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FRANK DUBOIS A WOMAN; GERTIE FULLER'S HUSBAND ADMITS SHE IS NOT A MAN.
New York Times, November 2, 1883, Wednesday, page 1
The mystery regarding the sex of Frank Dubois, the female husband of the Waupun young lady, has at last been cleared up and all doubt set at rest by a statement made to the Time's correspondent by the person in question. The correspondent succeeded in tracing the couple from Waupun to Brandon, where Dubois went to avoid arrest, and last evening followed them seven miles into the country where they had taken refuge at the house of a farmer named Bristow, living on the Fond du Lao Road. There Dubois finally acknowledged herself to be a woman and the wife of S.J. Hudson, the Belvidere man.
After leaving Waupun on Monday afternoon, when the husband's sudden apearance had thrown consternation into the Fuller family, Dubois took the afternoon train for Brandon and went tothe residence of Joseph Irving, about a milefrom the place, with whom she had been acquainted since her appearance in Waupun. She said she expected to meet Mrs. Dubois soon, she intending to come to Brandon to pay a visit to the Irvings. On Tuesday afternoon, the wife arrived, the two meeting at the station and going directly to Mr. Irving's, accompanied by a sister of the young wife. The two took dinner together then left the house, ostensibly for a walk. They at once quit the town and all trace of them was lost.
The TIMES'S correspondent got a carriage and started on a search for the couple, finding them after much trouble at the Bristow farm-house. Repeated knocks brought Mr. Bristow to the door, who admitted the correspondent into the sitting-room. The couple were notified that company was awaiting their appearance below, but they refused to be seen. Arguments were brought to bear upon them, however, which finally resulted in their appearance. Dubois was without a coat, and appeared to be a slender, effeminate person. She is 4 feet 11 inches in height, weighs about 100 pounds, and has broad hips, a full chest, short arms and very small and slender hands and feet. The woman known as Mrs. Dubois - Gertie Fuller - is apparently about 17 years old, about Dubois's height, and is rather a pretty blonde with dark hair. She was in tears, and appeared greatly distressed when the question of her husband's sex was mentioned. Dubois was uneasy and cast nervous glances toward the door, and the small hands were worked and twisted in apparent mental agonry. Her features, small and delicate, and her face, smooth and beardless, appeared to be those of a lad of 19 years. Wrinkles under the eyes, teeth badly decayed, and one or two gray hairs suggested that she might be a woman of 40 years.
"Mr. Dubois," said the correspondent, "you, of course, know the stories which have been circulated concerning you."
"I do," was the hesitating answer in a voice which could not be mistaken for that of a man.
"You are married to Gertrude Fuller, are you not?"
"I am. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. H.L. Morrison, in Waupun."
"You insist that you are a man?"
"I do; I am. As long as my wife is satisfied, it is nobody's business."
"Mr. Dubois, you look like a woman and act like a woman, and there are dozens of reasons to supposeyou are not Frank Dubois, but Mrs. Hudson, a woman. Do you refuse to reveal yourself?"
"There is nothing to reveal."
"If you are caught in this disguise, you will be arrested. You should place yourself in your proper light at once, and thus avoid punishment."
"Oh, Frank, for God's sake, tell all, and have it over at this moment!" exclaimed the young and pretty wife, tears streaming down her face.
Dubois lookd toward her with trembling lip, and in a moment burst into tears. "It is true," she said at last and then endeavored to leave the room, but she was finally induced to tell her story. She said she was really Mrs. Hudson, and had tired of her husband and family, and determined to lose all identity as a wife and mother by assuming the guise of a man."
"My husband," said the female husband, "went to Illinois last Spring. I immediately assumed male attire and went to Waupun, where I had previously met and admired Gertie Fuller. I courted her and we were married, she not knowing me to be a woman until the night after the ceremony was performed. I then induced her to keep silent, which she has done. While living with my husband, I helped him support the family, peddling soaps and compounding extracts, which I disposed of. I was thus led to depend upon myself and when I took upon my shoulders the support of Gertie I felt fully able to carry the burden. I papered, painted, andmade and sould extracts, and we were happy. We were preparing to move to Elgin, Ill, when my husband came upon the scene. After he came to the house, I concealed myself for a atime and then took the train for Brandon. Gertie remaining at the house of a friend and following on Tuesday to Brandon, where we stopped at the house of an acquaintance, coming here on Tuesday evening. I will not return to live with Hudson and propose to wear pants, and smoke and earn my living as a man.
Mrs. Dubois, or more properly, Gertie Fuller, appeared utterly heartbroken, sobbing continuously during the recital of the story. She, however, confirmed the statement. She said her parents resided in Waupun, where her father and brother were engaged in the nursery business. She had married Frank Dubois, or Mrs. Hudson, and had on the night of their marriage discovered that her husband was of her own sex. They had agreed to live together and had done so. It was an affaire of their own, and nobody was concerned but themselves. They proposed to go to Fond du Lac and arrange to move to Illinois, as was intended, when the sensational story was started that the parties were both women.
Notwithstanding the apparent frankness of the statements made by both parties, ther eis evidently something concealed which they will not make public except when compelled to do so by the strong arm of the law. Mrs. Hudson, as the husband, wields a powerful influence over the young girl, who is wedded, but not a wife - an influence far more powerful than would be possible for one woman to wield over another unless stronger ties bound them together than those existing between the Hudson woman and Gertrude Fuller. The couple expressed determination to go to Fond du Lac to-day.
Mrs. Hughlitt, mother fo the wife of Frank Dubois, stated this morning that she would commence an action against Dubois for the return of her daughter. She has asked officers to arrest both parties when their wereabouts are discovered.
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Frank and Gertie did separate. Gertie did return to her mother's where she later bore a child whom she insisted was Frank's - then she married a cis-guy and moved ran off to Wisconsin.
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