MRS DUDLEY’S TRIAL FOR SHOOTING ROSSA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1380, 18 August 1885, Page 3

MRS DUDLEY’S TRIAL FOR SHOOTING ROSSA.

The trial of LuciHa Dudley for the attempted murder of O’Donovan Rossa commenced in New York on June 29th. A jury was empannelled without much difficulty, the chief feature about this part of the proceedings being that the defence challenged all the elderly men, the inference being that younger men might be supposed to be more susceptible to appeals for sympathy and pity on behalf of an interesting woman, Rossa was the first witness, and he said nothing beyond what is already known. The prisoner several times interrupted him as he was giving his evidence. She ridiculed him for having assumed the name of Rossa, called him a liar, and so on. After the testimony of the policeman who arrested Mrs Dudley, and the surgeon who attended Rossa, the case of the prosecution was closed. The counsel for the defence opened the ease by producing a mass of documentary evidence, showing Mrs Dudley to be of unsound mind. There were many letters and certificates from English physicians and institutions, describing her as a chronic victim of epileptic fits and suicidal mania. Oral testimony was offered to the same effect by her associates in America, and by eminent American experts, who have been studying her case. Mrs Dudley intenupted the proceedings, saying to th# Judge: “ Whether I was irrational or not when I shot Rossa, I am perfectly sane now, and wish to testify in my own behalf. If the case goes to the jury iv w, they will form an entirely erroneous impression of my motives.” It was finally agreed to let her give evidence. ‘\Slie was sworn, and in a quiet voice said—- “ Gentlemen of the jury: 1 may or may not be insane. I wish you to decide my case by acquitting me on the ground that my action was justifiable, or to convict me. I was in

doubt wlielli'T O’Donovan Rcsia, Patrick Ford, or zeroff was the most responsible. I read O’JJonovan Rossa’s and Ford’s papers, and went to see O’D'nnvan Hossa.” After describing the inteivievv substantially, as already given many times, she continued—“ He was a murderer. He bad shown himself to be one. I believed him then and now consider him a liar. If I am homicidal, it is queer I never shot anyone before. I have carried a loaded pistol since I was sixteen. I gave O’Donovan Rossa as a fair a trial as any prisoner ever had in your Court. I shot him, and am willing to abide by the consequences. I don’t think that, even in this land of liberty, a man like him should be allowed to go about advising indiscriminate murder.” The jury retired, and, after deliberating for five minutes, returned with a verdict of “ Not guilty,” on the. ground of insanity. The Court was crowded, but there were few members of the Dynamit* party present.