officers searched me
Il tried and sentenced a man. but did not open
my lips as to real serving my long as
man. but am breaking down under the strain of it
The convicts all know my and if freed soon
going to kill myself"
"Are' Baker is frail little woman with big eyes sunk
deep into her head Her face is lined from years of suffering
prison Her hair clipped short like that of a man But
even with this masculine mark about her and her gab
her step is mncing and her that of a
She is silent suffering, pul figure among 800 con-
victs in CALIFORNIA; Sing Sing.