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The Life and Times of Lizzie Handley _
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Sarah
Elizabeth "Lizzie" Howe, was born into this world --
according to Lizzie -- on April 1, 1850, in the county seat [Oldtown]
of Greenup County, Kentucky.3
However, that contradicts the 1850 federal census, which
shows her as 6 years of age, calculating to a birth year of 1844.
If she were born in 1850, she would have been 10 years
old when she married in 1860, hence, I'll place Lizzie's "official"
date of birth as April 1, 1844.
Daniel Howe and family appear in the 1850 Greenup Co., Kentucky federal census,1 as follows: HOWE, Daniel, age 39, white male, born [ca. 1811]
in Kentucky; occupation: teacher Daniel B. Howe and family migrated from Kentucky to Missouri, and were residing in Chariton Co., Missouri.4
Sarah E. "Lizzie" Howe married Joshua B. Thomas, at Laclede, Linn Co., Missouri.5
Daniel B. Howe and family appear on the 1860 Chariton Co., Missouri census,6 as follows: HOWE, Daniel, age 49, white male, farmer, born in
Kentucky; real estate value: $960; personal estate value: $725 Lizzie's older brother, James William Sudduth Howe, "though only a boy, joined the Confederate Army (Infantry), at Fort Smith, Ark., and was in active service until December 7th of that year, when he was wounded by a gunshot at the Battle of the Prairie Grove, in the northern part of Arkansas. He was in Capt. Ward's Company, who was killed in the above-named battle."7
Lizzie and Joshua Thomas left Minnesota for Iowa, and thence back to Missouri.5
Lizzie's & Joshua Thomas' [alleged] son, William Nathaniel, was born [location not stated]. William died circa 1886, at age 19 [location of death, also not stated], having never married.5
Daniel B. Howe and family were living in Chariton Co., Missouri. He was listed as a farmer, with real estate valued at $4,000, and a personal estate valued at $100.8
Lizzie's & Joshua Thomas' [alleged] daughter, Mina, was born near Rochester, Minnesota.5
Dan Stuart arrived in Texas.35
[Capt. Silas] S. J. Handley married Mrs. Lizzie Duke, in Marion Co., Texas, by Charles Hughes[?], Justice of the Peace, Precinct #3.9
CITY OF JEFFERSON to LIZZIE HANDLEY Lizzie Handley purchased, for $20, from the City of Jefferson, Marion Co., Texas, a 12x20-foot plot in Lot No. 9, Block II (two) of Oak Hill Cemetery, located in Jefferson.10
[Captain Silas J.] S. J. Handley died in Marion Co., Texas,33 and was buried in the old section of Oakwood Cemetery in Jefferson, in Marion Co.
Lizzie Handley married Charles W. Goff (a mulatto), in Marion Co., Texas, by S. G. Cotton, Minister of the Gospel.11
Lizzie Goff divorced Charles W. Goff in Dallas County, Texas.12
Annie Michel, daughter of August Michel, of Corsicana, Navarro County, entered the Blind Asylum at Austin, at approximately age 10. She attended the asylum until April 24, 1883, when she left due to her father's sickness.13
JOHN S. M. RECORD to ELIZABETH HANDLEY Elizabeth Handley, of Dallas County, and State of Texas, purchased from John S. M. Record, also of Dallas County, and State of Texas, on April 5, 1874, a 50x100-foot size lot in block 98 1/2, on Jackson St., for $1,000.14 |
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LEFT: Portion of the 1888 Sanborn fire insurance map showing Lizzie's brothel at 1112 Jackson St. RIGHT: Portion of the 1892 Sanborn map showing the structure at 416-420 Jackson (city street numbers were changed in 1891), which Lizzie sold to Dan Stuart, in 1889,31 and was remodeled into headquarters for the Dallas Amateur Athletic Association, in 1891.42 The building was later known as the "Jackson Street Natatorium,"42 and was being used as the hall for the Concordia Turnverein, as early as 1897.37 Six attempts were made to run athletic and aquatic enterprises there, but all failed.38 The Y. M. C. A. purchased the property in 1898, for $5,000 cash, remodeled the building,53 and moved in on May 20, 1898.42 The Y. M. C. A. sold the Jackson St. building,44 -- it had become too small -- after moving their facilities to Commerce St., where they were opened, May 1, 1909.53 | ||
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SHOWING THE LOCATION OF LIZZIE HANDLEY'S BROTHEL AT 1112 JACKSON ST. |
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Handley, Lizzie, residence: 1112 Jackson.
Elizabeth Handley was sued by James Frazer [Frazier], a Dallas carpenter, for failure to pay the balance of $12.50 due him and two other workers, for construction work on Lizzie's residence, occurring July 21, 1874 to August 4, 1874. A mechanics' lien was placed on Lizzie's house.15
THE STATE OF TEXAS -- To the Sheriff or any constable of Dallas
County, greeting: - o o o - _ |
Sarah E. Handley was injured while riding on a Houston & Texas Central Railroad car, somewhere between Austin and McDade, Texas. She sued the H. & T. C. Railway Co., in Dallas County, lost her case, appealed, and the original verdict was upheld -- Lizzie losing the case. 17 court case documents16 through in the original documents)
Plaintiff's counsel asked the plaintiff who was being examined as a witness on the trial of this cause the following question, to wit: "At the time of the accident, did any one connected with the wreck say what caused the wreck, if so -- State what they Said." To which defendant's counsel objected on the ground that said testimony was hearsay objected to witness answering what other persons Said on the ground that it was hearsay -- The court overruled the objection -- Witness was permitted to answer and defendant's counsel excepted to the ruling of the court and tendered this bill of exception
Be it remembered that in the trial of this cause the following was all the testimony introduced thereon The plaintiff as witness for herself testified as follows. That she entered Defendant's regular passenger coach at the City of Austin on the 23rd day of May 1876 to come to Dallas. She was traveling with a man named Hall. Before leaving Austin she had paid Hall for her ticket on the Railroad to Dallas. She had no ticket on the train. Conductor did not ask her for any ticket or fare. After passing two stations & when near McDade the train was thrown from the track down an embankment several feet high and the coach in which plaintiff was riding was thrown nearly on its top. Plaintiff received a severe cut on the head which was afterwards sewed up by a physician. It bled very freely. That she also received injuries in the breast and shoulder. That She suffered greatly from these injuries. That she suffered much pai[n] on her way to Dallas. That after reaching her home in Dallas, she employed Dr. Locke and Dr. McQueen to attend upon her. Dr. Locke treated her for said injuries for several weeks and his bill for such treatment was about $50.00 which she paid. Dr. McQueen came to see her two or three times. She did not remember the amount of his bill. She suffered nearly all the summer from her injuries. Several persons were injured by the accident. She heard some of the passengers say at the time the accident occurred that it was caused by decayed ties in the road bed. She was taken out of the coach through a window. She did not refer [to] the conductor on the coach to Hall as her husband, nor did Hall claim witness as his wife in the presence or hearing of witness. Never heard Hall claim to be Charles Damon. Did not know any thing of the Damon ticket. She was housing with Hall. Visited the Blind Asylum with him at Austin. Left Austin with him. Was traveling with him when the accident occurred. Do not know whether he was a married man or not. That is hard to tell. She was carried away from the place when the accident happened to a small house near the road, in about an hour afterward, to McDade in some kind of conveyance but she does not know whether in a wagon or carriage. She was suffering so much pain she paid no attention to what happened. When the accident happened I was knocked senseless. She and Hall occupied the same room at the house at McDade. Next day she and Hall and a blind girl* 8 or 9 years old (whom she was conveying from the Asylum to Corsicana) took the train again & she and Hall came on to Dallas & the blind girl to Corsicana. She and Hall and the blind girl occupied the drawing room on the train sleeper that night. I left Dallas latter part of June to go to the Centennial.
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_ ... I am acquainted with plaintiff in this suit. I first met plaintiff at a wreck about one mile west of McDade about May 23, 1876, ... plaintiff had a lacerated wound on the left temple about one inch and half in length only a flesh wound. The bone on periosteum was not injured ... plaintiff had a handkerchief around her head at the wreck which was bloody, and I asked her to let me dress her wound. She stated that it was unnecessary, her wounds were very slight and requested me to attend her husband. Calling to me as soon as I arrived at the wreck -- after she was removed to town, I dressed her wound by bringing the parts together with three stitches and placing an adhesion plaster over the wound.
Whereas the Houston and Texas Central Railway Company - in the above entitled cause, recovered a judgment in the District Court holden in and for the County of Dallas on the 1st day of May 1879, against Sarah E. Handley for cost of _____ -- and that said Sarah E. Handley later Nothey[?] by her said acct herein, and the said Sarah E. Handley has filed her petition with the Clerk of Said Court for a writ of Error to our Supreme Court -- Now Wherefore the Sarah E. Handley as principal and Anna Wilson /s/, & Maud Levan /s/ and Arthur Cain as sureties, acknowledge ourselves bound to pay the Houston & Texas Central Railway Company, conditioned that the said Sarah E. Handley shall prosecute her writ of error with effect, and shall pay all the costs which have accrued in the Court below or which may accrue in the appellate Court -- Witness our hands 29th day of April 1881.
1st Insert here Conductor Darrow's depositions i.e.: his answers to direct and cross interrogatories without precept, commission, questions or certificates, 2nd In same manner insert Doctor Gardner's deposition) Liddick
(witness for defendant) testified as follows: I have been for
many years in the employ of the defendant as passenger conductor
-- Was so employed on the 24th day of May 1876 -- My run being
from Houston to Hearne. I remember receiving on my train about
that date at Hempstead Some passengers whom I understood had
just been in a wreck said to have occurred near McDade on the
Western branch -- Of these passengers, two occupied the drawing
room in the Sleeping car -- A man and woman -- The drawing room,
is about eight feet in length and eight feet wide, closed by
doors and furnished on each side with seats that are made unto
beds at night -- The woman in the drawing room had a bandage
tied around her head -- I went to the man in the drawing room
to collect fare and he produced a pass, which had on it Charles
Damon's name as the person to be passed, and asked me to pass
his wife on it with himself -- I told him I could not do that
-- He said they had been in a wreck and they should be passed
free -- I told him that was the company's business -- mine was
to obey orders -- He said it was by courtesy of the conductor
his wife was passed with him on the pass -- I put my finger on
the name and told him it was but for one person, and he must
pay the fare, which he did -- This conversation took place within
the drawing room of the car I took Hall to be Charles Damon.
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court case documents:
Doctor
Gardner testified by deposition -- That he was a practicing physician
living in McDade when the accident occurred by which plaintiff
received some injuries on defendant's rail road line in May 1876
-- That he first saw plaintiff at the wreck and afterward at
the Hotel -- That he was called to see him as a physician --
That from the examinations he made there were no bones broken
or dislocated. and that the injury was not of a permanent nature _
Answers of James Hall to interrogations propounded to him by plaintiff and cross interrogations propounded by defendant -- 1st: I am the plaintiff in this case -- my age is 48 years 2nd: In May 1876 I was traveling salesman in Texas for Dozier Weyl & Co. of St. Louis -- They were paying me a salary of $150 per month and all expenses including board railroad fare, &c -- 3rd: I was injured by an accident which occurred on the 23rd of May 1876 while I was in the railroad car of the defendant near the town of McDade -- traveling in said car from Austin to Hempstead -- 4th: I did not get a ticket at Austin because I had not time before starting -- but I paid my fare to the conductor -- 5th: The accident referred to happened about a mile west of McDade -- At the time I was sitting about the center of the ladies car -- The train was on a high embankment -- I could feel the car bumping along on the ties -- and then saw it turning over -- I was sitting on the aft side -- and as it turned it threw me down on the other side and I was knocked senseless. I remained senseless for several hours -- I remained in McDade until the next afternoon being unable to travel until then -- I then left there and came on to Dallas Texas for the purpose of getting medical treatment -- I could not get the attention in McDade which my condition required. When I reached Dallas I took a room at the Commercial Hotel and the proprietor sent for Doctors L. E. Locke and McQueen -- I remained under their treatment until the first of July -- 6th: I was unable to go to work before the first of September -- and my employers refused to pay my salary during the time I was unable to work -- and besides I had to pay all of my expenses myself -- During this time my salary which I lost amounted to $450.00 and my expenses amounted to about $300.00 exclusive of Doctor bills -- 7th: The doctors bills amounted to $250.00 of which I have paid $50.00 -- 8th: My injuries consisted of a dislocation of my left shoulder -- and a fracture of two of my ribs besides internal bruises and injuries -- 9th: My injuries are of a permanent character -- My shoulder has never been strong since -- I can not raise any weight with it -- and I can not sleep on my left side -- on account of pain in my shoulder - And whenever the weather is damp I suffer a good deal of pain in my side in the region of the fractured ribs -- I cannot carry a sample case with my left hand --
1st: I am acquainted with Charles Damon -- first got acquainted with him in the Fall of 1876 -- 2nd: I was not traveling on Damons pass at the time I was injured -- I was not traveling on anyone's pass -- I paid my fare -- 3rd: I am not married -- Have never been and have no family of my own -- But have a widowed sister and her children dependent on me for support -- 4th: I was not traveling with any woman as my wife, at the time I was injured --
Now comes defendant and denies all and singular the allegations in plaintiffs petition contained[?]
And further answering defendant says that at and upon the date mentioned in plaintiffs petition as that upon which he became a passenger on defendants line of railway and received the injury complained of -- Said Hall came upon defendants passenger train at Austin, and represented himself to the conductor of said passenger train to be one Chas. Damon, and presented to said Conductor a pass over defendants line substantially in the following terms -- To wit: "Houston and Texas Central Railroad -- Pass Chas Damon Agent St. Louis Globe Democrat Newspaper -- Afc[?] advertising, until Dec'r 31st 1876 unless otherwise ordered No 1106 -- Upon the Conductors endorsed hereon
The conditions
endorsed on said pass are substantially as follows: "The
person accepting this free pass assumes all risk of accidents
and expressly agrees that the company is not liable under any
circumstances, for any injury to the person or loss in damage
for baggage of the person using it -- If presented by any other
person than the individual named thereon the conductor will take
up this ticket and collect fare Defendant alleges that the above described ticket or pass was a good and valid right to passage over defendants line in the hands of Chas. Damon -- and for no other person and that the plaintiff James Hall fraudulently and falsely represented to said Conductor of this defendants train that he was Chas. Damon the person named on said pass -- and presented said pass as his property and his right to passage free over this defendants line; That defendants said conductor did not know and was not acquainted neither with Chas. Damon nor with plaintiff Hall -- but relying on said false and fraudulently representations permitted said Hall to ride on said train free and without paying any fare whatever -- and collected none from him. Now defendant says -- plaintiff Hall made the representations aforesaid falsely and fraudulently and with the ______ and purpose to cheat swindle and defraud this defendant and did so actually cheat swindle and defraud it out of his fare - Wherefore defendant says that it is not a carrier of passengers for hire as to plaintiff - That plaintiff was a trespasser upon its said train and was not willfully injured by it or its servants
Defendant further alleges that at the time plaintiff was on its train, representing himself to be Charles Damon, and fraudulently using the Charles Damon pass as above set forth -- Said plaintiff was traveling in company with and had under his protective and care a certain female named Lizzie Handley, a common prostitute and notorious as such -- that said plaintiff represented to defendants agent and conductor in charge of its said train that said Lizzie Handley was his wife and that the said Chas. Damon pass extended to and included the privilege of a free ride over defendants line to the said Lizzie Handley as his wife -- Defendant charges that its said conductor had no acquaintance or knowledge of the said Lizzie Handley -- and relied upon said representations so made by the plaintiff without an inspection of the terms of the ticket, and did not collect fare either from plaintiff or the said Lizzie Handley -- Defendant alleges that the representations made by plaintiff were false and fraudulent and were made for the purpose of cheating swindling and defrauding this defendant out of its fare, and the defendants conductor relied upon said representations and collected no fare for either the plaintiff or the said Lizzie and was thereby cheated and defrauded out of the fare of said person from Austin Texas to Hemstead(sic) Texas, to wit the sum of Twenty dollars -- Wherefore defendant says plaintiff was wrongfully on its said train and that the relation of carrier and passenger at no time attached between plaintiff and the defendant and that it is not liable to him for any injuries he may have received.
By authority of the Commission and interrogatories accompanying the same, which are hereto attached from the Clerk of the District Court of Dallas County, Texas, in the case of James Hall vs the Houston & Texas Central Railway Company, now pending in said Court, I caused to come before me at my Office in said City of New Orleans, the witness James Hall, therein named, a resident of the Parish of Orleans, in this State of Louisiana, aged fifty (50) years, who being by me duly sworn to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in answer to the several interrogatories and Cross Interrogatories in said case propounded to him, proceeded to answer the same as follows: ___________ 1: In answer to first Interrogatory he
says 2: In answer to Second Int. ______________ 3: In answer to Third Int.: __________________ 4: In answer to fourth Int. __________________ 5: In answer to fifth Int. _________ 6: In answer to Sixth Int. ___________ 7: In answer to Seventh Int.: ____________ 8: In answer to Eighth Int.: ______________ 9: In answer to Ninth Int.: ______________ 10: In answer to Tenth Int.: ____________ 11: In answer to Eleventh Int.: _______________ 12: In answer to Twelfth Int.:____________ 13: In answer to Thirteenth Int.:______________ 14: In answer to Fourteenth Int.: ________________ 15: In answer to Fifteenth Int.: _______________ 16: In answer to Sixteenth Int.: __________ 17: In answer to Seventeenth Int.: ______________ Cross Interrogatories 1: To first cross Interrogatories he
says: 2: To the Second Cross Interrogatories:
_______ 3: To the Third Cross Interrogatories:
_______ 4: To the fourth Cross Interrogatories:
________________
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Lizzie
Handley attended the Centennial celebration in Philadelphia,
Pa.18 PHILADELPHIA, PA. THIS GREAT INTERNATIONAL EXHI-bition, designed to commemorate the one Hundredth anniversary of American Independence, will open May 10th and close November 10th, 1876. All the Nations of the world and all the States and Territories of the Union will participate, bringing together the most comprehensive collection of art treasures, mechanical inventions, scientific discoveries, manufacturing acheivements, mineral specimens, and agricultural products ever exhibited. The grounds devoted to the Exhibition are situated on the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad and embrace four hundred and fifty acres of Fairmount Park, all highly improved and ornamented, on which are erected the largest buildings ever constructed -- five of those covering an area of fifty acres and costing $5,000,000. The total number of buildings erected for the purpose of the Exhibition is over one hundred. - o o o - Additional Centennial information: http://libwww.library.phila.gov/CenCol/
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