Ellen Acton in court, 1865
When female bodies were discovered to be wearing male clothing, the result often was an appearance in court. Given that court cases were often a source of entertainment for the local populace, the appearance was no doubt traumatizing for more than one arrestee. One such was Ellen Acton, whose story is found only in this newspaper article.
“Pants On.” Nashville Daily Union [Nashville, Tennessee] 24 March 1865; p. 3.
A few days ago the Recorder fined a girl, Ellen Acton, who was taken in the streets dressed in male apparel. Ellen was in court in her masculine costume; she was an object of curiosity, and a subject of mirth, to the audience, but the scrutiny she underwent appeared to be anything but a cause of amusement to the girl.
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