A Rhode Island lawyer, 1854

“A Male in Female Attire.” Boston Traveller; reprinted in Brooklyn Evening Star [Brooklyn, New York] 17 July 1854; p. 2.

On Wednesday evening a person richly attired in female wearing apparel, arrived in this city by the cars, and put up at one of our first hotels under the name of “Harriet Daniels.” On Thursday, as Officer W. H. Goodwin was passing through Hanover-st., he saw in a hair-dr[e]ssing establishment this person, whose conduct and appearance excited his suspicions. As the person came out he followed through Tremont, Eliot, Washington, West Castle and Emerald-sts., to Gardner-st., where a short call was made, finally returning to the hotel, which was the parson’s [sic] headquarters. The officer entered the hotel also and bluntly charged the pretended female with being a male in female attire. After some parley the charge was acknowledged as true.—His trunks contained a large amount of rich female wearing apparel, silk dresses, laces, white gloves, white silk hose, jewel[r]y, &c., &c. A suit of male apparel was also found, which he forthwith donned, and upon his promising never to offend in like manner again, he was allowed to depart. It is stated that he belongs in Providence, and is a member of the bar, and that he visited this city in female apparel some three months since, at which time he escaped detection. He assigns as a cause for his strange conduct that he has a fancy for female wearing apparel.—(Boston Traveller, 15th.

“Affairs About Home: A Man in Petticoats—Strange Passion for Dress.” Boston Herald [Boston, Massachusetts] 15 July 1854; p. 2.

We were informed yesterday of one of the most singular and unaccountable freaks, which sometimes take possession of the human mind, that ever came to our knowledge. We tell the story as we heard it, keeping back the names, at the request of one of the parties. Thursday morning, as one of our most active and vigilant policemen was coming up Hanover street, he observed, near the corner of Hanover and Court streets, an individual, the exterior of whom indicated a very fashionably dressed lady. Being an admirer of every thing that is tasteful and refined, the officer looked quite attentively at the figure before him, and upon taking a respectful look at the face, which he had anticipated would prove to be beautiful, was astonished to find the physiognomy a homely masculine one. Here was a discovery, and one too that puzzled him. He instantly determined to investigate the matter, so far as he was able, and for this purpose followed, at a respectful distance, the steps of the metamorphosed man. After leading him through a number of streets, the disguised person entered a house in Gardiner street, and remained there for the space of an hour, during which time the officer remained outside, cogitating upon the probable intentions of the character he had followed.

On emerging into the street again the mysterious character turned towards Washington street, and promenaded for some time, and then entered a fashionable hotel, on that street, which is conducted on temperance principles. After waiting outside a few m[o]ments, the officer also entered the hotel, and, going to the clerk, inquired whether a lady had not just entered. Being answered in the affirmative, he then asked whether her name was on the registers and it was pointed out to him, viz:—”Harriet Daniels, Providence, R. I.”

The officer then ascertained that Harriet Daniels had stopped at the hotel the night previous, and had sat at the table at meal times, but the landlord informed him that he did not like the appearance of the mysterious female, and was going to give her notice to leave. After some further conversation, the officer went up stairs, to the room occupied by the female, and knocked at the door, which was opened.—Going into the room, the officer addressed the female as follows:—

“How do you do, sir? You are Mr. —, from Providence?”

The feminine looked thunder-struck, for a moment, but recovering soon endeavored to go into hysterics and appear like a female in a state of extreme agitation. The ruse did not succeed, however, and the mask was dropped. The officer, believing he had discovered a hotel thief, demanded the keys of his trunk, and opening them he found a most beautiful and costly wardrobe, embracing silk and de laine dresses, petticoats, shawls, bonnets, bracelets, hose, etc., of the value of $1000.

To bring the story to a close, we must state briefly the result. After equivocating for some time, the disguised individual finally stated that he had assumed female apparel because he had an uncontrollable passion for dress, and that he had no object in view but to gratify this strange desire. He informed the officer that he was a member of the Providence bar, also a member of the Methodist Church, a married man and a father. These statements being corroborated by a member of the Providence police, who happened to be in the city, and was called in to identify the culprit, he was directed to divest himself of his woman’s apparel, and put on the habiliments of a man, which he had in his trunks. This being done, a very severe and proper lecture was given him by the officer, during which the guilty man promised to sin no more, after which he was taken to the Providence depot and put on board the cars.

We have purposely omitted the names of all connected with the affair, in hopes that the family of this strangely hallucinated man, which is highly respectable, may not be made to suffer from the freaks of one who should bear the shame and remorse alone.

“Singular Case of Monomania.” Commonwealth [Boston, Massachusetts]; reprinted in Manufacturers’ and Farmers’ Journal [Providence, Rhode Island] 17 July 1854; p. 2.

On Wednesday a person, richly attired in female apparel, arrived in this city on one of the evening trains, and proceeded to one of our fashionable hotels; a room was engaged and the name of Harriet Daniels was given to the porter and “booked.” On Thursday forenoon, as officer Wade H. Woodwin was passing a fashionable hair-dressing establishment in Hanover street, he observed a person coming therefrom, gaily dressed in female attire, and whose appearance excited his suspicion as to the adaptation of the dress to the true sex of the wearer. He followed in the wake of the silken clad personage, who passed through Tremont, Eliot, Washington, West Castle, and Emerald streets, to Gardner street, where a short call was made, then returning up Washington street, finally entered the before-named hotel. The officer soon later went in, and making known the object of his visit to the proper persons, on proceeding to the room of “Harriet Daniels,” the truth of his suspicions were established by “her” full confession.

Capt. Adams, of the 3d police station, was sent for, and the matter compromised, it appearing probable that this strange conduct is attributable to a mania for wearing female apparel.

In his trunk was found a large amount of female clothing, consisting of elegant silk dresses, laces, white silk hose, jewelry, &c. Suits of male apparel were also found in his trunk, and in which he was attired, and on promising to present the remainder to his wife, and never again appear in a like costume, he was sent on his way to a neighboring city, where he has a family, and is a member of the bar, also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in regular standing. He confessed that he visited the city in a similar manner about three months since.—Boston Commonwealth.