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Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3654, 31 March 1883, Page 2

The statement of Sir AY. A r emon Harcourt in the House of Commons, as reported in our cable message, that Lttcly Florence Dixie's narrative of the attack made upon her by men disguised as -women had not been confirmed by enquiry is, to say the least, rather puzzling. Are we now to suppose that Lady Dixie was not attacked '( AYas her dress not pierced by knives ? Did her dogs not defend her prostrate body from further injury? Did she invent the whole story? AYe cannot but tliiuk that there must have been son ie foundation for her narrative. Her mind, however, must have been in a highly nervous condition for her to have conceived the idea that she was being murderously attacked, and that being attacked her assailants must necessarily be Irishmen and Fenians. It affords some gratification to learn that the story as first telegraphed it not true so far as investigation has extended. A more cruel or cowardly outrage could not have been imagined than that which was reported to have been committed, and for t_fc sake of common humanity it is cause for rejoicing that the Home Secretary has been enabled to say that the police enquiry has failed to confirm the account.