Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1920-12-22
WOMAN POSES AS
GIRLS HUSBAND
She Covered Her Tracks for Three
Years Before Bride Learns of
Her Mistake. Fake Husband
Arrested.
STORY APPEARS
ALMOST UNBELIEVABLE
BY Donning Mems Clothes and Cut
ting Her Hair Woman Was
Successful in Disgusting
Her True Sex

Sioux City, Ia.-An extraordinary
case of quasi-sexual perversion, evil
IDENTITY for purposes of pecuniary
gain, was revealed yesterday when
Mr.. and Mrs. o. d. Church were
taken in charge by the Sioux City
police. A charge of conspiracy will
probably be filed, though there are
several statutory offenses that might
be made the basis of prosecution if
the facts represented to the police
are unimpeachable. The couple at
present are held for investigation.
Involved in the revolving transac-
tion is the substitution of physicolo-
gical processes employed by sdrs.
Church for several years in her rela-
tions with the young woman whom
she had married and to whom she
has represented herself as male.
While it does not appear credible
that deception as to sex could be
maintained for years without dis
covery, it seems to have been accom-
plished in the present case. The
young woman appears to have been
completely deceived by the machina-
tions of Mrs. Church and her hus-
band. Mr.. Church resided in the
household representing himself to
be brother of the husband.
The young woman, who is about %
years old, and her supposed male
affinity were married about three
years ago in Sioux City by Rev. S.
M. Lehman, formerly pastor of the
Church of the Nazarene. Mrs. Church
assumed the disguised name of Cliff
ton Revere, adopted by. her when
[siie ,sad the woman began the ces-
lrespondence VIII Il ended in their
marriage. Church and his wife liv-
ed in Sioux City at the time. Nearly
fifty of these letters have been seiz-
ed by the police.
| BY donning mems clothes and cut
ting her hair, Mrs. Church was sue
cessful in Disgusting her true sex
and identity from the young woman
during the three years of their mar
ried life.
, Church, who has been employed
for several years in the Sioux City
post office as mail sorter, was a
witness to the marriage ceremony OF
his wife to the young woman. He
has assumed the role with apparent
success, of "Mr. ReVere's" brother
The three of them lived in the same
house at 1017 Davis avenue, Morn.
ingside. Mrs. Church then, being the
man of the house, provided for ''his
wife" by selling real estate, in which
business her legal husband also en-
gagged as sideline to his postoffict
duties. Mr.. and Mrs. Church hao
been married about seven years wher
|, Mrs. Church became the husband
of the young woman. Church is IS
lyears old and his wife is 81.
The arrest of Mr.. and Mrs. Church
followed investigation 0y the Vic
TINS brothers, to whom she wrote
that the peculiar actions of Clifton
had aroused her suspicious. Mrs
Church has been seen on various oc
casions wearing women's clothes
Mrs. Church was wearing men,
clothes under women's clothes wher
Detective Ed Becker and Patrolmar
Ira Carroll arrested her early yester
day morning. MRS. ReVere's' sus,
picions were also aroused by thu
fact that Mrs. Church has paid less
attention to her during the month
proceeding Mrs. Church's arrest.
Police are led to believe that pc
cuniary gain was the purpose of the
mock marriage. 1t was said that tn,
young woman's parents were intend
ing to build a fine residence il
Morningside for their daughter ane
her husband