Quote:
Originally Posted by Nat
FEMALE HUSBAND MAKES HER TIRED
Mrs. Ernestine L. Rauck, who was married last week to Lydia Cotta Sawyer, who had masqueraded as a man for several years, applied to the courts today to have the marriage annulled. Judge Wright signed
Mrs. Rauck Is Suing for a Divorce from Lydia Lotta Sawyer. WOMAN HUSBAND TO HIDE The Manly Lydia Says That She Is Going To Hide Herself from All Who Might Recognize Her--Text of Bill. Dressed as a Man, She Kept Bar.  The Manly Lydia Says That She Is Going To Hide Herself from All Who Might Recognize Her--Text of Bill. Dressed as a Man, She Kept Bar.
The Atlanta Constitution
June 28, 1902
(rest is pay-per-view)
|
I googled Lydia's name and found a
free copy of an article about her. Transcribed below:
Alleged Man Turns Out to be a Woman
Mr. H. C. Wood in Name, Miss Sawyer in Reality
Drinks, Chews, and Smokes
Husband of Mrs. Rauck, of Baltimore, Discovered to be a Wayward North Carolina Girl - Will require Court Decree to Annul Marriage
Baltimore, MD., June 26 - All doubts as to the sex of Lydia Lotta Sawyer, alias "Herman G. wood," who married Mrs. ernestine L. Rauck, 719 North Eutaw Street, last week, have been set at rest by Dr. John T. McCarthy, one of the police surgeons.
At the request of Captain McGee, Dr. McCarthy visited Miss Sawyer and later told Captain McGee that she had answered all of his questions clearly and frankly and that there was no further question as to her sex.
Pleads to be Let Alone
Still clad in the well-fitting suit, in every detail the garb of a man, Lotta Sawyer is confined at the Northwestern station. She shrinkks from the gaze of everyone, and pleads pideously to be left to herself until the time arives for her to be sent to her home in North Carolina. The woman sent a telegram yesterday morning to Belcross, N.C. to one of her relatives, asking that funds last night. It is said, during the time that Captain McGee spent at the Rauck home awaiting her return.
"Mr. Wood" spent much of his time at saloons on Lexington Street, betweeen Paca and Eutaw Streets, and was well known by the frequenters of these places. Last night, "he" appeared there, but, according to several of "his" friends, "he" was in a greatly agitated frame of mind.
"For some time 'he' has been talking of opening a saloon," one of "his" friends said yesterday, "and when 'he' appeared on the block last night 'he' was asked where 'he' would locate, but only evasive replies could be got from 'him.'"
Wife was to furnish money
It was stated on good authority last night that yesterday was the day upon which Mrs. Rauck was to have given her "husband" $1,500 with which to buy the saloon on Lexington Street, which the Sawyer woman had negotiated for.
About three weeks ago Mrs. Rauck sold the store on Eutaw Street directly opposite No. 7 engine house, where she conducted a dyeing and scouring establishment for many years, for $3,500.
It was said that it was a portion of the proceeds of this sale with which Mrs. Rauck intended backing her "husband" in the saloon business.
Court Must Annul Marriage
A well-known Baltimore lawyer said yesterday that when two persons of the same sex are married in accordance with the requirements of the law it will be necessary to invoke the aid of the courts to have the marriage annulled. Therefore, he said, Mrs. ernestine L. Rauck, if she wishes to free herself legally from Lydia Lotta Sawyer, must apply to the courts to annul their marriage.
A dispatch from Elizabeth City, N.C., says:
"Lotta Sawyer, the young woman who in the disguise of a man married another woman in Baltimore, is the daughter of the late Edward Sawyer, who was a prominent and wealthy farmer in Cmden county, aout five miles north of this place. He died in 1880, leaving a widow and four children, three of whom were daughters. The family was highly respected and was among the first families of Camden county.
"In 1885 the widow, with her four children, moved to Norfolk, Va., where they resided for three or four years. But they afterward returned and took their home again in Camden county. Mrs. Sawyer soon after her return from Norfolk married john C. Whitehurst, who died in 1892.
Caused Mother Much Trouble.
"The girl Lotta was very wild and caused her family much trouble. She gave birth to a child. When this disgrace had fallen upon her, she quietly left the house one night, when her child was only a week old, and walked to Norfolk, where she donned man's apparel. In this disguise she went to Baltimore, where she has since resided. She has visited Norfolk on several ocasions, but always in the disguise of a man.
"Her child is still living and in the care of her mother, Mrs. Whitehurst. The wayward girl has never visited her mother since the night she took her leave, but the mother has received several letters from her during the time she has been away. It is understood that her letters were not of a pleasant character. Notwithsanding the grieved and heartbroken mother has made every effort to reclaim the girl, her efforts in that direction have failed."