Another in the series about transsexuals and cross-dressing. Two women disguise themselves as a couple in order to steal cattle as two women driving through the countryside would have looked dodgy.
A singular circumstance occurred at the Devon gaol on Sunday last. In the course of that day two persons, the one in male, the other in female attire, the warrants of commitment stating them to be John and Mary Hill, charged with bullock stealing were received into the prison, and of course appropriated within it as their sex bespoke. After, however, the supposed John Hill had been some hours among the mule felons, it was communicated to the governor’s family that there was reason to suppose the prisoner was a female disguise, and on the necessary investigation being gone into, the suspicion proved well founded: she was, course immediately disrobed, and placed in a more appropriate situation. The reason assigned for this transformation is, that two females driving bullocks through a long line of country, they would have excited suspicion; but that, one of them appearing in male attire, all idea of improper procuration was allayed, and that, indebted to disguise, they actually did drive the animals a considerable distance without molestation, having stolen them at Mariansleigh on the Thursday, and, after driving them 26 miles, sold them in the market of this city (Exeter) Friday morning for £9 5s. returning again to the spot which the robbery had been committed, and passing, unrecognised, persons who had known them for years. – Exeter Flying Post
Hull Packet, Tuesday 30 March 1830
Leave a Reply