Democratic Sentinel, Volume 9, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 July 1885 — MRS. DUDLEY IS CRAZY. [ARTICLE]

MRS. DUDLEY IS CRAZY.

The Woman Who Shot O’Donovan* Hossa* Was Acquitted by the Jury. [New Yqrk telegram.] In the case of Mrs. Yseult Dudley, on trial for .shooting O'Donovan-Rossa, the testimony for the defense was to the effect that Mrs. Dudley was a sufferer from chronic mania. Mrs. Dudley insisted on going on the witness stand and telling her story to the jury. She claimed that she was not insane, and stated that Rossa told her also that he intended to blow up English vessels, and in that way strike terror to English hearts. Ho was a murderer. He had shown himself to be one. “You have no proof except his own word.” “No, but I believed him. I consider him a liar. If lam homicidal, it is queer that I never shot any one before. I have carried a pistol and had it loaded, too, since I was 16 years old. At that age I was living in the country, and there was a great scare about mid dogs and hydrophobia, so that everybody—men and women—who were capable of carrying a revolver did so. I gave O’Donovan as fair a trial as a Prisoner has ever had in your court. shot him, and I am willing to take the consequences. I certainly shall not appeal. Even in this land of liberty I don’t think a man like him ought to be permitted to go about advising indiscriminate murder. I did not come here to shoot him. lam a good nurse, and was willing to take a position here. While in prison I was perfectly bewildered by offers from managers who wanted me to lecture. I answered them all that I would consent only on condition that O’Donovan should come with me, and I would give a practical illustration, aided by O’Donovan, of the effect of dynamite in the human fame. If this met their views I would go.”

The jury, after deliberating five minutes, returned a verdict acquitting her on the ground of insanity.