HAD SIX HUSBANDS DESPITE HER BEARD

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 247, 25 October 1897, Page 5

HAD SIX HUSBANDS DESPITE HER BEARD

DEATH OP A MONTANA FfiEAK.

With the death of Mrs Julia Hamilton the bearded woman at the County Farm at Great Falls Montana, a book of romance is closed and all debts have been cancelled. During her eight years' residence there probably not over a hundred people knew that Mrs Hamilton's first duty every morning- was to shave, and thus a growth of beard as luxuriant as man ever wore was kept from the world's view.

Deserted and alone, with not a crust of bread in her house, the old lady was found a few weeks ago by her neighbours. She was ill and had not shaved for several weeks and had a beard three inches long', covering her chin and sides of her face. She was taken to the County Hospital, where she passed away, and was buried by the county. Just before her death she told that during her life she bad been married six times and each of her husbands had deserted her.

She came to Great Falls eight years ago from Vermont. In the fall of ISSB R. C. Adams, an old Grand Army man, decided that he wanted a- wife. He advertised in "Heart and Hand," a Chicago matrimonial publication, and among his answers was one from the woman who has just died. Photos were exchanged and Adams sent money to bring her on. On her arrival Adams discovered that she was not the original of Ihe picture and after her long trip had quite a growth of whiskers. He refused point blank to marry her.

Several old-timers, learning of the strange woman's predicament, went to Adams and gave him just so many hours to have the ceremony performed. He. obeyed, and they were made one at- the Ulm House. A few months later Adams jumped his claim and has never since been heard of. He left her some property, and a few years later she met and married a man named Hamilton. Her wedded life again was short, for in a few* 'months Hamilton deserted her and is now in the West.

Of late years her income had been meagre, and at times county aid was necessary. She had been in the County Hospital about a month. After Hamilton deserted her she is credited with the remark, "The 'last husband gone," and later explained that she was married four times in Vermont. —"Anaconda Standard."