The Indianapolis journal., 1885-07-01
IOSsA'S ASSAILANT.
Mrs. Yseult Dudley Testifies in Her Own Be-
half and Is Promptly Acquitted.

New YORK, June 3O-The court room where
Mrs Lucille Yseult Dudley is being tried for the
assault on ODonovan Rosa, was again crowded
toexcess to-day when the taking of testimony
was continued. Dr. Charles E. Dennison, who
dressed Rossas wounds testified as to their
location and character This ended the case for
the prosecution.
Counsel for Mrs. Dudley then opened for the
defense. He claimed that Mrs Dudley had as
saulted Rossa not out Of personal spite or to
avenge personal insult, but because che was
an enemy of her country" Counsel discussed
the subject of Irish patriotism. In outlining the
lire of testimony for the defense, counsel spoke
of what he termed Mrs. Dudley's physical in
trinity" He said he would show that for sew
eral years past she had been subject to epileptic
fits. He would show that her mind had been
affected by these fits, and that she was not, in
fact, responsible for her own conduct Counsel
submitted a number Of letters from English
physicians in the various institutions in which
client had been confined for treatment, setting
forth the character of her disease These de-
ponents declared that Mrs. Dudley was not in
her right mind.
Elizabeth S. Tonlius, private teacher who
resided at the same place as Mrs. Dudley, testi-
fed that for several days previous to the shoot
ing of Rossa the prisoner had acted in strange
manner She had bundles of Rossas news
papers. containing reports of recent explosions
in London, and in speaking to the witness of
Rosa, Mrs. Dudley had alluded to the advisable
ity of riddng the earth of such man.
p DIR. A. +. Mcdonald, superintendent of the
asylum fox the insane on Wards Island testified
that he was convinced that Mrs. Dudly was suf-
fering from chronic mania. Mrs, Dudly had told
the witness that there were three men she had
determined to punish with death, and Rossa was
the first on her list.
DR.. VIM. S. Hardin gave similar testimony.
Mrs. Dudley here interrupted the proceedings
of the court by addressing Judge Gildersleeve.
She said: Whether / was irrational not
when | shot Rossa am perfectly sane now, and
wish to testify in my own behalf. If the case
goes to the jury now without their having heard
me, they will form an entirely erroneous i'm
preston of my motives, and will not know why
/ shot Rosa. The doctors said that [ had said
that had mission, when they should have said
that had an inclination"
The judge said she had better confer with her
counsel, and when the time came the court would
hear her.
Mrs. Dudleys counsel said that they found
themselves in somewhat peculiar position.
They had been trying to prove that their client
was insane. She on her part, insisted that she
was not insane at the time of the attack, and in
sisted On her right to go the stand and testify
on her own behalf Cousel could not see how
they could do otherwise than call her as a wit
ness. 1t was finally agreed that she should be
called to the stand after recess.
After the recess Mrs. Dudley's lawyers tried
their best to get her to forego her determ nation
of becoming witness, but at a word from the
prosecuting counsel she walked quickly to the
witness chair and was sworn. Then she said:
''Gentemen of the jury / may or I NAV not
be insane, but if it is accurate that my action
was for the possession Of the almighty dollar,
then l have no doubt you will readily decide
that am not insane. | wish you to decide
my case by acquitting me, either on the
ground that my action was justihable, or to con-
vict me. l was in doubt as to whether Jeremiah
O'Donovan, Patrick Ford, or Mezeroff were The
more responsible. I read ODonovan and
Ford's papers, and read about Mezeroff and then
l went to see O'Donovan. We had talk about
the wholesale murder of innocent women and
children. He said that the blowing up Of build
ings was perfectly right. What said he, ARE
the lives of few women and children compared
with the holy cause of Ireland? He said, in
reference to the recent explosion, that we did
it, and he also said. 1 intend to blow up the
House Of Parliament when 1t next convenes'
believe now, however, that he was deliberately
lying He said, also, that he intended to blow
up English vessels, and in that way strike terror
to English hearts. He a murderer. He
had shown himself to be one
You have no proof except his own work"
''No but believed him. l now consider him
a liar. If | am homicdal it is queer that never
shot anyone before. have carried pistol and
mad it loaded, too, since l was sixteen years old.
At that age | was living in the country. and
there was great scare about mad dogs-hydro
phobia-so that every body, men and women.
who were capable of carrying a revolver, did so.
| gave O'Donovan as fair trial as a prisoner
has ever had in your court / shot him. and
am waiting to take the consequence. 1 certainly
shall not appeal. Even in this land of liberty /
don't think man like him should be permitted
to 60 about advising indiscriminate murder. l did
not come here to shoot him. | am a
good nurse, and was willing TO take a position
here. While in prison l was perfectly bewil-
dered by offers from managers who wanted me to
lecture. l answered them all by saying that I
would consent only on condition. that ODonovan
should come with me, and I would give
a practical illustration, aided by O'Donovan,
of the effect of dynamite on the human form.
If this met their views | would GO"
The jury acquitted Mrs. Dudley on the ground
Of insanity.
The jury were only in consultation about five
minutes when they rendered their verdict.
motion was made to send Mrs. Dudley to the
State Lunatic asylum, which her counsel op-
posed. The latter asked that their client be
permitted to be returned to her native country
and be placed in asylum there. The court
will listen to arguments this motion on
Thursday.