THE SHOOTING OF O'DONOVAN ROSSA. An Unexpected Convert to His Doctrines.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 93, 14 March 1885, Page 6

THE SHOOTING OF O'DONOVAN ROSSA. An Unexpected Convert to His Doctrines.

O'Donovan Rossa was shot by a woman on Chambers- street, near Broad way > in the afternoon, when the street was full of people. The first shot lodged in Rossa's body. He fell in the sidewalk. The

woman continued shooting till she emptied five chambers of a revolver. She is a rather good-looking Englishwoman named Dudley, aged 25, a nuree, and unmarried. Inquiry showed that she had been Almost crazed with excitement since the explosions occurred in the Parliament and Tower. On examination of the wound at the Hospital it was found that the ball had penetrated to the back but was not dangerous. Intelligence of the shooting was received in London amidst jubilation Thousands of toapts were drunk to the health and happiness of Mrs Dudley. In Canada there was great excitement, and intense disappointment that the wound was not dangerous. In course of an interview Mrs Dudley said that Bhe saw Rossa aud offered him money in order to draw him out. He told her that the next buildings to be blown up were Sandhurst College, Carlton Club, Woolwich Arsenal, and the Bank of England. This showed her that she was doing right, because she considered it would not have been fair to condemn the man upon what she had read in his papei. She said she did not try to kill him, or she could have dove it. Rossa has received hundreds of threats that he will yet be killed. His paper hag much modified in tone. Visitors crowd to see Mrs Dudley by hundreds. Mrs Dudley writes to the " Tribune " :•— "Rosea preached aspassioation and murder as the highest form of patriotism, and advocated the dedication of life and liberty to furthbr the cause of violence and bloodshed, when he made me an unexpected convert and one who, not contented with theory, put his lessons into practical form, thus proving myself an apt pupil, what right had he to complain ? Imitation I have always understood to be the sincerest form of fUttery. But Rossa's victims, being 3,000 miles away from him, and brave ■ hearted, no appeal for mercy had ever reached him. Therefore, he neglected to teach me the proper course to pursue in such an event. I was brought, face to face with abject cowardice for the first time, and, forgetting my recent lessons, I reveited to the teachings of the heroes of my country, 'Never strike a fallen foe,' and gave Rossa the worthless life he begged for." She concludes : " Not the one thousandth part of the atrocities committed almost daily by the followers of his doctrine in Ireland against the honest Irish people are ever committed by Englis-h people, whom he denounces as such ' bloodthirsty tyrants.' "