The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-02-05
DECLARED a CRANK.
Mrs. Dudley's Career In England Told by
One who Knows Her.

One who Knows Her.
LONDON, Feb. 4.-Since the shooting OF
Rossa by Mrs. Dudley, the police have
been untiring in her efforts in hunting
up her history. 1t is now alleged that
she was never legally married. She was,
It is said, inyeigled into mock marriage
with man whose calling was variously
described, but generally believed to be an
officer in the French cavalry service. The
woman did not learn that she was duped
until some time alter the ceremony. She
lived with the man as her husband for
two or three years, during which time she
bore him two children. When she finally
discovered the fraud she became almost
irenzied, and from that time people who
have known her for years, assert her
mental disorder was apparent. Her chill
dren did not survive long, and she was a
constant visitor at their graves. Sointense
was her love for them that she would
spend several days at a time weeping ut
their tomb.
The Rev. DR.. Meyrick, the chaplain Of
the NIillbank prison, in an interview with
a Central NaH representative to-day,
stated that during her confinement in the
prison, Mrs. Dudley could not sleep and
had TO resort to narcotics to obtain rest.
He expressed tho belief that her madness,
ut times, was affected, She waa OF very
kindly disposition, generous, impulsiVe
and benevolent, and she would neither
spare pains, time nor money in helping
unfortnnates OF any kind. DR.. Meyrick
states that at one time she conceived the
idea OF forming society OF competent
nurses whose time should be devoted to
the care OF afflicted children Of poor
parents, "Aiter she was discharged from
the prison." continued the reverend gen.
tleman, "she wrote to me occasionally, ut
my request, advising me as 10 how she
was getting along. i received a letter from
her as late as the 4thlof January las"
DR.. Meyrick produced the letter and
read certain passages in 1t to the reporter.
In one Mrs. dudley writes; 81 Gannoteay
that the impulses which have led me to
make the previous attempt on my life
have altogetherleft me, but since my de.
parture from the prison my feelings have
never been such as TO cause me TO desire
10 Gnu 'llly eNlbGthVe. l hafei ho"ehcit
taken every precautlon to ensure my per-
alsaiety and will on the slightest incli-
nation to end my life, place myself under
restraint, as / must confess l do not feel
able to control myself.when lahoring under
such a DESIRE"
In another passage OF the letter Mrs.
Dudley expresses willingness to pay the
passage Of iriendless orphan girl from
London 10 America, in whom she became
interested. She also stated that she could
procure employment for the girl in New
York, but she at the same time admon-
ishes him not 10 disturb her nor tempt
her to leave her native land II she is doing
only fairly well.
Replying to q query by the reporter,
Mr.. Meyrick said he never knew Mrs
Dudley to take any part in politics, nor
take more than passing notice of public
events.
@she never" ho asserted, "conyersed on
political topics, and ] believe that politics
had nothing whatever to do with the
shooting. You can say that my theory Il
that she became unduly excited over the
accounts OF the recent dynamite ontrages
which resulted in temporarily unbalanc'
ing her mind"